I nod. He leans in to kiss me and I freeze up, not sure what to do with Seth watching us. I don’t want him getting upset when the main thing he needs is rest, relaxation, and healing in his life.
“Talk to me, or I’m going to be the one getting pissed and trust me, it’s not as pretty as you pouting.”
“My brother is on the couch.”
“And? You think he’s never seen two people be affectionate? Trust me, he’s seen plenty of shit, including fucking.”
“I don’t want to upset him. I want him calm and happy.”
“The only one we need to worry about being calm and happy resides in my pants and goes by the name of my dick.”
“You did not just say that.”
“I did and I would again.”
This time it’s me laughing and shoving against his chest. He responds by catching my hands in his, holding them against his pecs and keeping me in place. He leans in and when I go to move my head, he sends me a heated look, so I give in and let him kiss me. He keeps it respectful, but I can only imagine what Seth is thinking if he’s watching us. He’ll probably hate me, thinking I’m stealing his lifelong friend from him. As soon as Asher and I pull apart, he swipes his fingers across my face, making sure all my tears are gone, and I glance in Seth’s direction.
He saw everything.
Damn it.
“My brother isn’t going to be okay with this. He won’t let us be together.”
“You’re crazy if you think someone can stop me from being with you. I’m pretty sure I just proved myself and to what links I’ll go to get someone I care about back to me.”
I don’t respond. How can I? I want to be with him more than anything, but I can’t bear to fight with Seth when he’s as hurt as he appears to be. Walking away from Asher, I go to back to Seth’s side and take the chair I was sitting in earlier again. “I know you must be confused,” I begin and Seth turns away from me, not saying anything.
I have no right to be angry over his reaction, he’s just been through more than I know, probably worse than what I imagined him going through and it’s terrifying. I sit forward, about to try again, when the nurse from last night comes over to check on him.
“Open wide, I want you to take this,” she orders, holding up a big pill. “It’s the antibiotic and it’ll be easier if you let me put it to the back of your mouth.” She holds up a paper cup. “I brought some orange juice to help with the taste.” The pill is massive. Like horse size, so it’s nice of her to baby him a little about it.
His cheeks flush and he shakes his head. I know my brother well enough that he’s probably too proud and embarrassed to open his mouth to her. I’m sure he won’t open it to me either, with him not wanting to speak to me.
“I can ask Asher,” I offer her, thinking she’s going to toss the pill in his face and dump the OJ over his head if he doesn’t stop behaving this way.
Surprisingly, she doesn’t. She just smiles and sweetly tells Seth, “You can open up and take this nicely, or else I’ll check your ribs again. Either way, you’re letting me put this in your mouth and swallowing, choice is yours.”
Oh, I like her. She’s not afraid to play dirty, and that’s exactly what my stubborn brother needs to get him to react and listen to what she tells him to do. Asher watches us, stopping beside me to chuckle at the scene before him. “I can do it. I doubt your pops wants you reaching in guys’ mouths at the clubhouse,” he tells Sam, and I shoot him a glare. She’s being professional, doing her job, off the clock, and he’s being an ass.
“Thanks, Plague, but I can handle Seth. He’s like an angry puppy compared to some of the people I take care of each day. He may bark, but I bet his bite is pretty sweet.” She winks at my brother and suddenly I feel like I’m the one encroaching on a private moment. Seth’s obviously her type and under normal circumstances my brother would be shamelessly eating her attention up, but this guy isn’t my usual brother, he’s only a shadow of him.
Standing, I meet Asher’s sparkling gaze, and he immediately sobers, taking in my seriousness. “Please help my brother,” I ask and as soon as he silently nods, I leave them, walking to the bar.
I guess today’s a good day for Wild Turkey coffee after all. I’ll take a double.
Chapter 16
The most beautiful part is, I wasn't even looking when I found you. - autumn
Plague
“You might’ve been my best friend growing up, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to quit being with her because she’s your sister. Trust me, I fought myself for too long to stay away from her, that it’s the last thing I plan to do now.”
His brow wrinkles. It’s about the only way I can tell he doesn’t like what I have to say since his face is still all jacked up. At least he can open his other eye some now.
“You’ve been resting and healing for a week now, you’ve barely spoken a word to her and it’s bullshit,” I continue. I wouldn’t let anyone else be disrespectful to her, so he’s lost his goddamn mind if he thinks I’ll put up with it from him. “I don’t like it. She’s too fuckin’ sweet to rock the boat, worried about upsetting you after all you’ve been through, but in my opinion, the only way you’ll get used to me and her is if we’re upfront and open about it.”
“You saved my ass, Ash, but my sister is too good for you.”