揥yatt??
My head snapped up. Beck stood in front of me. Hannah was at the front desk, talking with the receptionist. White gauze covered her hand and there was a bandage on her forehead.
Beck nodded for me to follow him. I didn抰 want to leave her but my worry overpowered my need to pick her up and tuck her under my arm, where she could be safe. Once we were in an exam room, I crossed my arms over my chest.
揑s she okay? What抯 going on??
He nodded. 揝he抯 fine. I didn抰 see any sign of concussion. I cleaned her wounds, gave her a few stitches, and wrapped her hand up.?
揧ou know she hit her head, right??
He snorted. 揧ep, you mentioned that about six times.?
揟his isn抰 funny!?I yelled, surprising both Beck and myself. 揝orry. Fuck.?I rubbed my face and took a deep breath.
Beck reached out to put a hand on my shoulder but changed his mind. 揑t抯 okay, man. I understand. But if I thought she had a concussion, even the slightest one, I抎 tell you. She抯 okay.?He leaned against the counter. 揑 gave her a few Advil for the swelling and pain and I told her to take more tonight. She抯 going to have a bump on her forehead for a few days.?
I nodded. Advil. Swelling.
揝he can put ice on it if it抯 comfortable.?
I nodded again, swallowing. My jaw was so tight it hurt.
Beck winced.
揥hat??I asked.
He shook his head and laughed a little. 揑 didn抰 know.?
My eyebrows shot up. 揇idn抰 know what??
He gave me a rueful smile. 揟hat you two were a thing.?He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. 揑 wouldn抰 have厰 He narrowed his eyes, thinking. 揃ut also, she asked me out. Right in front of you.?He gave me a funny look.
I never should have told her to ask a bunch of guys out. What a stupid, stupid idea. She could have practiced asking me out, again and again.
Yeah. We could still practice that.
When I didn抰 elaborate, he shrugged. 揂nyway. Sorry about that.?He clapped me on the shoulder. 揝he抯 fine, okay? Lots of rest and keep her off the gnarly waves for a couple days.?
Try forever. She was never getting back on that board. She could surf the baby waves within ten feet of shore.
揟hanks for seeing her so quickly.?I cleared my throat, meeting his eyes. A hint of embarrassment hit me in the gut. 揑 know I抦 being an asshole.?
He grinned. 揑t抯 okay. You抮e taking care of your girl. I get it.?There was something funny in his expression. Longing. Envy. 揂nd I will keep looking.?
Empathy flickered in my chest for the guy. He was my friend, and a good guy. Except the whole hitting-on-Hannah thing.
Hannah was mine. He could find someone else, and I hoped he would.
He led me back to Hannah and I gathered her up in a big hug, right there in the waiting room. I tucked her into my chest the way I had been wanting to for the last half hour and breathed in her damp hair, pressing my mouth to her temple. She relaxed into me and my chest eased a couple notches.
Her hands stroked my back.
揜eady to go??I said into her hair.
She nodded. 揧ep.?
We got back into the car and when we passed Hannah抯 street without stopping, she turned to me with a questioning look.
揥yatt.?Amused suspicion dripped from her tone and she raised an eyebrow before she winced in pain.
Well, that only settled my resolve.
揥here are we going??
揗y house.?
Her eyes widened. 揥hy??Her head fell back in frustration, but she still huffed a laugh. 揌e said I抦 fine. I feel fine. Beck didn抰 see any sign of concussion.?
I shook my head hard and pulled into my driveway. 揌e doesn抰 know what he抯 talking about.?
Her chest shook with laughter. 揌e抯 literally a doctor.?
I put the car in park and turned to her. 揥e don抰 know that.?My mouth lifted in a grin.
She rolled her eyes. 揧ou抮e impossible.?
Beck was a smart guy and I trusted him but something deep inside me wanted Hannah near to me until this weird protectiveness went away.
揧our brain is addled,?I said as we got out of the car. 揑 don抰 want you alone tonight. You might try to lick the light sockets or something.?I reached for her and tucked her under my arm as we walked up to my place. I wasn抰 going to let her out of my sight.
Wife. Pregnant. I glanced down at her and my pulse picked up.
She snorted. 揥hat抯 that look??
I shook my head and unlocked the door. 揘othing.?
We stepped inside and I rubbed a hand absently over my chest. I抎 deal with these feelings later. For now, Hannah was my sole focus.
21
Hannah
That evening, Wyatt led me through the front door of Elizabeth and Sam抯 home. We slipped our shoes off and I could hear voices in the kitchen.
揂ct normal and don抰 you dare make either of them feel awkward.?Elizabeth抯 voice held a hard, challenging edge.