Page 157 of Bad Blood

The doctor gives me a spirited grin. “Bring him back in. It’ll only take a couple of minutes. But before you go, you need to get that cough loo—”

The door to the room flies open, and a ruffled Brighton steps in. Her eyes dart around the area, landing on Liam, and her body slumps with instant relief.

“What happened?” She glances at me out of the corner of her eye, not voicing that I shot her a text when we got to the ER. She steps around me to get a better look at the back of Liam’s head.

I wasn’t expecting the rush of emotion at the sound of her voice, but knowing she’s here makes everything better. And I’m not the only one in the room to stare. I narrow my gaze at the doctor, and he gives me a sideways grin, silently asking if I blame him with a shrug.

Liam rubs his fingers over the cut, flinching, and quickly pulls his hand away. “I hear the ladies like scars.”

“They won’t be able to see it when your hair grows back,” she says, leaning over him to get a better look.

“You ruin all my best ideas.” Liam gives her a Cheshire grin.

“I can remove these. A week?” She directs her attention to the doctor. And he lights up.

“Should be plenty of time. I haven’t seen you around lately.” He rolls the chair to the back of the room, smiling as he puts away his tools.

“I don’t make it a habit to visit the ER on a regular basis.” Her indifference to the man is evident as she gives Liam the once over. She scans him from top to bottom as she pokes, prods, bends, and twists his limbs. “Ready to go upstairs? We can do an infusion to help you feel better.” She doesn’t give Liam the chance to answer. She reaches under his arm and heaves him off the table.

Her eyes land on me. She dips her chin, and there’s a brief pause—a silent thank you wrapped in underlying context when she says, “Dax.”

I grin.

Liam coughs, clearing his throat as he pulls the door open.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” the ER doctor says as his eyes flicker to Liam holding the door open for the rest of us to pass. Brighton drops her gaze and exits; the doctor exits a couple of steps behind her.

“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about,” she says, staying a few feet ahead of us.

“It’s your fault,” Liam whispers, slowing his pace to stay beside me.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You didn’t have to.” He shoves at me, grinning as we start down the hall.

“Wait, what’s my fault?”

He points to the two figures ahead of us. “Her keeping her distance.”

“But you wanted it that way.”

He narrows his gaze. “No, I wanted you to stay away from her. I enjoy having her around. She’s sorta a big deal.”

Brighton glances over her shoulder to make sure we’re following. We get a bashful grin. And my favorite pinkish hue floods her cheeks before she turns.

“Agreed. But you can’t have it both ways.”

“Maybe that doesn’t matter anymore.”

His words are crushing but relevant. He has a point.

Brighton stops at the elevators, pausing as she pushes the button and sends the ER doctor on his way down the hall. When we catch up, she asks, “How’d this happen?”

Liam and I chance a glance at each other like scolded children.

She crosses her arms over her chest as she escorts Liam into the elevator. “Go upstairs. Find Lauren.” She steps off, and a look of confusion creases his brow. She points at me as she heads in the opposite direction. “You, come with me.”

“Hey,” Liam protests through a cough as the doors slide together, leaving me alone to follow Brighton.

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