Page 79 of Sweet Heat

And now, my best friend lies bruised and bleeding somewhere in the back while we’re stuck in this sterile waiting room. Posie’s head rests on my shoulder, and her complete exhaustion trickles down the bond. I wish I could protect her fromthis, take her home, and hide from all the bad parts of the world, but she refuses to leave without seeing Owen. Making sure he’s all right—even after he’s been nothing but terrible to her lately.

I love her so much.

“Miller! Posie?” Willie’s shout fills the waiting room, and Posie jumps, her head popping off my shoulder when her parents rush through the double doors. We stand as they crowd around us.

“What have you heard?” Samuel asks, his face lined with tension.

“Nothing yet. They gave us some scrubs to change into and told us they would bring news as soon as they could,” I explain, keeping my voice calm although I feel anything but. Even if he’s been an ass lately, I’m still terrified for my friend. Posie sniffles beside me, and I pull her into my body. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.

“It hasn’t really been that long…” Willie rationalizes, turning as more loud voices sound outside. Crimson, Damien, and Niko come pouring in, all talking at once, asking for the same information about Owen’s status.

Fortunately, it’s only a few moments after we settle in that an older beta woman comes out of the patient area wearing a white coat and holding a tablet. She looks tired but has a serene smile that calms the worry rioting through my body.

“Hello, I’m looking for the family of Owen Moore,” she says crisply, and we all get back to our feet. Her eyes widen at all the people, but she takes it in stride. “I just wanted to let you know he is awake and stabilized. He was in a nasty car accident, but honestly, he’s a very lucky young man. While he will have a lengthy recovery, it should be a full one.”

As soon as the poor woman stops to take a breath, she’s bombarded with questions flying from every direction. Like a pro, she dodges most of them, citing patient confidentiality and letting us know that we will be able to see Owen one at a time soon.

“Now, which of you is Miller?” she asks, her eyes scanning over the Alphas present. With a hard swallow, I step forward.

“Me.” She nods.

“Perfect, Owen asked to see you first. Then, everyone else will be allowed in when he’s ready. Please follow me.” She holds the tablet against her body and gestures for me to follow. But there’s no way I’m leaving Posie by herself after such a trauma.

“Can his sister come?” I speak up, making the doctor look back at me with a frown.

“No. We must insist on one at a time,” she says in her no-nonsense tone. Posie flashes me a watery smile and then hugs me.

“Go. I’ll be right here,” she insists. I want to argue that she should get to go first, but the doctor clears her throat, letting me know her patience is wearing thin. Instead, I crush Posie against me and drop a quick kiss on her lips.

“Be right back.” Leaving my heart behind, I follow the doctor toward the patient area.

The whirring machines, bustling nurses, and constant beeping make me want to crawl out of my skin. I hate this place so damn much. Suddenly, a burst of love shoots down the bond, and my panic calms as we turn into a small room. The bed takes up almost the entire space. There’s barely any room for the single chair squeezed between the wall and door. And propped on a thousand pillows sits Owen. His eyes are dazed, probably fromthe pain meds pumping through his veins, but as soon as I walk in, he tries to sit up further.

His leg’s in a cast up to his hip and is in some kind of sling contraption that looks as uncomfortable as fuck. With a grunt, he gives up, flopping back on the pillows, and I get closer to the bed. Standing over him, I’m at a complete loss for words. The rift between us seems stupid as hell, considering I could have lost him. But at the same time, I can’t apologize.

I love Posie more than anything. And while I want us to all be able to get along, if he can’t accept us, that’s not something a few simple words will change.

“Y-you saved me.” His voice comes out shaky, and he lifts his hand, reaching for mine. “I-I didn’t deserve it…”

“Don’t be an idiot,” I tell him, gripping his palm. “You deserve help. You deserve to be here.”

“I-I.” He trails off, not sure how to bridge the gap any more than I do, so I say the first thing that comes to mind.

“You know me loving Posie has nothing to do with you. You’re my best friend, always will be—even when you’re acting like a dipshit. But I love her like no other,” I explain earnestly, hoping he can take my honesty and realize nothing needs to change between us.

“Yeah. I know you do. Can see it. But… it was supposed to be us against the world,” he chokes, gripping the hospital sheets with his other hand and gritting his teeth like he’s in pain. “Always thought we would share an omega, be family for real.”

“Nothing more real than being your sister’s mate. That makes usbrothers.” Squeezing in beside him, I wait for his reaction,hoping he can finally let go of us being packmates and embrace us being brothers instead.

He barks out a laugh, wincing when his leg jerks in the sling. Releasing his grip on me, he presses against his painful ribs with a sigh. Owen shifts on the bed, clearly uncomfortable, and I wonder if the meds are wearing off.

“Brothers. I like that.” He nods, then continues. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an absolute fuckwad. I’ll make it up to you.”

It’s not great, as apologies go, but I’ll take it. Now he just needs to prove he can let go of whatever shit he’s been bottling up.

“Don’t make it up to me. Just her…” Our eyes meet, and I see him pick up what I’m throwing down. Life’s too short to hold a grudge. As long as he’s good to my girl, it’s time to move on. A nurse bustles in to check his vitals, and I know my time is up. There are too many people waiting to see him, and it’s long past time that I returned to Puff.

Leaving his room much lighter than when I entered, I follow my heart, letting the trauma of this place fade to a distant memory…

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