Page 106 of Savannah Royals
“How painful is it?” Matthew asks.
“What? Sitting here with you?” Paul retorts. “About a nine outta ten.”
“Your stomach, smartass. Though I have to say, it’s nice to finally learn where Kat gets her sharp tongue.” He tosses a grin at me.
“It’s fine when I’m not moving around,” Paul says, watching us with shrewd eyes. “But trying to get up is a real bitch. Like a seven outta ten.”
“That’ll get better as the muscles heal. When your obliques and rectus muscles knit back together, it won’t be as painful. Give it a week or two. And increase your activity gradually. Sitting, then standing, then walking.Nothing strenuous for at least four weeks—no running, no lifting, no sex…nothing.”
“What was that last one, doc?”
“No sex. For four weeks. In your case, make it four months. I think Kat will survive.”
Paul snorts and turns to me. “I can see why you like him. He’s a riot.”
“We’re not having sex anyway, Paul,” I snap. “We haven’t for weeks, so what does it matter?”
Abe chortles again.
“I know, I know. You’re sticking it to the doctor now. I’m in the doghouse. I get it.”
“Paul…” I sigh crossly, closing my eyes in frustration. When I open them, I turn to Matt. He’s quietly gathered his things, ready to go.
“I guess this is where we part ways then?” Paul observes.
“Reckon so,” Matthew replies. “Unless there’s an issue, you shouldn’t need me again.”
“Kat, hand me my billfold,” Paul says. He fidgets in the bed to look directly at Matthew. “Tell me, what’s the going rate for a doctor’s soul these days?”
“That’s really not necessary.” Matthew puts out a hand to stop him.
“No. It is.” Paul’s tone is deadly. “I don’t wanna owe youjack.”
“I don’t do what I do for money.”
“Oh god.” Paul collapses back. “You truly are sickeningly sweet, aren’t you? It’s hard to stomach.”
“Just take good care of Kat,” Matthew says, “and we’ll call it even.”
Paul laughs. “You see, that’s how I know she’s never gonna choose you.Nobodytakes care of Kat. She’s more than capable of looking out for herself. You don’t know the first thing about her.”
“He knows more than you think,” I tell Paul as Matt heads for the door. “He would know it all if I was willing to tell him. So next time you wantto take a shot at him, don’t. Matthew has done nothing wrong. He’s never shown me anything but the utmost respect, and he did the same for you when hesaved your life, Paul.”
“For you, Kat. He saved my life foryou, not out of the goodness of his saintly heart.”
I shake my head. “You don’t know anything, Paul. What’s worse is you don’twantto know. He’s here again today, solely to make sure you—renegade leader of the Wolfpack—are doing okay. And you don’t even have the courtesy to thank him.”
Matthew hovers in the doorway beside Abe, waiting for me.
“You know what?” I rise from Paul’s bedside. “If you could muster up the humility to manage even a tenth of the grace he has”—I point at Matthew—“maybe I could stomach staying here with you. I love you, Paul, but you have never made it easy for me. There’s not enough room in your life for both me and your ego.”
Before I step back from the bedside, I do something either very crazy or very brave. Something long overdue. I lean over to kiss Paul’s forehead, then stand up straight. I pull his silver ring off my finger and plunk it down on the nightstand.
“I love you,” I repeat, “and I’m so happy you’re alive. I never want to lose you. I hope you’ll always be in my life in some capacity, but not like this, not anymore.”
When I walk out of the room, Abe’s eyes are wide and, I think, a little proud. But my heart is pounding in my ears, and the only person I really want to see or talk to is Matthew. So I take his hand and lead him out of the bayou loft and onto the street.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “For what you did in there.”
