Page 34 of Heart Strain

13

Holden

The past few days have been so much lighter at the hospital. Jameson’s suggestion to bring a little life into that hospital room has made it easier to go there every day. Usually I feel dread while we drive there, but it hasn’t been as heavy. I feel like I’m constantly needing to thank Jameson for being so kind and thoughtful; I owe him a million.

I glance at the clock and see that it’s nearly dinnertime, so I slap my cards down and discard one upside down as I say, “Rummy!”

“Are you kidding me right now? I have two aces in my hand!” Jameson throws his hand on the table, and I crack up laughing at all the face cards.

“You’re going to have so many negative points.” I laugh loudly.

“How the hell do you keep beating me at this game? Shouldn’t there be some luck to it?” He’s shaking his head in frustration, but I can tell that he’s having fun.

“I’m just that good.” I shrug.

He chuckles. “I’ve beaten you once.”

“Uh, we didn’t even finish that game, so I don’t think it counts.”

He narrows his eyes playfully. “I’m going to find a game you’re terrible at so I can kick your ass as many times as you’ve kicked mine.”

“Good luck with that.”

He leans across the table and flicks my shoulder, making me crack up, but then I sober a little and look at my brother, wishing like hell that he’d wake up and join in on the fun. Why isn’t he waking up? I reach over and squeeze his hand as I think, Please wake up, Drix. Please. I need my brother. I need you.

“Holds?”

I turn to Jameson, and I can’t help the tiny smile tugging at my lips. That’s the first time he’s called me Holds, and I kinda like the sound of it coming out of those gorgeous lips. Okay, absolutely everything sounds good coming from them.

“Do you need some time alone in here?” he asks me when I don’t say anything and just stare at his handsome face.

I shake my head. “No, I’m fine, but thanks. We should probably get going soon.” He nods, but then a thought occurs to me. “Do you need some alone time with him?”

He shakes his head. “I’m okay. I don’t mind you in here when I talk to him.”

I nod in understanding. “I like having you in here with me.”

He shoots me a sad smile. “Me too.” Taking a deep breath, he blows it out slowly as he collects the cards. “Want to pick something up on the way home?” The way he says it, it sounds like we live together or something, but I know what he means. This has become such a normal routine for us, that I know we’ll pick up Peanut and go back to his house for dinner.

“Sure. What are you in the mood for?”

“Chinese?”

I nod. “Sounds good. I’ll run to the store in the morning to pick up a few things for dinner tomorrow.”

He grins at me a little. “What are you going to cook?”

“I have no idea yet, but… no matter what it is, it’ll taste a thousand times better than anything you cook.”

He laughs. “You really are a jackass.” He chucks the box of cards at my chest, but I easily catch it with a laugh.

“I only speak the truth,” I say with a grin.

“When your brother wakes up, you two are going to make me crazy.”

“Aw, does he make fun of your cooking, too?”

Laughing, he shakes his head. “No, but he makes fun of pretty much every other thing I do.”

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