Page 17 of A Billionaire Rebel

The moment the elevator doors opened, I went to step inside, only to find myself walking straight into something solid and good-smelling.

“Sorry.” I flushed as I looked up. Golden blond hair, pale blue eyes, athletic build…shit, it was one of Damon’s brothers.

“Delivery?” He didn’t smile, but he didn’t look angry, either.

“Sort of.” I held up the flowers. “I work at Starla’s Music. Your brother, Damon, bought a guitar the other day, and we thought we should send our sympathies…” I suddenly realized I was babbling. “Sorry.”

He gave me a searching look and then held out his hands. “That’s kind of you. I’ll make sure he gets them.”

“Thanks.” I smiled as I gave him the flowers and card. “I’m really sorry to hear about his friend.”

“We are too.” A shadow passed over his face, and then he seemed to give himself a mental shake. “May I ask why you brought these here instead of the hospital?”

“We didn’t want the media thinking that we were trying to cash in on a tragedy. And we didn’t want to bother anyone at the hospital. We figured if we brought them to you, he’d get them at some point and wouldn’t have to feel obligated to have a conversation with a stranger.”

After a moment of awkward silence, I turned and walked away, telling myself that I shouldn’t be disappointed that I hadn’t spoken to Damon directly. He probably wouldn’t have remembered me anyway.

Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about that last smile he’d had before he’d walked out of the store, and I wished I could see it again.

Ten

Damon

I hadn’t beenthis exhausted since my mom died. The bone-deep weariness of grief and helplessness I felt now brought all of those memories flooding back, piling onto my shoulders until I felt like I might break under the weight. But I couldn’t let anyone see any of that. Not when other people needed me to be strong and upbeat for them. I usually didn’t have any difficulty maintaining a positive outlook, but as the day wore on, it became harder and harder to keep smiling and telling people it was going to be okay.

Now that Hawk was asleep and Kalini had come back, I should’ve been able to go without feeling guilty, but I still lingered in his room, not wanting Kalini to feel like I was abandoning her.

“You look like shit,” she said, her voice pitched low to keep from waking Hawk. “Go home. Get something to eat, shower, and sleep.”

“Are you sure?”

Kalini gave me a quick hug. “Yes. Hawk’s parents will be here soon, and Otis’s sister rode up in the elevator with me. His ex’s probably going to stop in first thing in the morning and see when she can bring his kids. No one’s going to be alone.”

We didn’t talk about Bair. His dad and two of his brothers had gotten in from Austin sometime around five this morning. I’d called Mr. Appleton myself, not wanting the doctors or the police to break the news.

I’d reached out to Cathy next, glad Kalini had been with the police while I’d made both of those calls. By the time I was done, I’d had a new respect for what Dad had been through when he’d told my brothers and me when Mom died.

“Cathy said she’s going to stop by tomorrow,” I reminded her. “Diana will probably bring her since Cathy’s not supposed to be driving, but I think that’s a good idea, her having Diana with her.”

“She knows about – knows how the guys are doing?”

“She does. Knowing it and seeing them, though…” I let my voice trail off.

Neither of us needed that to be explained. Knowing Otis had been in surgery hadn’t been the same as seeing him with all the tubes and wires, seeing his body taped and sewn up.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Kalini said. “Being alone?”

“I’m actually going to go see Davin. He texted me, said I should stop by the office.”

I’d been surprised, honestly. I’d thought he only paid attention to business news. Grandad had called this morning. I hadn’t heard from Dad at all, but I doubted he even knew what was going on.

“Really?” Kalini looked impressed.

“Shocked me too,” I admitted. “I figure I’ll see what he wants, then get some sleep. Perfectly fine to do alone.”

She nodded, her momentary distraction from Hawk over. I could feel her wanting to go back to him, and I wasn’t going to keep her from his side. I’d watched the two of them dance around each other for years, though I didn’t think Hawk had realized yet that Kalini liked him as much as he liked her. Maybe something good would come out of this tragedy, and they’d finally admit their feelings for each other.

“Take care of him,” I said quietly. “I’ll check in tomorrow. Call me if there’s a change in either of them or if you need me for something.”

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