Page 53 of The Wildcard

“Wha–” she started but Angel threw the bag on her bag, careful to aim for her legs. Her doctor balked though, but Angel brushed past him and braced his hands against the metal edge of her bed.

Looked at her with that grin on his face. And asked with a notion of confidence he didn’t really have anymore.

“Why do you never laugh with me like that?”

Not after having felt that shit.

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Stupid questions, he thought painfully as he saw the smile on her face fall. Ray’s hair was a mess behind her, but it spilled over her shoulder as she reached forward and grabbed her bag. Her eyes looked past him, and a smile played at her lips, bringing forth a new rush of annoyance buzzing in his veins,

“Thanks, Doc.” She said, her voice calm and dimmed as if reassuring the doctor behind him. Angel’s gaze narrowed, his hands tightening on the metal rod of her bed as he straightened and looked over his shoulder. Angel only saw his brownish-black hair and that polite smile.

The doctor’s eyes matched his then, and Angel saw his smile dim. In annoyance or fear, Angel did not know. He just shot the Doc a massive grin and shot him a two-fingered salute,

“Yeah,gracias.” He said and saw as a war raged in the doctor’s eyes. Angel felt the prick in conscience as he turned to face him, despite his mind screaming to let it be, and crossed his arms as he faced him, “What did you say your name was?”

His face paled, those eyes widening by a fraction as he clutched at the writing pad and raised his chin, “David Pierce.” He said, and to his credit, he didn’t shake once while relaying it. Angel’s smile widened,

“Well, David Pierce, I hope you understand the situation at hand.” He said his tone even as he spoke. David’s shoulders tightened and his eyes darted to Ray’s seated figure behind him. But for once, she didn’t interrupt them. Angel couldn’t see her but knew from whatever David saw in her eyes, it wasn’t pretty.

Instead, it was a reminder of who she was.

Angel ducked his head in half amusement, “You don’t need to worry as long as you follow the instructions.” he said, forcing himself to relay that hint of politeness in his voice.

Angel pushed away from the bed and strode in his direction.

They were both the same height, and Angel was sure the man was at least a few years older than him. But David seemed to squirm under his harsh gaze, and turn away,

“Are we clear?” he asked, his voice low. David nodded frantically and moved away from him. Angel’s gaze averted, looking over his shoulder. He saw Ray’s eyes on him, her hands in a blue container she must’ve removed from the bag. She removed a brownie from it and was about to eat it when a strangled sound left David’s throat.

Angel’s brows furrowed and David walked past him, his footsteps stiff as he approached her,

“Don’t eat anything with sugar. At least not until tomorrow.” He said and grabbed the container out of her hands. Ray’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t say a word as he grabbed the box and walked away from her, “Only fruits. Or Soups.”

Angel’s lips twitched as David walked past him, his head ducked as he murmured, “Understood.” Under his breath and walked out the doors.

But his eyes were on her. On the way she crossed her arms and glared at the door. Angel murmured a prayer in his head before walking to the side of her bed,

“Are you pouting after being stabbed, Raylene Walker?”

Her head snapped in his direction, those honey eyes so annoyed that Angel had to chuckle at the situation. Unamused, Ray swatted his hand away as he went to search the bag and looked down instead. She opened her mouth to say something when David’s voice broke through their atmosphere abruptly,

“And don’t,” he was saying, peeping into her room, the words on his tongue stalling as both of them paused to look at him. Ray was drinking water from her bottle when they heard him clear his throat and continue, “No contrabands.”

Ray spat out her water, ending up in a coughing fit as Angel’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What thefuckDoc–” Ray rasped and Angel heard David clear his throat again.

Suddenly, the man looked almost young as he looked at both of them through narrowed eyes. A laugh burst through Angel’s lips as he pursed his lips and nodded, still peeping through the doorway.

“Just making sure you know.”

Angel’s laughs didn’t cease as Ray yelled at him toget out!

“Ay Dios!” he guffawed and wiped the tears that had escaped his eyes, “Shit, that’s the most fun I’ve had in years.”

Ray mumbled something incoherent under her breath and Angel turned to her, his amber eyes shining in mirth as he faced her glare.

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