Page 43 of Painting Together a Family
“No,” Bryan said immediately. “We’ve been waiting for you to come and fix his wrist. He needs to get home, we both do—there’s kids.”
“Yes. And there’s the guy that did this.” Dev waved his arm carefully. “I need to get home.”
“Well, to be honest, we’d like to officially sign you in and keep you overnight.”
“No,” Bryan spoke up before he could say anything. “He needs the cast on and he needs to go home. I’ll be there. I can wake him up every hour or whatever it is you need me to do, but his girls need him. So how long is this going to take?”
“A couple of hours, minimum.”
Dev nodded. “Do you want to go back to the house?”
“Do you need me here?” Bryan asked.
Yes. But he made himself shake his head. “No. No, I’m a big boy. Go grab clothes and your laptops, the boys’ favorite toys, you know.”
Bryan nodded slowly. “While we know he’s still in jail. You got it. I’ll do that and get back to the apartment. You get that wrist taken care of and come home to us.”
“Sounds perfect. I’ll be there as soon as I am released. Promise.” He needed to get home to his girls, to Bryan and his boys, to know they were all safe. All of them.
“We’ll hold you to that, but until you get there, I’ll hold the fort down.” Bryan leaned in and kissed him real quick on the lips, his eyes going wide as he stood back. “I, uh. Yeah.” Then he turned tail and left.
Dev touched his lips with his good hand.
Oh.
Oh, wow.
CHAPTER NINE
Bryan arrived back at Dev’s apartment around ten thirty with two huge suitcases full of clothes, all their important documents, his work, and some of the boys’ toys. Jennie let him in, eyes wide when she saw all the stuff he had with him.
“We thought it would be safest if we stayed here with Dev for a while. He has security, and I don’t.”
She nodded and helped him get everything in. “Of course. The kids are all in the living room still. They’re all asleep, but I wasn’t sure if I should send anyone to bed or just let them be.”
“That’s cool. We didn’t really have a plan until I got with Dev at the hospital and he insisted we stay. You need me to call you a cab or anything?”
She glanced at her watch and shook her head. “No, it’s not that late, I can get myself home. You call if you need anything, though, okay?”
“Thanks, Jennie. You’re a lifesaver. Really.” He gave her a hug, then she left, waving. He locked the door and put the chain on once she was gone. He wasn’t letting anyone who didn’t belong in.
He glanced at his watch—Jennie was right, it wasn’t really that late, just 10:45. It seemed surreal given all that hadhappened. It felt like more time should have passed. Kind of like his whole relationship with Dev to date, really.
Shaking his head, he left everything in the hall and made his way to the living room to see the kids.
Marley smiled at him, mouthing, “Daddy?”
“He’s getting a cast,” Bryan whispered as the other three were fast asleep. “He’ll be here as soon as it’s on.” He hoped that wasn’t too long from now. He wasn’t sure Marley would really go to sleep until Dev made it home.
“Okay. Are you okay? Do you need help?” She slipped out of the living room. “Are you staying? I think it would be nice if you did.”
He followed her, waving at the stuff he’d brought from his place. “I’m glad you do because yes, your dad asked if we would stay until all of this is sorted. So we’re all together. And I heard we’re having a pajama day tomorrow.”
“Yes. Pajama day it is.” She stepped closer and looked up at him. “That man… he’s evil.”
“Yeah, that’s a good word for it. I’m really sorry you had to see him come here and do that. The police took him away, and I hope they put him in jail for a long time. But the security guards here know who he is now, and they will never let him past the front desk again. You are safe here in your home.” He didn’t want her to be frightened; this needed to be a safe place.
“Yes. And you and daddy and the others are safe too. Juni’s ready to kick some butt.”
