Page 33 of Breaking Conviction
The words took root inside Naomi’s mind, reminding her she’d thought the very same thing only a few weeks ago with Wes.
Unable to speak at first, Naomi only nodded before clearing her throat.
“You good to go home by yourself, or do you want me to stay with you longer?”
“Yeah, I think I need some time alone.” Sophie must’ve seen Naomi’s worry because she squeezed her hand again. “I’ll be fine, though. Promise.”
Naomi nodded, understanding that feeling too. “Okay, and you call me next time you’re tempted to go out with an asshole, got it?”
Sophie snorted and held up her phone before opening her car door. “I’ve got your number now. You best believe I’ll be hittin’ you up to rant about more than just bad dates. But don’t worry. Next time I go out with a guy, I’ll think ‘what would my friend, Nay, say?’ If your bossy ass nixes him, then so will I.”
“Girl, I know it’s been a while, but how many times I gotta tell ya?” Naomi rolled her eyes as she backed away from the car. “I ain’t bossy, I’m the boss.”
Naomi winked and turned to walk back into the hospital. Once inside, she started to text Nora to find out where she’d gone off to but ran straight into a hard wall… and a soothing cedar and citrus scent, like peeling an orange in a homey cabin.
She took a deep breath of the soft fabric, trying to place it, right before she realized exactly who gave her that sense of comfort. Her eyes snapped wide and she pushed the man away.
“Snake! What’re you doin’ here?”
Wes nearly tripped backward, his eyes blinking quickly, like he’d been just as caught up in the moment as she’d been. He shook his head before clearing his throat. “Sorry—”
“Don’t say that,” she interrupted without thinking and immediately felt her cheeks heat.
Thatwordalways irritated her, but for some reason, hearing it come from his lips when he’d truly never done anything wrong made her want to scream. How many times had she heard an apology and been expected to magically forgive every sin? She didn’t know how to react when there was actually nothing to forgive.
She grimaced, knowing she wouldn’t be able to explain her odd reaction. “I mean… just… you don’t have to say that. You’re, uh, a troublemaker, and all, but other than that there’s nothing to apologize for.”
He narrowed his eyes at her with what looked like curiosity, and she just knew he was studying her again. She should’ve hated how well he already seemed to know her. But she didn’t.
“Nora told me to come get you. I looked all over until a nurse said you’d walked the survivor outside to her car.”
“Why didn’t Nora come get me herself?”
He gestured the way ahead of them, waiting as she nodded and began to walk forward. His hand was featherlight on her back as he gently guided her. Flutters settled low in her belly at his protective touch, but when she remembered they were in public and anyone could see, reality hit her and she couldn’t help the way her spine stiffened.
Wes must’ve mistook her fear for stubbornness. He huffed and dropped his hand, leaving an instant chill where it’d been. “I’m taking you to Nora, alright? I was visiting a friend and she tagged me out.”
“Oh.” She followed his lead through the halls as she racked her brain to figure out how to make their interaction less awkward after she’d started it off on the wrong foot. “You have a friend here?”
Wes nodded, his eyes crinkling at the edges with what might’ve been frustration or concern, she couldn’t tell. “Yeah, remember my teammate that Nora mentioned? The one in the coma?”
Naomi sucked in a breath and paused in the hallway. “Oh god, I didn’t even realize.”
His hand gravitated to her elbow, continuing to steer her forward with a light touch. Other people might not even notice, but everything this man did blasted loudly on her radar. She allowed the contact this time, not wanting to miss his warmth again, keeping her response neutral so as not to scare him away.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, he dropped his hold. He hadn’t done it harshly, but losing his warmth was abrupt all the same.
“He’s been in a coma for a year. For a while it was like his body was taking care of itself after he’d been shot, but it’s been a hell of a long time. Too long. We’re all worried, but don’t tell Nora. Knowing the truth might crush her and I think she’s still hoping for the best.”
At the crack in his voice, Naomi reacted on instinct and grabbed his tattooed hand. The ink on his knuckles peeked through her fingers and his palm was warm against hers. It was surprising to find something designed to look so intimidating could feel so comforting.
Wes’s steps slowed, but he held on, squeezing a little tighter before continuing to navigate them through the hospital halls and up two floors. When they finally reached the room, Wes turned and stopped her from going inside with a raised hand. She opened her mouth to question him, but when he tapped on his ear, she closed it again and leaned in to listen to what was happening inside the room.
She strained to hear until Nora’s laughter tinkled into the hallway.
“No way, shedefinitelywore it best. I don’t care who you are, Khlo’s body is bangin’. It’s not her fault her sisters are fun-sized like me.”
There was no response, and when Nora kept speaking as if someone answered, Naomi tilted her head and watched Wes’s reaction to find sad eyes and a grim tightening of his lips.
