Page 155 of Vengeful Guard

It’s been two weeks since my conversation with Gray and Declan, and I’m spending a rare night away from the hospital because Paige yelled at me and said that I was driving her crazy.

I’m hovering a little, I know, but I can’t help it. I almost lost her, and I can’t help but think I need to be there twenty-four-seven.

But Lara’s watching over her, and I trust her to call if anything goes wrong.

Gray invited me to Sunday dinner, and I wouldn’t have come if Paige hadn’t made me.

Now, Gray, Declan, and I are all sitting in the living room, drinking. Have been drinking for a while now.

I look down into my glass, closing one eye to see clearly. I’m unused to drinking, and this whiskey packs a punch. “Have you thought any more about our conversation at the bar?”

Declan’s eyes find mine before they go back to his glass. He nods.

The lack of verbal response is killing me. The alcohol in me is not helping with my ability to be patient either.

“Well? Reached any conclusion? I know she misses you. I miss you.”

Declan shrugs. “You were always like a brother to me, anyway.”

My mouth is ajar as I look at him. “What?"

“When you marry Paige. I’m not worried about it, because you were always like a brother to me, anyway. It’ll just be official, now.”

“Are you trying to tell me that you’re giving us your blessing?” I frown, and Declan grins.

“I'm not saying it, but yeah, I guess.”

I whoop and hug him around the waist, and he chuckles, pushing me away.

Gray looks up from his glass, drunk and clearly bewildered, and that gets Declan going. He starts to laugh, doubling over, and soon enough all three of us are howling.

It’s another three days before Paige comes home, and I wheel her to the car, excited to get the hell out of the hospital and back to Paige’s brownstone. Or our brownstone, I guess.

As we get to the car, I unlock it and open her door. “We have to stop at the pharmacy.”

She groans. “Do we really have to? I just want my bed.”

She winks at me, and I frown.

Surely, she’s not suggesting sex. She’s way too fragile.

“Yeah, we have to. You’re going to need your pain medication and your muscle relaxer.”

She rolls her eyes. “Kael, you’re being a worrywart.”

“I’m not. I just want you to have everything you need.”

I swing by the pharmacy, paying for her prescriptions with cash, and we make our way back to the brownstone.

She puts her hand high up on my thigh, and I look at her.

“If you think you’re getting into my pants, you’ve got another thing coming, princess.”

“Do I?” She looks up at me with innocent green eyes.

Her face has finally turned from swollen to just bruised, a yellowish bruise across her jaw the only indication that she was so badly hurt.

I love being able to see both her beautiful eyes again.

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