Page 10 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part 2

RIGGS

“Jesus, Kai. What happened?”I hear Charley as if she is standing in the next room over. She’s concerned, and her voice is laced with aggravation, possibly downright anger. What the hell does she have to be angry about? I didn’t ask her to come here.

My body doesn’t hurt necessarily, but my head is aching and rather than laying on the bed, I’m floating above it.

What happened to me?

“Myers happened,” he growls.

“Jonas did this to him? Is he okay?” she asks, this time closer to me. I feel fine, but I wait for him to explain.

“Mild concussion and minor bruising to his ribs, but yeah, he’s fine. Just dozing in and out.”

“Well, that’s good,” she breathes, relieved, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from opening my eyes and calling her over to me. Hearing her voice makes me want to wrap my arms around her, feel her soft skin on mine.

“Yeah. I fucking thought Jonas was going to kill him. I don’t know what the fuck he was thinking starting a fight with him.” That’s a good damn question. What the hell was I thinking?

“He called Charley a whore,” I mumble, my throat dry from this horrible, institutionalized air.

Charley makes an annoyed sound. “You nearly got yourself killed because he called me a whore? Why on earth would you try to fight Jonas for calling me a whore? You’ve made it pretty clear you want nothing to do with me.”

Kai clears his throat as my eyes open, unsure what he should do during our lovers’ quarrel. I know she is trying to sound strong, but her pain comes through most. She should leave because I don’t need this right now. “I’m going to head out. You good, sis?”

I work to sit up and start protesting, but a hand plants itself on my shoulder and keeps me back. “Lay down, Riggs.” She turns away from me. “I’m good, Kai. Thanks for calling me.”

“Why did you call her?” Squinting because my eyes are sensitive to even the dim lights in the room, I send my glare to Kai.

“Who would you rather me call? Jensen’s dad is making it a point that you need to figure it out on your own and won’t let J call out of work to come get you, and I’ve been here with you all night. The doctors say you can go home, but they won’t send you home by yourself.”

Damn it.I know I seem ungrateful and I’m not meaning to be, but it’s my nature to turn down help. “Thank you for helping me and getting me here and for getting that asshole off of me, but I’m fine. You can both go home. I’ll call an Uber or something.”

“You’re not calling an Uber, Riggs. I will take you to your place.” I take a breath to calm myself, getting irrationally annoyed. I don’t want her around me, let alone taking me home and watching over me like I’m incapable of helping myself.

You’re injured. It won’t hurt to have her help.My eyes roll back so far at the voice in my head, I’m surprised they don’t get stuck.

“I can and I will. Where is my bike?” I demand in an effort to prove that I’m lucid and capable. Charley crosses her arms over her chest while Kai looks frustrated.

“J drove it back to your place last night. Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

“Thanks for looking out for me, man. I really appreciate it.”

Kai nods his response. “I’ll check in later. You hang in there, alright?” Sympathy flashes in his eyes and though I force myself to meet them, it’s a struggle. They look so much like hers it hurts.

“Later it is. Get some sleep, you look like shit,” I joke.

“Yeah, you too, asshole.” Kai closes the door behind him, leaving me with his little sister. She shifts, awkward, and drops her bag in the chair they have for visitors.

My heart, which has been beating out of my chest, settles. If I lose my bike, I’m royally fucked. Why… Why did I try to fight Jonas? I risked my damn bike. He could’ve done something to it or had I not had friends who are caring enough to help, it would’ve sat at that gas station all night and someone could have stolen it.

Jesus, why was I so reckless?

Fucking Charley, that’s why.I grind my teeth together, irritation and frustration with both myself and the situation I’ve locked myself in digging into my bones. Anger at Charley flares. I just want her out of my life so I can move the fuck on and here she is, insisting on giving a shit about me.

A wave of dizziness and nausea overcomes me and acid burns the back of my throat. My stomach is empty aside from the fluids floating through my veins, but I heave anyway. Instantly, Charley is by my side, thrusting some sort of kidney-shaped pan in my face. I snatch it out of her hands with a growl as liquid forces its way up my esophagus.

“Just stop, Riggs.” She moves even closer as I wretch the non-existent contents of my stomach out and my head throbs so hard I can hear the blood pumping in my ears. Fucking Christ this hurts. My ribs complain loudly and I clutch my stomach with the hand not holding the barf-can. I’m not one to be embarrassed, but I am ashamed of myself and don’t want her here at all. I definitely don’t want her seeing this.

She rubs my back as my body gives one last attempt at removing my organs from my body and I have to grapple with the idea of leaning into her touch. I can’t. Just can’t. Today will not be the day I give in.

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