Page 2 of Reaching Ryan

Tess asked me to be her escort to Cari’s opening because she needed a shield. Someone who wouldn’t be intimidated by Declan’s tendency to menace and brood any time they’re within a country mile of each other. Someone who wouldn’t start shit but wouldn’t take it either. She needed family.

So, she asked me.

Because that’s what I am to her.

I’m family.

I’m safe.

Which, considering where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing for the last damn near decade of my life is pretty fucking funny.

“A date—no shit?” The shitbag in scrubs sneers behind me. “How much you have to pay her? Is it gonna cost you extra to get her to touch that limp Frankendick of yours?”

Frankendick.

Wow, Shitbag is pulling out all the stops today. Can’t blame him. Last guy around here who called me Frankendick crawled away with three cracked ribs, a bruised lung, a broken collar bone, and a check from Cap’n for ten grand.

The elevator gives a slight jerk and lets out a ding, signaling my stop. “A lot more than I paid your mom—she did it for free,” I say, tossing him another wink before the doors slide open in front of me.

As soon as I say it, his brows slam low over beady eyes narrowed down to slits. “The fuck you just say to me?”

“Pretty sure you heard me, fuckstick.” His tone instantly stiffens the back of my neck, but I manage to keep my shit together. Hell, I even smile before I step off the elevator.

For a second, I think he’s going to follow me off, but he stops short when he sees Kaitlyn watching us from the nursing station.

“Need something, Rich?” she says, bouncing a look between us.

Yeah. Rich needs to have his head shoved up his own ass.

“Just returning your resident,” Rich flashes her a wide, plastic grin. “Want to grab a drink after work?”

Kaitlyn shakes her head. “Not really.”

Rich’s grin winks out and he opens his mouth just as the elevator doors begin to slide shut between us. “Ask your mom—pretty sure she’s free,” I tell him, flipping him off for good measure.

“You shouldn’t do that.”

I turn away from the elevator to find Kaitlyn scowling at me. “Do what?” It’s a dumb question. We both know what I’m doing. I’m poking the bear—only I’m the one locked in a cage and Yogi’s got the keys.

“They’re trying to get you out of here, you know?” she says instead of answering me, the scowl on her face softening. “Your family—just give them some—”

“Fucking the family whore doesn’t make you one of them.” I cut her off completely because I can’t stand the way she’s looking at me. Like I’m a lame dog. Pathetic and sad. “You didn’t mean anything to him. You know that, right?” As soon as I say it, I regret it. Feel like a total fucking asshole but I don’t take it back because I’d rather be a fucking asshole than a lame dog and that’s how the way she’s looking at me makes me feel. “You’re not special—you’re just some chick Con used to plug up his holes for a few weeks.”

She stops looking at me like I’m a lame dog and starts looking at me like she wants to Nurse Ratched me. “Your dress uniform was brought up from the cleaners,” she says, offering me a vague, polite smile. “I hung it on the back of your closet.”

“Damnit.” Resolve cracking, I swipe a rough hand over my face. “I didn’t—”

“You better hurry up and get dressed. Tess called—she’s on her way,” she says while giving me a stiff-lipped smile before dismissing me completely.

Shit.

Turning away from her, I do the old man shuffle down the hall. I’m halfway to my room before she speaks.

“Oh, and not that it’s any of your business, but Conner never laid a hand on me,” she calls out. “Because he’s a gentleman.”

As in, I’m not.

Hooray for subtext.

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