Page 86 of Always Watching

I can change for Ranen—and by change, I mean that I know I’m going to be too busy taking apart anyone who even thinks too hard about looking at him… but he doesn’t need to know that many details.

He just needs to know that I’m here, that I’ve got him.

That I’m never letting him go.

“You’re a little scary, North.” He’s smiling when he says it, though, wet and sweet with tears still slicking his cheeks. I raise my hand and gently brush them away with my thumb.

“But I’m yours, right?”

He nods once, fiercely, and presses a soft kiss to my chest before laying his head over it. “Yeah, and I’m yours.”

He’s mine. He’s been mine from the second I saw him, before I even knew his name.

“Try to rest, baby. I’m here now.”

“I know…” He rubs his face against my shirt, then stills. “This isn’t yours, is it?”

I’m surprised he noticed. “Wylder’s.”

Ranen settles against me again with a sigh. “I didn’t think so. You smell better.”

He’s sleeping when Dad comes into the room, with the nurse following after him.

“You aren’t technically supposed to be in the bed with him.”

“Oh, come on now.” Dad leans into him, brushing his shoulder and offering him a charming smile. “It’s okay to bend the rules sometimes, right? Besides…” He glances at the bed and then back to Calvin. “The beds look awfully sturdy. I’m sure they hold two people just fine. If you need to make sure, we could—”

“Ranen should be good to go in the morning.” Calvin cuts Dad off before I suffer psychological damage from whatever image he was about to paint, but his cheeks look a little hot and there’s a smile pulling at the edges of his mouth. “You’re welcome to stay here with him. And you…” He turns on Dad and puts a hand on his hip. “Visiting hours are nearly over, so you need to clear out soon.”

Dad grins, and I wonder if I have enough bleach to pour into my eyes and erase exactly howcharminghe looks.

“I’m sure I’ll be back to see you again, one way or another.”

Calvin groans, his eyes flicking to Ranen on the bed. “Make sure it’s not because he’s hurt, okay?” He hesitates, but only for a second. “It was nice to see you again, Atlas.” Dad’s grin grows wider, but Calvin is already turning to me. “I’ll be back in a half hour to check in on you two, okay?”

“Thanks.”

I wait until he closes the door to turn back to Dad, talking in a hushed voice. “Stop flirting with Ranen’s nurse.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He sounds innocent enough, and I open my mouth to argue, but he’s already speaking again. “North, I’m pretty sure in all the advice I’ve evergiven you, there was something in there about not going out in public with evidence on your hands.”

Ranen hadn’t noticed the blood, but Dad did. Was he just flirting with Calvin to make sure hedidn’tsee it? Something tells me it wasn’t all an act.

“I’ll finish washing up. I just… couldn’t think straight.”

Dad glances at Ranen curled up on my chest and disappears into the bathroom. When he comes back with a wet towel and holds his hand out for mine, I give it to him. It’s been a long time since he’s had to help me clean blood off like this, and he doesn’t look up at me when he speaks.

“Listen to me. I can see how much you love him, and it’s obvious how much he loves you.” I’m sure this is the part where he tells me I need to stop because it’s clear I can’t be careful, that I can’t think straight when it comes to Ranen. And I’m sure I’m going to tell him I love him, but he can go and fuck himself. Instead, he picks up my other hand and continues. “It’s something special, finding a person who really sees you and loves you anyway. Especially for people like us.” Dad’s eyes are soft when he looks up at me. “Do everything you can to keep it safe.”

Something in my stomach twists. Is this how he felt about my mother? I don’t remember much about her, but the ache in his voice paints a perfect picture—a negative of the space where she should have been at his side, helping him clean me up.

He’s never let me see this part of him, how much he hurts. How much she mattered.

Fuck.

“I’m going to.” My words come out in a soft whisper, and he nods, dropping my now clean hand and tucking the bloody paper towel into his pocket.

“Good. Ranen’s something special, North. Treat him like it.” He pats the sleeping man in question on the hand andstraightens up. The pained expression on his face melts away, and he replaces it with another smile. “Now… I’m going to go find Calvin and tell him goodnight before I head out. Try not to call me with another littleproblemfor at least a week, okay?”

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