Page 49 of Severed Rivalry
“I figured you’d be home by now.”
“Me too. Weren’t you supposed to find out about surgery today?” I ask as I merge westbound on US 6.
“How’d you know about that?”
“You mentioned it yesterday. Those meds must be strong.”
“They’d work on a horse, I bet. I swear I forget half my days. Ayla and I will need assistance if we stay together too long.”
I smile. “That feels wrong to laugh at.”
“Yeah. It’s no joke and laughing hurts so I avoid it.”
“So the surgery?”
“A week from Tuesday, exactly two weeks and one day after the incident. He doesn’t work on Fridays and he thinks Thursday is too soon for the swelling. His Monday is booked.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Aside from my visit to the ER on Monday, I had my tonsils out when I was a kid. I haven’t had general anesthesia since. So yeah. They say you come out of anesthesia sad or mad. Ayla came out swinging. I’d assume Liam would too. They think it’s the redheaded gene.”
“But you’re blond.”
“Maybe. My beard isn’t blond or brown when it comes in. It’s a dark rust.”
“I remember.” And I do. That chin, rubbing across my neck or my belly. Or lower.
“You saying it like that is… Angel, if I weren’t bedbound, with one functional eye and my tongue wired behind my jaw, well…”
I can’t help the laugh that explodes out of me. “Wow. Your skills need work, Cian Murphy. That’s not the way to woo a woman.”
“I’ll keep trying then. Note to self, missing teeth are not a turn-on.”
“Did the doctor say anything else?”
“He did, but my mind was out of it. The drugs are gnarly. Ayla threatened me with breast implants if I kept zoning out.”
“Also a turn-off,” I offer, the smile no longer hidden. “If you’re keeping a tally.”
“Noted.”
I exit the highway to head south as he continues.
“I just wanted to hear your voice. This was not at all how I envisioned beginning again with you. Being cloistered away with my sister is messing with my mojo.”
“Yeah, but having someone there to help and not let you get C cups in a stoned-out state is priceless.”
“Ds, woman. With these shoulders and my frame,Cs would just look ridiculous.”
My laughter reverberates through the car, but it’s interrupted with a beep.
The screen flashes Renée calling.
“Ci, let me call you right back. It’s Renée.”
“Sure thing. Let me know everything’s okay. Okay?” I can feel his worry.
“Will do. Bye.” I disconnect and quickly connect to the incoming call.
