Page 170 of Damaged Protector

“Anything,” I whispered.

“Will you be nice to Richard? I know you were pissed when we broke up, but I’ve told you a million times, it was mutual. He’s been really great to me through all this.”

Leaning back, I gave her a sardonic grin. “I’ve already been nice. I shook the prick’s hand and didn’t even try to break it.”

“Your maturity is astounding,” she said with a wry twist of her lips.

“What’s the second thing?”

She leaned forward conspiratorially. “When the nurse turns her back, will you steal one of these curtains for me? It would look great in my spare room.” She didn’t even whisper it, and the nurse snorted out a laugh.

I chuckled and shook my head. “I’ll see what I can do, though I’d just like to say you have terrible taste.”

“In brothers?” she retorted.

“I don’t know why the hell I put up with you,” I grumped.

“Because you love me.”

I took her hand and kissed the back of it again. “I really do, sis.”

After a long beat where we smiled fondly at each other, she swiveled her head to the nurse. “Okay, I’m ready.”

The woman began preparing the bed for transport, and I stood. Two men came in, and as they took their places to wheel her away, my sister looked up at me and pointed at her chest.

“You want to wave goodbye to old Lefty?”

I burst out laughing. I’d done a lot of weird shit in my life, but this had to take the cake. If it made my sister smile though…

Lifting my hand, I wiggled my fingers at my sister’s damn boob. “Bye, Lefty.”

Jenn beamed at me as they pushed her bed from the bay. “See ya on the flip side, Tate!”

“See you on the flip side, sis,” I called as she disappeared from my sight.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I bowed my head, watching as a lone tear hit the tiled floor and fragmented into a hundred tiny droplets.

I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, but I looked up when I heard someone approach. It was the nurse from earlier. “Are you okay?” she asked kindly, and I nodded stoically. “I just wanted to tell you how much I love having your sister as a patient. She’s so filled with humor and hope. I know she’s scared, but she’s always a joy to be around.”

“Thanks,” I said, letting my lips curve up at the corners. “That’s nice to hear.”

“I, uh, brought you something,” she said, dropping her voice and reaching beneath her scrub top.

What the hell?

My surprise turned to laughter when she pulled out one of the hideous curtains, folded and wrapped in plastic.

With the ugly treasure tucked beneath my arm, I headed back to the waiting room.

“The surgery went really well,” Dr. Garcia told us in the surgical waiting room a few hours later.

“And Jennifer’s okay?” I asked, my words almost running together into something unintelligible.

“She’s great. Just coming out of the anesthesia. One of you can go back to recovery when we’re done here.”

Richard nodded deferentially to me, and I appreciated the hell out of that. I’d hate to have to knock him out in the hospital. Mallori’s hand tightened around mine, and it soothed my inner beast. She’d been a constant and calming presence all day, running to grab coffee, bringing us snacks, and simply being here. I was so fucking happy she had come to North Carolina with me.

The doctor continued. “Jennifer will undergo chemotherapy after this.”

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