Page 21 of Free Me

His phone rang. He smiled at the display.

“Hey, I got the text,” Emory said, voice pitched high with excitement. “Brandt and Oliver already have the babies. Want me to pick you up on my way to the hospital?”

“Yeah, I do. I’ll be ready when you get here.”

“Great, see you in about ten minutes.”

Miko chuckled softly as he pocketed his mobile. Emory and Kell must have finished lunch if they were ready to dash right out the door, because it took at least ten minutes to get from the Cross house to Miko’s neighborhood. Although the distance was likely to change soon, since Emory and Eriq were on a serious house hunt for someplace close to both their parents’ homes, but with enough space for three toddlers to grow. Eriq’s constable salary only went so far, though, and they’d already been outbid three times on potential homes.

Fortunately, Kell and Ronin Cross were in no hurry to see Emory and Eriq move out of the family home. Then they’d be true empty-nesters, since Emory’s twin brother Caden and his mate Zaq had just gotten their own apartment this past summer. The twins’ older beta brother Branson lived in a one-room apartment and seemed content to be single, but the gossip grapevine said he was seeing someone. Miko didn’t know or bother to pry; everyone deserved privacy.

Besides, Branson wasn’t the only single beta in their friend group/family. Layne’s big brother Tarius had been single as long as Miko could remember. Not that Miko had ever dated anyone, either, but he was only twenty. And dating was more difficult for young omegas than betas, because there were a hell of a lot more betas out there than single alphas.

Whatever. Miko wasn’t interested in any other alphas right now. The only one on his mind was Linus Higgs.

Miko was on the front porch waiting when Kell pulled up in front of the house, Emory in the passenger seat. He slid into the back seat, a little surprised to see Branson occupying the spot behind Emory.

“You get roped into lunch in my place?” Miko asked Branson.

“No, I’d just stopped by the house to talk to Dad when the text came through,” Branson replied. “Figured I’d hitch a ride over, see if I can do anything for the family.”

“That’s kind of you.”

Branson shrugged one shoulder. “How’re you feeling, Miko? Since the accident?”

“Okay. Not as sore as I was a few days ago.”

“That’s good.”

The awkward small talk ended, and the rest of the drive was silent. When their quartet arrived at the ICU waiting room, the place was overflowing: Layne and Peyton; Aven and Yosef and their son Tobias; Tarius and Caden and Zaq; and people Miko didn’t know who were obviously there for other patients. One face that did surprise him was Danyel, Linus’s soccer teammate. The guy was sweet and had tried asking Miko out more than once, but Miko had always declined.

Today, he accepted a firm hug from Danyel, who Miko hadn’t seen since the party last weekend. “Half the team wanted to come,” Danyel explained, “but Coach thought it better if only one person was here, so we didn’t overwhelm the rest of the family.”

“I’m sure Linus will be thrilled to know you’re here,” Miko replied. “He needs all the support possible.”

“Yeah. I can’t believe he lost his leg, though. Good thing he played one last game, I guess?”

Miko bit back a snarly reply that Linus would not only walk again one day, but he’d play soccer, damn it! Danyel looked incredibly uncomfortable and was probably doing his best. No one liked being in hospitals (except maybe the people who worked there), and Miko had no idea what Danyel had gone through when his parents died.

“Are there any updates?” Kell asked Tarius, loud enough to capture Miko’s attention.

“Dr. Westin is in there now with our parents,” Tarius replied. “Demir, too. All I know is Linus was moving his head and his eyes, and his brain activity is up. It can take time to fully come around, especially with a concussion in the mix. I’m getting texts from Demir, but there isn’t a lot happening very fast.”

“Okay, thank you. Do you need anything?”

Tarius shook his head. “I just need Linus to look at me and smile.”

We all need that so badly.Miko bit his bottom lip and kept the thought to himself.

Omi texted a few minutes later, asking Miko if he was at the hospital. Miko replied that he was and they were just waiting. Omi promised to stop by in a few hours with treats from the bakery.

Layne was pacing a hole in the floor by the far wall. Miko approached, unsure what he’d even say, but Peyton shot him alook from a nearby chair and subtly shook his head. The look clearly said “not now.” Layne was anxious and probably still a bit hurt by Miko keeping his distance since yesterday morning. Fair enough.

Miko found an empty chair somewhat apart from their group, dropped his face into the palms of his hands, and prayed.

Linus Higgs hadn’t been this confused since the night his big brother Layne told everyone he was pregnant, despite never having gone into heat. The entire table of extended family had been stunned into silence by Layne’s announcement of “I’m pregnant,” when the most anyone had been expecting was that they were in love and moving in together, and then they’d all eat dessert.

Waking up felt a little like swimming through a pool of pudding. He’d had an easier time peeling his eyelids apart the morning after the worst alcohol bender ever, and even then, his mouth hadn’t been so dry, his throat so sore. Every part of his body seemed to ache in some way, especially his head and right leg, but it was a muzzy sort of ache. Not sharp but not quite dull. Mostly irritating and uncomfortable. His other senses felt like they were wrapped in cotton, not allowing any real scent or taste to break through. People were talking, saying his name, encouraging him, and he wanted to tell them to shut the hell up so he could concentrate.

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