Page 137 of My Best Bet

I just wanted him here so I could comfort him.

“Speak of the devil…”

My eyes snapped up in hopes of seeing Colt, but Kappy wandered in wearing sweats with a backwards hat slung over his dark hair and holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Okay, don’t have to look quite so disappointed to see me,” he joked. “Your boy’s coming. Doc intercepted him in the hall. How ya feeling, Mer Bear?”

Swallowing hard, I gave a slight nod.

Kappy’s eyes went to Lucy and Piper, and he cracked a grin. “Woah, you guys are matching. I want one of those zip-ups.”

Lucy’s head popped up from Piper’s phone. “No, I don't think so. Only us and Carl can be matching, Richard Charles Kappers the third.”

“Yeah, Richard Charles Kappers the third,” Piper echoed with a smirk. “God, I love this child,” she said with a laugh, making Lucy smile in triumph.

Kappy’s eyebrows slammed down. “Who’s Carl?”

“No one,” Piper said, studying her nails.

“Yeah, no one,” Lucy giggled, copying her.

“Woah, wait, you guys got matching nails, too? Is this even allowed?” Kappy asked. He picked up Lu in his arms and tickled her, making her collapse in giggles, and that’s when Colt finally walked in the doorway.

With heavy bags under his eyes and his hair still damp from showering, he stood there dressed in clean comfy joggers and a team hoodie, looking like he was about to fall asleep standing.

Tears immediately flooded my eyes. He was by my bedside in a second, pressing a kiss into my hair. “I'm so sorry I left you here,” he whispered gruffly.

I clutched his arm, never wanting to let go.

“She just woke up, Romeo,” Piper said. “Didn’t even know you were gone.”

He pulled back a little and his tired eyes roved over my face. “You okay? How are you feeling? God, you scared me so bad.You were up and fine and then freaking out and passing out, and then cops came and–”

“I’m okay,” I whispered. “Just a little dizzy, but not bad.” I tried my best to muster up a smile, despite the pressure in my head.

JP appeared in the doorway. He immediately switched off the bright lights before striding across the room to open the shades a little more.

“Better for a concussion,” JP said with a small smile.

I smiled my thanks at him. My eyes already felt less strained.

“Woah, Lu’s looking fancy,” JP noted, plopping down on the couch.

Lucy then filled everyone in on how she and Piper spent their last 24 hours together, detailing their trip to the mall, the salon, and then their slumber party at Piper’s “super cool girl apartment.”

While listening, I shivered and tried to pull the thin hospital blanket higher.

“You good?” Colt asked, his tired face more alert.

“Can you sit by me?” More than anything, I just wanted to be in his arms and steal his warmth.

His eyes rounded with concern before dipping to my arm in the sling. “I don’t wanna jostle your arm, babe.”

“Please.” I shifted carefully to make space for him and patted the bed.

He gingerly sat next to me, but when I tried to lean against him, pain shot down my arm and I immediately winced.

“Wait, I have an idea.” He had me lean forward and he smoothed behind me. His strong legs were on either side of me, and I leaned back to lay on his chest, reminding me of the way we used to sit by bonfires as teens.

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