Page 100 of After You

He cleared his throat and focused on that hot woman’s very sweet grandmother.

“I told her she should call you and ask you what to do, but she said it happens a lot and she didn’t want to bother you since there isn’t really anything you can do,” Alicesaid.

Kyle worked not to overreact to that. But that was, quite simply, bullshit. “I’ll check on her later,” he told Alice.

“But you’ll be here during my surgery, right?” she asked, squeezing hishand.

“Of course.” He wanted to drive straight to Hannah and demand she let him help her. But Alice needed himhere.

Then he thought about that. Why did Alice need him here? He wasn’t doing the surgery. He was here to give her a pre-op pep talk and he’d be by to see her afterward. He’d be there every day in Sapphire Falls to help with whatever she needed. But during the surgery? There wasn’t a reason he needed to feel responsible for beinghere.

And Hannah neededhim.

“You know what?” he said to Alice, sandwiching her hand between his. “On second thought, I think I’ll head over to check on Hannah once you’re back in theOR.”

Alice’s eyes got wide. “You won’t behere?”

“You’ll be in excellent hands,” he told her. “And you know that. And Ben is here for you.” He glanced at Hannah’s dad and got a nod and a smile. And for a split second he wondered if there were people in his life who hadn’t done more, simply because he hadn’t let them. He was always the one to jump in first and handle everything, not giving anyone else a chance.

Well, this was Ben’s chance.

“I’ll be back to see you later, but it sounds to me like Hannah might need me a little more right now,” Kyle said, stretching to hisfeet.

“Oh, well, Kade’s with her,” Alicesaid.

Kyle fought his scowl. Michael Fucking Kade. Great. “Well, I need to see her,” he said, honestly. He glanced at Ben. “You let me know if you need me to bring anything over when I come back,” hesaid.

“No problem. I’ll be here. I’ll let you know how things are going,” Bensaid.

Kyle nodded and started for thedoor.

“Hey, Kyle?” Ben calledout.

He turned back. “Yeah?”

“I’ve got this. You take care of my girl, okay?”

“I intend to, Ben. I fully intendto.”

* * *

When the knocksounded on the door to Kade’s room at Ty’s place, Hannah knew exactly who itwas.

Dammit.

She was facedown on Kade’s bed, topless, and had needles sticking out of her neck and shoulders.

Kyle was going to lovethis.

“Are we pretending we’re not here?” Kade asked. They were only partway through the treatment.

Hannah sighed. “He must know that we are. Grandma probably toldhim.”

“I thought you said he’d be with her the rest of theday.”

“I thought he would be.” Kyle had left her grandmother’s side to come see Hannah? That was…unexpected.

The knock sounded again, louder this time, and was accompanied by, “Dammit, Hannah, let mein.”

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