Page 43 of One More Round

“Oh?” I say on a low moan.

“Come to think of it, I don’t think we really need to leave. I’m sure we can find a secluded place somewhere in this giant building.”

“Oh, right. Not happening,” I tell him, laughing.

“No, really, every doctor show ever made has plenty of dark, secluded rooms for fuckery. You should know this,” he pleads, resting his forehead against mine.

“Yeah, but those rooms are made for hot doctor sex. We are not hot doctors.”

“Maybe not, but I’m a hot gamer and you’re a sexy-as-fuck writer. So, I think it’s gravy, baby.”

I snort. I can’t hold it back and I let out a real, actual belly laugh.

“What?” he acts appalled.

“You’re cute.” I pat his cheek.

“Pfft. I’m not cute. I’m a hot gamer,” he pouts. “And I’m serious.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I lean in, whispering in his ear, “So am I. Our first time isn’t going to be in a hospital broom closet,” I say as I place my hand on his thigh. “I want to be able to scream your name without worrying about getting caught.”

I lean back and stand. He adjusts himself and jerks his head like he’s clearing away the sexy haze in his eyes. He clears his throat and looks up at me.

“Where you going?”

“To find a restroom. I’ll be back.” I wink at him and head off down the hall. I get all of about ten steps away from him when I remember that I’m on the psych ward of the hospital because my twin was shot yesterday while having a psychotic breakdown.

I’ll just head back to my Simon bubble now.

Chapter Twenty-One

Gia

Hours slowly tick by as we wait to go back to visit Todd. My heart is being pulled in several directions over his request. I’m anxious beyond control, since we have never been good at communicating. He has never been nice. Despite what history has taught me—to be wary of anything he wants to tell me—I’m still interested in why he would want me to come back to visit him. There is also a part of me that hurts to see my twin—the person who should truly be my other half but isn’t—in this hospital.

Simon and I lean back into our chairs sitting next to each other watching a Netflix Original on his iPad Air. I was surprised to see him pull out two pairs of Bluetooth earbuds. While it’s proven to be challenging to pay attention to any kind of mindless entertainment when I’m with Simon, I’m also dwelling on what my brother could possibly have to say to me. Whatever it is will probably break me down and destroy all the patches I’ve used to mend the holes in my heart. Holes that he put there.

A hospital staff member approaches my mom, who’s been at a nearby table working on her laptop. Mom waves at me to get my attention.

I pull out the earbuds and get up to go talk to her, leaving Simon as he pauses the show.

“They said we can go back to visit now if we’d like. He is done with his tests,” she says while closing up her laptop and collecting her paperwork.

“Actually, Mom, I thought that I would just go back by myself to visit him this time. Simon and I are going to have to head back to Chicago tomorrow, and I’d like to get my visit out of the way now.”

She leans back in her chair and studies me.

“OK, Gia,” she says carefully. “You realize that he is pretty heavily medicated, right? I know he hasn’t always been very nice to you. And I don’t want you to be upset by anything he may say. Without me or your dad there with you, we won’t be able to run interference.”

I’ve never seen her so worried about my feelings before. When I was younger, I always told her when Todd hurt my feelings, and about the things he said to me. She and Dad were well aware, but she never took sides. She always told us to work things out. I must look as confused as I feel, because she leans forward and grabs my hand, looking up at me.

“Gia, you matter to me as much as your brother does. But he is a lot more fragile than you are—always has been. Just please take whatever he says with a grain of salt.”

“OK, Mom. I will,” I tell her, and lean down to give her a hug. “Love you, Mom.”

I back up and walk toward the double doors. Simon stops me before I get too far. Placing a hand on the side of my face he reminds me that I can leave anytime, and I do not have to sit there and listen to anything he has to say to me. I tell him I know and thank him with a chaste kiss. Then I continue on my way to Todd’s room.

I’m all confidence and strength when I’m checked for weapons, when I rattle off the personal patient code for Todd, and even as I walk down the hall to his room. But as I stand on the other side of his half-closed door, my hands start to shake.

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