Page 162 of Bad Blood

Brighton lets out an exasperated breath as she points at the door. “Get the X-ray. I’ll check in on you later. I need to think.” She presses her fingers into her temple, closing her eyes.

Liam and I lock eyes, agreeing without saying a word. “I’ll meet you upstairs,” he says as he exits the room.

I lean toward her, placing a hand above her head on the doorframe as I tuck a finger under her chin. I lift her face, her eyes meeting mine. “We can figure this out together. We won’t get you in trouble. We still have the best doctor in the nation.”

“I don’t want to draw any extra attention. Dr. Matthews is keeping tabs, and I don’t need our interactions added to the list. We need to keep things professional. Someone’s always watching.” She drops her gaze and takes a step away, clearing her throat. I get the feeling there’s something she’s not telling me. But I let it slide.

“Of course.” I push off the wall, creating a distance between us.

“You should check on Liam,” she says, entering the hallway. “Take him home and make sure he rests. I’ll see you guys on Monday.”

“What are you going to do?” I trail after her, jogging to catch up as she stops in front of the elevator.

It dings, and the doors open instantly. I step inside and she holds her hand out, so they don’t close. “Go home and figure out what to do next. Please make sure Liam gets the X-ray and infusion. I’ll catch up with you later.”

The doors glide together, and our gaze stays locked until they close, and I lean against the back wall, trying to take in everything that just happened. My phone buzzes from my back pocket.

“Hey, I’m out front.”

“What do you mean you’re out front?”

The sound of traffic and a horn blaring confirm my suspicion. Of course, Liam would ignore what Brighton had to say. “Why didn’t you go upstairs to get an X-ray?”

“It’s just a little cough. I can get it on Monday. And besides, I have a plan.”

“Of course you do.” I jam my thumb into the L for the lobby, knowing I have to go up two more flights before it starts the return.

“I’m being serious. Hurry up.” He clears his throat.

“I’ll meet you out front in a few minutes.” I hang up, watching as the doors glide open and close on the next floor. I don’t understand his train of thought. We come in because he passed out. Maybe the cough has something to do with it. But nothing with Liam is ever urgent.

The doors continue their routine three more times before I’m able to exit and make my way out of the lobby. Liam’s leaning against a cab next to the curb and waves when he spots me. He heads toward me, meeting me halfway.

He holds up both hands, his brows drawn together, as his eyes dart from one spot to another, scanning the area. “Before you say anything, I need you to listen. And don’t kill me, okay?”

45

Bright Idea

Brighton

Saturday, June 10 th

10:27 a.m.

Most people don’t care, and some secretly want you to fail. But that’s not what it feels like sitting across from Hudson. He’s worried. And he needs this more than I do.

I offer his phone back to him after watching the horrible replay of the live footage of my second-long interview with Jenks. If me shoving my hand in the camera and yelling at Jenks isn’t enough to have people suspecting I’m the snitch at the hospital, then I don’t know what is. I let my guard down when I was talking to Jenks and let him get the best of me. But it’s too late now.

“Do you think Kline saw it?”

Hudson’s eyes stay fixed on his menu as he answers. “He’s the one who mentioned it.” He clears his throat and smiles as the waitress stops at our table tucked in the back of a secluded diner in Hell’s Kitchen.

I close my eyes when the burn of tears ignites behind them. I shouldn’t have reacted without thinking, but considering everything else going on, I don’t know if anyone would blame me. Sure, yelling at Jenks is not one of my finer moments, and telling him to fuck off on live TV is at the top of the list for the worst thing I’ve done in my lifetime. Was it an admission of guilt? Absolutely. But I can’t take it back.

“She’ll have the same.” Hudson grabs the menu from my hands and stacks it behind his before offering it to the waitress. “Hope you like your eggs over easy and your coffee black.”

I smile and give a half-hearted nod to show I’m paying attention.

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