Page 31 of Time Bomb

I get one of his lopsided grins this time. “Of course I do, but you’re who he’ll want at his side right now. He doesn’t give a shit about me.”

“Are you sure?” I whisper, hardly able to believe this is happening.

“Yup.” Gripping my elbows, he drags me to my feet and escorts me back to Torque’s room with the doctor leading the way.

As we enter the room, the sound of machines beeping drowns out whatever the doctor is saying to us. Torque lays on the bed, pale, with wires and tubes seemingly everywhere, and I can’t begin to imagine how he’s still alive. Not looking like this.

A chair gets pulled closer to the bed, and I’m forced to sit in it. Reaching forward, I want to touch this precious man, but I’m afraid to hurt him. I don’t want to be the cause of any more of his pain.

Hale takes the choice away and places Torque’s hand in mine. Gripping him fiercely, I press my head down to meet his flesh, grateful he’s alive. Despite how cold he feels, his pulse beats strongly in his wrist.

I’m unaware of how much time has passed, but Hale must have talked with the staff because no one has tried to kick me out. When I lift my head again, it’s dark outside, and staring down at me is Torque.

“You’re awake,” I sigh. “How are you feeling?” It’s a stupid question, but I have to know.

“What are you doing here?” He frowns, then winces. “You shouldn’t be here.” Stunned, I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. “Go home, Philly.” His words are slightly slurred, and his eyes are glossy, but I stand.

Slowly backing away, I accept this is my fault. I pushed him away. I was so mean to him. I shouldn’t be surprised he doesn’t want me to be here, but I am. I’m stunned. When he turns his head away from me, I wrap my arms around my stomach and amble down the hall, avoiding everyone and keeping the tears at bay until I’m home and can cry in private.

I ruined everything. I ruined us. It doesn’t matter that I was warned to end things with Torque or he’d be hurt, or that I was so afraid. He didn’t deserve the way I spoke to him, and I certainly don’t deserve a hero like him, anyway.

CHAPTER 9

Torque

MISTAKES WERE MADE.

One month later.

She moved. She changed her number. She barely works in the front of The Cup anymore, and I haven’t been able to talk to her. Hale told me she was there that day. In the hospital and by my side until she wasn’t. She never came back.

Everyone says I’m wasting my time, that I should let it go and move on. But they don’t know my Philly, not like I do. They have no idea how broken up she was when I was hurt or that I can’t breathe without her.

I’ve been unable to see her because she won’t let me. Something happened, but I have no idea what. We’re both in this state of limbo. At least, I hope she is, too. I don’t wish for her to hurt like I am, but I need her to miss me as much as I miss her.

Hale and Dorian have compiled enough evidence to arrest Baxter Cunningham, the asshole who has been harassing Ophelia, but they can’t locate the fucker. Which only has me worrying about Ophelia even more. I need her. If only she were by my side, I know the world would right itself once again.

After the fire that nearly ended my life, I spent a week in the hospital recovering, and now, I’m doing physical therapy to help build the strength back up from when they cut into me. I was lucky; I only lost a spleen, cracked some ribs, and had a mild concussion. I could have died.

The first thing I did when I was discharged was buy an engagement ring with the intent of proposing to Ophelia the first chance I got.

Sure, I was upset at first that she wasn’t visiting me in the hospital, but I got over that pretty quickly. She must have had her reasons.

Slowing my jog down in front of Laken and Hale’s house, I walk up to their front door just as a scream rips the air. Running through the entrance, I find Laken bent over at the waist, pain highlighting every line of her body and her hands holding her very pregnant belly.

“Is it time?” Her bewildered eyes look up to meet mine as she nods. I was not prepared for this today. I had only wanted to come over and scope out Philly’s house. “I’ll call Hale,” I tell her.

“Already done.” Jesse comes into the room, calmly carrying a bag.

“Let’s hit the road then.” Wrapping an arm around Laken’s shoulders, I support her out to the car. Jesse hands me the keys, and one scream after another has us at the hospital in no time. Hale is already there waiting with a nurse and a wheelchair.

“How you doing?” he asks as he helps his wife out of the vehicle and into the waiting chair.

“Did you call Ophelia?” Her response to him stops me cold. I had planned on leaving, taking Jesse home until the squirt arrived, but now, I’m rethinking that and fully intend to capitalize on her love for Laken by staying here. She won’t run from her best friend while she’s in labor. Which means she can’t run from me either.

Jesse and I follow along, up to labor and delivery, before we’re told to chill out in the waiting room. I grab a coffee for me and a hot chocolate for the kid, and we sit down. My eyes never leave the elevator as I wait for Ophelia to arrive. Every ding sends my heart rate spiking and then crashing when I realize it’s not her.

“She misses you too, you know,” Jesse says from next to me.