Chapter 29
Carla
The wheelchair is the most humiliating part of this whole thing.
Why won’t the nurse let me walk?
Okay, I know why, but still.
There are things you pick your battles over, and Nurse Kayla is not one of them. She’s sweet but sticks to the rules.
She wheels me past the nurse’s station and turns left, and we head down the main corridor in the direction of the west wing. This part of the hospital is quieter for some reason.
“His room is just up this hall,” Kayla tells me. “It’s the second-last door on the right.”
“Great. I’ll be fine from here. Thanks so much.”
She wheels me another three feet and then stops. “Are you sure? I’m happy to take you all the way.”
“Really,” I say. “I’m good.” I smile up at her. It’s a little stiff because I’m a little nervous. “I’ll find my own way back. It isn’t that far.”
She gives me an uncertain nod. “All right. You know where to find me. Any of the staff would be willing to assist if you need help.”
“Thanks, Kayla.”
She leaves.
I put my hands in my lap and look down the hall.
I can do this. I showered, washed my hair, and put on actual clothes, and I am here. All I need to do is wheel myself down and say my bit.
It is that simple.
I sigh because I can’t force myself to do it.
I’m being absurd. We are adults. He just spent a couple of days keeping me alive in extremely hostile conditions. We had sex.
And that, right there, is the problem.
We had sex. He was inside me.
I feel hot all over just thinking about it. I force myself to take a few deep breaths.
“Are you okay?”
I jump. It’s a different nurse. She’s looking at me from the supply room doorway with her head cocked to the side. Her eyes are a little narrowed and focused on me.
“Yes, I’m good. I know where I’m going.”
“Would you like help getting there?”
“No,” I say. “Thank you. I’m on my way.” I give her the thumbs up, which is a touch overkill, but who cares?
She gives me a small nod and goes back into the supply room.
I can do this!
I wheel myself down the hallway before I can reconsider.
His door is the fourth one down on the left. I roll up to it, and I knock, sucking in another deep breath.
“Come in.”
His voice is clear and low, and I nudge the door open with the tip of the footrest and wheel myself in.
He looks up from where he is half-reclined against a raised pillow.
His dark hair is down, and loose over his shoulders.
It makes him look like something off the cover of a fantasy novel.
His coloring is back to normal. He looks freaking incredible, which isn’t fair given that he was half dead yesterday.
When he sees me, he smiles, and the dimple appears on his right cheek. It makes him look even better. Damn him.
He’s huge. He takes up the full width and length of the bed. I need to chat with Robyn about special-sized beds for the extra-big shifters who come in. Guys like Magma.
“Come in,” he says again. “Wheel on over. It’s good to see you, Carla.”
I park up at the side of the bed, and we just look at each other for a few moments. They’re a little charged.
His gaze moves to my bandaged feet on the chair’s footrests.
“How are you doing?” He puts his beautiful green eyes back on me, and the air leaves my lungs for a second.
I suck in a breath.
“Fine,” I quickly say. “I’m sure I can walk on my own steam, but apparently there’s a hospital policy about having to use a wheelchair. Nurse Kayla is super strict.”
“Good for her.” His eyes stay on mine. “You look much better.”
“You look great yourself,” I say. Is ‘great’ too much? “Your color’s back.”
“All I needed was a meal or two and some sleep.” He lifts a shoulder carefully, mindful of the collarbone. “I guess I’m lucky I’m a shifter.”
“You guys heal quickly. It’s always a shocker on how you can go from half dead to walking out of here in a matter of days.”
“How do you feel? Do you have any pain?” He lifts his brows.
“Nothing to complain about. I’m being discharged shortly. In less than an hour.” I straighten in the chair. “That’s partly why I came. I wanted to thank you before I left.”
Something in his expression shifts, though he holds my gaze the same. I’m not sure what it is exactly.
“Magma.” I hold his gaze, feeling emotional all of a sudden. “If it weren’t for you, I—”
“You don’t need to,” he says.
“I want to.” I pause. “What you did out there. You could have been killed.”
He waves it off and shakes his head. “Forget about what happened on Mistveil. All of it. You’re home. You’re safe. That’s what matters.” He pauses. “Now live your life, Carla.”
I nod a few times. I have a lump in my throat.
“I heard you have a date with Flint,” he says. His tone stays easy. “Saturday, isn’t it? I’m glad. I really hope it goes well.” He looks like he means it too.
The words sting.
Crap!
They shouldn’t, but they do.
I nod, keeping my expression light and my chin up. “I’m looking forward to it.” It comes out fine. Perfectly fine, which is a freaking miracle.
Something pulls tight inside me.
I’m still looking for the right thing to add to that when the door opens, and a woman walks in carrying a tray with two meals on it.
She’s tall and lean, red markings visible along her collarbone above the neckline of her shirt, her dark hair pulled back in a clean ponytail.
She’s beautiful. Those jeans fit her long, toned legs like a second skin.
Wow!
She stops when she sees me, her eyes going wide.
“Oh, sorry,” she says. “I didn’t realize you had company.” She has a nice voice, too.
She smiles at me and then looks over at Magma, her expression softening.
She likes him. I can tell.
“It’s fine,” Magma says. He looks between us. “Brook, this is Carla. She was about to head home. She came to say a quick goodbye.”
He’s dismissing me, and it hurts.
Holy shit, but it really stings.
“I’m glad to see you’re looking a little better, Carla,” Brook says. “We didn’t officially meet yesterday. I’m the shifter who gave Magma a ride home.” She winks at me, looking sexy.
I’d look like I had something in my eye if I tried to pull something like that off.
My heart sinks when I realize that she’s the shifter from yesterday. The one I saw naked with the high, perky breasts and the toned physique I would give my left arm to have.
“Good to see you. Thank you for rescuing us,” I tell her. I look at Magma. “I really should head back.” I reach for the wheels.
“Don’t leave on my account,” Brook says, already moving back toward the door.
She’s nice, too. Figures.
Something settles in the pit of my stomach like a lead balloon.
“No, please,” I say. “Stay. I’m done here.” I smile at her, trying hard to mean it because she really is nice. “I was just thanking Magma and making sure he was in one piece.”
She smiles back. “Only if you’re sure?” She looks at Magma, who smiles at her.
“Take care of yourself,” I tell him.
“You, too.” He holds my gaze for a moment. “Take care of Flint.”
“I will,” I say.
I start toward the door, wishing like mad that I wasn’t in a stupid wheelchair.
“Do you need help?” Brook asks.
“No! Um…no, please. I’m fine. Enjoy your lunch.” I try for a smile, but I’m not sure I pull it off.
She holds the door for me, leaving it open.
“Thanks,” I mumble, wheeling myself out into the hallway.
Behind me, I hear Brook say something I can’t quite make out, and then Magma’s low response, and then Brook laughs.
She all-out laughs. Magma says something else, and she laughs again.
Yep, she likes him alright, and I think he likes her right back.
I keep going. For some reason, it’s more difficult than it was earlier. I stop and scrub a hand over my face and sigh.
I’m jealous.
Why am I jealous?
I shouldn’t be.
I pull in a breath through my nose, let it out, and get moving.
I feel like someone rode over me with a truck. Like someone deflated my balloon. I feel sad and depressed.
I’m an idiot.
I need to stop this nonsense and pull myself together. I need to go home to my own space with decent food and my own bed, and I’m sure this heaviness that has been lodged somewhere under my sternum will ease.
I don’t have feelings for Magma.
I can’t have feelings for him. Not this quickly.
He saved me. We had sex. It’s some sort of savior syndrome or complex that I have going on. I’m not sure it’s a thing exactly, but it must be.
I’ll get over it soon enough.
I will enjoy my date with Flint on Saturday.
And I will move on with my life.