Page 41 of Unbroken Promises

I may not like the dude, but I can’t help my sheepish expression as I look over his dull pallor. Stitches across one eyebrow, swollen eye, and fat lip, not to mention the large white patch that stands at attention against his normally dark and robust skin, it’s clear to see this guy has been through the ringer, and now I feel like shit for hating on him so much. But only just a little bit.

With a nod in his direction, I respond. “Good to see you are mostly in one piece.”

Jonathan’s lips flatten into a thin line, the pain evident on his face even as he fights back another groan.

“What can I do? Do you need more pain medicine? Should I call for a nurse?” Danica is scrambling to readjust without causing him further pain as she turns so that she is sitting on the edge of the bed, facing him. Jonathan tries shifting in the bed but is still too weak from the surgery and blood loss. Seeing him struggle, Danica quickly jumps in to assist, moving around his pillows to prop him in a more comfortable position.

“You shouldn’t be up and moving right now. Honestly. You are one of the most stubborn, bull-headed men I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.” The grumble is soft, muttered under her breath, but neither of us miss it.

A soft chuckle that breaks into a cough escapes him, and with a tired expression, he smiles blandly back at her. “Love you too, baby girl.”

Danica doesn’t stop fussing, her need to see him safe and comfortable evident in every fidgety movement, until Jonathan reaches out to touch her face. I tense, watching the interaction and wanting to step in; to move her out of reach, but as much as I could punch the guy for telling her that he loves her, with those fucking dopey puppy eyes and that touch, even I can’t lower myself to punch a man who is lying in a hospital bed after being shot.

Besides, Danica would bite my head off if I tried, and I am on a mission to win my girl back, not push her further away. My fingers ache from how tightly I am clenching my fists, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I broke a tooth from clenching my teeth together, but still, I manage to bite my tongue.

“Hey.” Danica stills at his touch, and a small part of me dies a little. It used to be my touch that would still her. I was the calm in her storm. Now,fuckingJonathanseems to have replaced me. No matter, it won’t be for long. “Look at me, Ellis.” Lifting her gaze, I can see the watery sheen of unshed tears. “I’m here. I’m alright.” Even as he says this, however, the pain in his eyes is evident behind the foggy haze clouding his vision from whatever shit they have him on, though he is doing a damn good job of fighting it for her. “It’s gonna be alright. You trust me?”

Her expression wavers, and I watch a myriad of emotions flit by as she works through her fear and remorse before settling on anger. Shoulders tense with determination as she nods in agreement. “As far as I can throw you.”

They both smirk, and break into laughter before Jonathan stops abruptly, gasping at the pain.

“Shit. That fucking hurt. But I needed a good laugh.”

O-okay. Clearly an inside joke of some sort, and I am the ass sitting on the outside looking in. Clearing my throat, my voice is gruff as I mutter under my breath, “Still here guys,” but they pay no attention, lost in a private moment shared between the two of them.

Chapter Forty-Three

Danica

Relief fills me as a myriad of emotions fight for attention in my overcrowded brain. Jonathan is clearly in pain, but he is awake, and he is making jokes at my expense. Despite his pasty, dull pallor and clouded vision, glimpses of my friend poke through the surface and if that doesn’t bring me hope that he will be alright, then nothing else will. His laughter quickly turns into a grimace as he gasps in pain, and I reach over to press the call button to summon his nurse as she steps in the room.

“Good timing on my part, it looks like! Good morning, my name is Susan and I will be your nurse today.” Short, with blue scrubs, dark hair beginning to show faint streaks of gray in the tightly pulled-back bun, and laugh lines at the corner of her eyes, a woman whom I’m assuming is his nurse enters the room, with Finn following closely behind.

“You’re awake. Lovely. How are you feeling dear?” Even as she makes conversation, I watch in fascination as she bustles around the room, checking the various machines and adjusting Jonathan’s bedding.

Jonathan grimaces once more, only this time I think it is more from having someone else take care of him; he has never been good at playing the sick patient. “I’ve been better.”

“Mmm, yes, I can certainly see that. Looks like you’ve been through the ringer, young man. I’m going to check your blood pressure and your temperature now. How would you rate your current pain level on a scale of one to ten?”

Again, multitasking while she talks, she reaches over to his uninjured arm and expertly places a cuff with a Velcro wrap around his arm to take his blood pressure, pressing a button on the monitor to start it before quickly swiping the thermometer across his forehead.

“Oh, you know. . . I’ve definitely had worse. Maybe a three or four.”

The monitor gives a soft beep, signaling the machine is done taking his blood pressure and she stops, face deadpan as she gazes back at him, waiting with one eyebrow raised.

“Young man, you have been shot; clearly went through some sort of altercation, and had significant blood loss. Not to mention enduring several hours of surgery after the fact. Now look- you and I are a team, and we have to work together in order to get you back to fighting form, but that is only going to happen if you are completely honest with me.” She pauses, waiting for a response.

“Oh, stop being such a hero, Loverboy. You’re not impressing anyone with the tough guy act.” Theo’s tone is dry, and I watch as he shoves his hands in his pockets. If I didn’t know better, I would swear Theo was trying not to punch Jonathan. He shoots me a sardonic look, quirking a brow as if to say“Who me? Punch the dude lying injured in the hospital bed? I would never. . .”And I know that truly he wouldn’t, not in front of me, at least.

Finn steps forward, moving to stand next to me as he watches on. Once again, a quiet observer to the tense social dynamic that always seems to orbit around him whenever Theo and I are in close proximity.

“Jonathan.” His voice is quiet, but we are all so surprised when he speaks that it captures our attention. Finn just gives a soft nod at his friend.

Closing his eyes- from exhaustion or embarrassment, I’m not sure- Jonathan releases a shaky breath.

“Honestly?” He pauses for so long that I am starting to question whether he drifted back off to sleep, but to her credit, Susan just stands by his side, waiting for a response while reaching for the stethoscope draped along the base of the monitor. As she places it against his skin, Jonathan jerks slightly, and his eyes crack open once more.

“Yeah, it hurts. More than I would like it to.”

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