Page 54 of Baring All
“And the driver? I hope they’ve been arrested.”
“Agatha identified the driver as Izabella Perez. So yeah, she’s been arrested. But the doctors aren’t sure she’s going to make it. Her injuries were bad. Lots of internal bleeding, head injury – suspected brain damage. It’s still touch-and-go at this stage.”
“Can’t say the bitch didn’t get what she deserved, after what she pulled.” We stand there, awkward as fuck. The only way to make things right is to address the elephant in the room – the fact that I behaved like a juvenile and then walked out, for days, without a word. “Listen, Eloise, I –”
Knight shoves through the door, almost bumping Eloise off her feet. I reach out to steady her, but as soon as she has her footing she steps back.
“Shit, sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean to nearly run you over.”
“No problem. I know you didn’t. Happier now you’ve had a chance to see your girl?” She smiles at Knight.
“Yeah, much, thanks. And thanks for taking care of her and Agatha while we’ve been gone. Indie says you’ve been their rock.” He pulls her in for a hug, and jealousy hits hard when she goes into his arms easily. I had that and, in a fit of pique, I ruined it.
A moment of clarity hits me hard. I’ve been shouting the odds about never falling in love, staying single, blah, blah, blah. But right then, it’s clear to see that it was never going to be a choice. Love crept in, regardless of my thoughts on the topic. Because there’s no denying it. I’ve fallen for Eloise.
“Oh, no. Please, you don’t have to thank me. It’s my pleasure.”
Knight steps back, an arm still slung around her waist. “Indie’s asking for you.”
“Me?” I ask, confused. I mean, I know we’re friends, but I would have thought she’d rather spend her time with Knight.
“Yeah, you, you mug.” He grins.
“I – well, okay.”
The walk from the waiting room is a short one. Not nearly enough time to ponder why Indigo’s asking for me specifically. A quick rap on the door and I come face-to-face with a rather battered, worse-for-wear-looking Indigo.
“Hey, gorgeous. How are you doing?”
She gives a rather inelegant snort of laughter. “Hey handsome. You know I have a mirror, right? I know there’s nothing gorgeous about what’s going on here right now.” She gestures to her face.
Bruises mar her flawless skin, road rash an angry red against the pale marble of her complexion.
“It shines through.” I grin. Despite the discoloration and scrapes, I’m thrilled to see she really is just fine. “So, Knight says you wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. Pull up a chair.”
“Sounds serious.”
“Oh, it is. But I’m hoping you’ll forgive me and see that it comes from a good place.”
Placing the visitor’s chair beside her bed, I sit. “Hm, not sure I like the sound of that already.”
Indigo holds out a hand, and I hate seeing more marks on her arm, the drip that’s feeding God knows what into her small body. She wiggles her fingers, and I wrap my hand around hers. I wait for her to speak, emotions I can’t identify flitting across her expressive face in rapid succession.
“You know I love you right?”
“Hey now, I thought you loved Knight,” I joke, nervous of where this conversation is going.
“Oh you.” She swats at me with her free hand. “No, I don’t love Knight. I adore that man. As far as I’m concerned, he hangs the moon each night.” Her face turns serious. “And that’s why I wanted to talk to you. I’ve had a lot of time to think, lying here. And I’ve gotten to spend some quality time with Eloise.”
“Yeah? I’m glad you guys are becoming friends.”
“Bear …”
“Rip the Band-Aid off, Indigo. Whatever it is, it’s clearly important to you. I’m a big boy.”
“Fine.” She takes a deep breath. “Tell her how you feel.”
