Page 102 of Time to Bounce

Garrett’s face was blank as he listened to us talk, and by the time I was finished having my side sewn up—eighteen stitches—I was really worried about him.

“Maven had her baby!” Mom cried.

The nurse handed me my discharge papers, and I said, “I’ll catch a ride with y’all to the station.”

“You’re not going to come meet Lola?” Dad asked.

I was already shaking my head. “Not right now. I’ll be back to see her when I’m done at the station. I want to get some stuff figured out with the hit before I go up there.”

“What about Athena?” she asked. “You’re not going to show her that you’re all right?”

I would.

Later.

When I wasn’t so fucking mad at her and thought I could control myself.

“Not right now,” I admitted.

Dad snorted. “Take Garrett with you. The two of you figure it out and get back here.”

We did that, and I tried really hard not to turn left down the hallway to see Athena instead of taking a right and heading to the parking lot.

My side smarted as I tensed my abs.

Garrett noticed the wince and said, “Are you sure we should be going down there right now?”

“Yes,” I said as I glanced at him. “This is a bounty on your head, Garrett.”

He looked away. “It’s my shit to deal with.”

I ignored him.

“You’re using me as an excuse to not talk to her,” he said as we walked.

“Her who?” Callena asked.

“The woman my dumbass brother loves,” Garrett said.

“What?” Callena asked.

“Is it that cute little Asian I saw you walking around with at the station?” Tyrone asked.

I shot him a glare. “Athena.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry, but she was cute. I can’t help it.”

She was cute.

“Go back inside, Gable,” Garrett said. “I’ll take it from here.”

I looked at him, feeling a pull going both directions.

“She needs you after today,” he said. “You’ve stalled long enough. Just go tell her she scared the hell out of you.”

“I think he should go with us,” Callena admitted.

She would.

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