I nodded a little and felt some of the resentment I had towards this man who held my best friend’s heart in his hands fade. “I felt the same way when you called me. I automatically thought it had something to do with work.”
He swore under his breath. “Yeah. I worry about that call all the time, too, but it’s what she does, so it’s just part of loving her.”
That was surprisingly understanding, and I was starting to really see what Royal saw in this man aside from his obvious physical appeal.
“I called her mom. So she will be putting in an appearance at some point in time.” I watched as his jaw involuntarily clenched.
“Thanks for the warning.” He sounded like I had just told him the world was going to end and he was going to have to sit dockside and watch it all happen.
I wasn’t exactly a fan of Royal’s mom either, but there was something more to why Asa seemed to flat-out despise her. I wanted to ask about it, but I figured it could wait for another time. The pretty redheaded nurse was walking back towards us and this time there was no missing the sparkling diamond on her left ring finger. It wasn’t flashy or ostentatious but it was there and I felt like a total tool and a really shitty cop for not being more observant and getting all the facts before attacking Asa.
“She’s back in the room. She had a pretty ugly concussion that they want to keep under observation for a little bit and she’s gonna need pain meds for that cut on her arm. She’s probably going to want to follow up with a plastic surgeon.”
I blinked. “It’s that bad?”
The woman turned the softest, kindest gray eyes I had ever seen in my direction and looked at me quizzically.
Asa motioned between us. “Saint Ford, meet the elusive Dominic Voss, and might I say it’s about fucking time.” His twang was anything but sweet when he said it.
The redhead took a step forward and I thought she was going to reach for my hand, so I was stunned when she went right around the extended offering and went right in for a hug. I had to admit when her arms wrapped around my waist I felt a little better.
“Uh … nice to meet you, Saint.”
It sounded like she sniffled a little into my chest, so I patted her on the back. She pulled away from me and her eyes were indeed glassy with unshed tears when she looked up at me. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Dominic. I feel like I already know you. Royal talks about you all the time, and I was here the night they brought you in. Well, here but not on duty. I remember the trauma team thinking the prognosis wasn’t all that great, so I’m really happy to see you up and around.” She cleared her throat a little and turned to look back at Asa. “She’s got two broken ribs and a few that are really, really bruised. She’s not going to be moving around much the next few weeks.”
He nodded. “I’ll take care of her.”
She gave him a little grin. “I know you will, but if she needs anything I want you to call me.” She sighed and shook her head a little. “The kid that hit her didn’t get off so lucky. He snapped a couple vertebrae in his neck and spine. He’s lucky to be alive, but his careless act is going to have lifelong consequences. It’s sad, he’s so young.”
She gave us directions to the room they had Royal in and told Asa that she would check in on her friend before they discharged her. Asa and I silently made our way to the unit, both stiff with tension but maybe just maybe feeling a little stronger that we were facing the unknown together.
I let him go into the room first and almost ran into his broad back as he came to a sudden stop in front of me. I nudged him and when he moved so that he could reach the edge of Royal’s bed, I saw what had shocked him still.
Royal looked ravaged and battered. Like a fragile, broken toy all wrapped up in bandages and covered in black and blue marks. Her face was a startling grayish tone, which only enhanced the twin black circles around her eyes and the nasty gash that had little white strips of tape holding it shut over one of her eyebrows. The arm that was injured was swathed up like a mummy where it was poking out of her hospital gown and I could see the purple mark on her collarbone that the impact and jolt against the seat belt had left.
“If it isn’t my two favorite guys.” Her words were barely a whisper and I could see how much pain she was in just trying to get them out.
Asa bent down and clasped her good hand in his as he pressed his lips to the top of her head. I saw him close his eyes and whisper something to her that I couldn’t hear. Whatever it was had tears shining in Royal’s eyes and her squeezing his fingers.
“I guess I finally have to get a new car.” I knew she said it as a joke, but I couldn’t even smile at her. I felt like I was frozen on the spot, helpless and ineffective while she lay there hurt and damaged. I had a startling realization that this was probably exactly how she felt after my accident.
“Jesus, Royal. You scared the shit out of me. I almost fell down the stairs when Asa called and told me what happened.”
She blinked her watery eyes at me as I took the steps needed to reach the other side of her hospital bed. The corner of her mouth quirked up. “I know the feeling, hero.”
I blew out a pent-up breath. “I know you do. How about we make a pact to stay out of the emergency room from here on out?”
I held out my hand with just my pinky finger sticking out. She let go of Asa’s hand long enough to hook her own pinkie around mine as I gently moved them up and down.