Page 56 of Clap Back (Carter Brothers)

My lips tipped up at the corner at the knowledge of Maven wearing—and stealing—something I’d had a hand in getting.

“Nice ring,” I teased. “Or it was… You broke it on your face, though.”

Really broke it. As in, all the little tines that held the fake diamond in place were crushed, and the plastic bead was nowhere to be seen.

She snorted. “I would’ve given it back. I don’t even know why I took it. But then you blew me off and I forgot all about it. I actually kicked it across the room before going out to talk to my stepmom and I was admiring it on my finger when Vickie let me know that she was there to talk.

I absently started to braid her hair, my disgust with myself at leaving her alone all week because of my own problems—and I suppose hers—making itself known.

“I’m sorry, I…” I trailed off, not wanting to worry her with even more after all she’d just gone through.

“I know about what my father did,” she explained. “The ultimatum.”

I froze. “You do?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Your mom came by the bakery. Said you were dealing with my father’s shit. And also told me to give you some time to sort things out.”

Unreal. Could my mom not stay out of everyone’s lives for even a second?

I would’ve laughed at the situation had it been one you laughed at during the retelling.

I closed my eyes. “My mama has a big mouth.”

“Your mother wants what’s best for you.” She paused. “My mother was actively trying to keep us apart. I told her about you, and she said maybe there was a reason that Dad didn’t want us together. And that he always knows best.”

“I don’t know whether to strangle my mom or thank her—though my dad might have a few thoughts on the strangling part,” I admitted.

We slowed and then stopped in what I assumed was the ambulance bay at Memorial.

The moment the back doors opened, and we were exiting the back of the bus, she held out her hand, which I caught again.

I was unsurprised to find Quaid there, arms crossed across his chest, waiting for me.

Nor was I surprised to find that Ellodie was also there, even though she no longer worked in the ER.

Ellodie and Quaid hung back as the two of us were wheeled into a room not far from the entrance to the ambulance bay.

“…MVA, possible concussion, laceration on face. No signs of broken bones but…” the paramedic started.

I lost the last bit of what he said when I was pushed to the side and forcibly made to let go of Maven’s hand to make room for the doctor and nurses.

“No, no, no!” Maven cried, twisting and turning so that she could get back to me.

I moved back toward her, only on the side that didn’t have the laceration and was more against the wall.

“Sir…”

“Let him stay,” Ellodie suggested, coming into the room. “She’s much calmer with him here.”

One of the doctors nodded at Ellodie and said, “Wow, VIP in the room.”

Ellodie snorted and rolled her eyes. “Ugh.”

“Pupils are equal and reactive,” doctor number two said.

So, the next twenty minutes went by quickly as tests were run and people were in and out of the room at a rapid pace.

Quaid and Ellodie didn’t leave the room, either, giving us space but also there in case they were needed.

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