Page 40 of Stay With Me
thirty
When I openmy eyes again, I see the doctor hanging a fresh bag of fluids from the IV pole next to Everett’s bed. He injects something into the IV, then checks Ev’s pulse. Seemingly satisfied with his assessment, he nods his head and turns to leave.
“Thank you,” I say, trying not to wake Everett.
He gives me a smile, warm and wide. “I’m glad I could help.”
I slip carefully out of bed, knowing the painkillers Everett’s on will keep him asleep for a while. Shaking the doctor’s hand, I follow him out the door. Eli’s deep voice echos from a room down the hall and I follow it. I find my friends sitting around a long table with Owen, Axel, the man I recognize as Decker from watching him help during eve’s surgery, and a few other men I’ve yetto meet. Ember untangles herself from Eli’s hold, wrapping me tightly in a hug as soon as she sees me.
“He’s gonna be okay, Kels.” She whispers.
“Unfortunately, we’ll be subjected to the Foo Fighters again soon, I’m sure,” I joke.
“Come meet everybody,” she says, tugging me along behind her.
“Morning, cher. How’s your boy doin’?” Axel asks, and I smile.
“He’s doing really well, thanks. I can’t ever thank you all enough for everything you’ve done for him. For all of us,” I reply.
“Ça c’est bon! Glad he pulled through, honey.” Owen says with a thick cajun accent. His expression tells me that whatever he just said must be good.
“Me too. Not sure what I would have done if -” I stop myself, not willing to even think about a life without Everett in it. “Anyway, who do we have here? I’ve met Axel, of course.”
“This is Decker, Jameson, Jagger, and Blaze,” he points to each man as he goes down the row and they wave.
“Your name is Blaze?” I quirk an eyebrow at the last guy.
“A far more suitable alternative to my given name, love,” the man shocks me with an English accent. A brit in the bayou? This place just gets weirder and weirder.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you all,” I say, dropping intothe seat next to Aurora. She leans her head onto my shoulder almost immediately and the sense of calm I always feel with my chosen family washes over me. “Breaker, are you okay? I thought I saw a bandage the other day.”
“Just a flesh wound. I’ll live.” He pulls his sleeve up a bit to show me the neat line of stitches running through the Phoenix tattoo on his bicep.
“Good. No offense to you lovely gentlemen, but I’m ready to go home,” I say, eliciting nods from my friends next to me.
“We were actually just discussing that. We really need to get back to the kids and open the shop back up. Can’t pay Willow if there’s no money coming in,” Eli says. “Helo went home a few days ago, but he said he can be back here in a few hours whenever we’re ready.”
“Yeah, I’m sure I’m fired by now,” Rory says, dropping her forehead onto the table in front of her.
“I called your boss at the coffee shop. I told her you had a family emergency yesterday and might not be back for a week or so,” Breaker pipes up, looking anywhere but Rory’s face.
“You-you what? Why?” she asks. Some times I swear that girl is completely oblivious to what’s right in front of her.
“You said you needed the job. Didn’t want you to get fired,” he says so matter-of-factly, as if that’s somethingfriends just do for each other. We all smirk at their exchange, no one willing to point out the obvious.
“Well, I’ll be glad to get home into my comfy leggings, climb into my own bed, and sleep for the next year or so,” I add, breaking the tension.
“Is Everett going to be able to fly?” Ember asks Doc.
“Well, it’s not the most ideal situation. But he’s been stable for a few days now. I gave him antibiotics to ward off any possible infection and I can send you home with painkillers. He’s gonna need somebody who can stay with him 24/7 for the next week or so just to make sure he can get around ok. Other than that, I don’t see why not,” Doc replies, easing back into his chair with a cup of coffee.
“I’ll be with him. I’m sure as sweet as he is, Breaker didn’t think to callmyboss. Malcolm would use any excuse to fire me, which is honestly fine. I’ve been looking for other jobs anyway,” I stand, watching Breaker shoot me a go-to-hell look.
“You should talk to Jax when we get home! I think he mentioned something about the high school looking for a new guidance counselor. Sounds like it might be up your alley,” Ember chimes in.
Her suggestion piques my interest. I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I can use the degree I worked hard to earn. I can’t think of a better way to do that than by helping children.
“Thats not a bad idea,” I say, thinking it over in my head.
