Page 94 of A Reluctant Boy Toy
After a brief wait at the cabin, Molly and Taggart practically shoved me into Taggart's SUV.
Taggart reached around me to fasten my seatbelt. I wished it had been Stone, who had refused to look at me before he left. Stone, whose skin had reeked of fear. Stone, who was probably practicing some form of self-loathing somewhere all by himself.
He broke my fucking heart.
Molly sat beside me, pale and shaken.
I looked back as we drove away.
Stone had headed toward the hybrid kennels with the look of a man carrying the world on his shoulders.
I wished we could have stayed in the aspen grove forever too.
* * *
Much later at the hospital,the sound of a door closing woke me from my drug-assisted doze.
“Mind if I come in?” Stone had changed his clothes since our morning walk. When he leaned in to kiss my cheek, I caught a whiff of the shower gel he used.
“Hi.” I blinked him into focus. “They gave me something for pain when I came in, and it’s working pretty great. What time is it?”
“It’s two.” He swallowed. “I came as soon as I could.”
“I like you,” I blurted. “I’m glad.”
“I’m sorry I—”
“No, no, no.” I wanted to wag my finger, but my arms were too heavy. “You were protecting me like…Who’s that guy? Captain America. Although you know, honestly, I think I like Bucky better.”
“You’re really stoned.”
“Little bit.” I snorted. “I’m waiting for my doctor here and my doctor in California. They’re swapping…consults. Together. That sounds sodirty.”
“I’m so sorry I hurt you, Sebastian.”
“Nuh-uh. We said—”
“Today, my mind told me something that didn’t match up with reality, and you got hurt. I don’t know if anyone’s ever going to be safe around me, but it kills me, especially, that in trying to protect you, I hurt you worse.”
“We don’t know that.” I reminded him. “The doctors…”
“Are consulting. Yes, I heard you.”
“They’reconsultingadults.” I snort-giggled. “Shh…They’re going over my x-rays to see if I have loose screws…” I laughed until tears stung my eyes. “Where’s Tag and Molly? I have to tell them all about that.”
“Taggart took Morrigan back to my place. Molly went to get something to eat.”
“Wait, don’t you need Morrigan?Oh.You stayed with me. Is Molly getting me something too? Why do I feel…itchy?”
“That’ll be the painkillers.”
That sucked. “What good is being…pain free if you’re gonna itch.”
“It’s a tradeoff.”
I looked around. “Where?”
“What?” he asked.
