Page 13 of The Two Last Moments

“I liked talking to you yesterday,” Lark says. “Could you stay for a while again today? Unless your grandmother needs you. Or…a girlfriend.” Her lips twist. “I was trying to be subtle about prying for info, but I don’t think it worked.”

I bark a laugh. “No girlfriend. Or any significant other.” My pulse kicks as I say that.

I wonder if Lark has got anybody in her life who would putherfirst, the way Nina has always chosen me. I really hope Lark has somebody like that, because everybody deserves it.

I cross my arms. “If I have to take off, I’ll call one of those many friends of mine to take my place keeping you company. In fact, you might prefer I do that now. Some of my friends are a lot more interesting than me.”

“I doubt that.” She returns my smile, and it hits me smack dab in the chest. She’s laughed and smirked a few times around me, but that’s the first time I’ve seen her truly smile. It’s…damn. Really beautiful. The smile of a woman who has no idea how gorgeous she is.

Or what kind of affect that smile has on a red-blooded hetero male.

Behave, Danny-boy, Nina scolds in my head. That’s not why I’m here. It’snot.

“Either way,” I say, “you won’t be alone. I can give you my number, and you can call me later if you want. Using the hospital phone, or after. Wherever you end up. Your other friends haven’t found you yet, but you’ve got one right here.”

“Thank you.” She blinks tears away and puts on a stoic face. “Really.”

Most of the time, when people thank me, I just shoot back an easygoingno worriesorno problem. But this time, that doesn’t feel like enough. I want to say more.

What I end up saying is somethingreallystupid.

“We’re going to find your people and get you home safe and sound. I promise.”

The instant the words are out of my mouth, I want to pull them back. When it comes to helping someone get their life in order after a trauma, there are no guarantees. I can’t promise someone will walk again, that their loved one will survive, or that they’ll recover family heirlooms after a fire.

But for some reason, with this woman, I want to do the impossible.

Fuck me, but when I saidI promise, I meant it.

6

“Knock, knock.” A woman in a lab coat is at the door, her thick hair in a braid over her shoulder. “Lark, can I come in?”

We both look up from the nature documentary we were watching on my phone. The doctor walks inside and shakes Lark’s hand. “I’m Dr. Cruz from the psychiatry department.”

“I remember. You were here yesterday.”

“Good to know your short-term memory is intact,” Dr. Cruz responds. Doctor humor, I guess.

I stand up from the chair where I was sitting. “I can step out and give you some privacy.”

Lark’s eyes go wide with a hint of panic. “I’d rather you stay.”

The doctor glances between us. “It’s up to Lark, of course. You’re a friend of hers?”

“I am. I’m Danny Bradley. I was there when Lark was hurt the other night.”

“He saved me,” Lark adds. “Danny hasn’t told me exactly what happened that night. I’m sure it’s because he’s trying to protect me, but I don’t need that.”

I shrug sheepishly.Busted.

“I need to know what’s going on,” Lark insists.

Dr. Cruz settles into the chair that I vacated, while I remain standing. They talk for a while, and the doctor examines her. Finally, she sits back down and runs a finger along her chin thoughtfully.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong with me?” Lark’s fingers twitch against the blanket. I feel the urge to reach out, but I don’t move because it seems like something a closer friend would do. Not a guy she just met.

But are any of her close friends nearby?

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