Page 17 of Bear

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jupiter

Iwalk into Grant’shospital room and stare wide-eyed at all of the beeping machines.

“Naw, shit.” Grant’s voice is gruff with sleep. “Don’t tell me you’re here to bust my balls and order me to get back to work. I was hoping to milk at least a few days off out of this experience.”

Tears prick my eyes as I throw myself onto the bed to hug him.

“Ow!”

“Oh my god, sorry.” I pull away and stare up at the ceiling to keep my tears from falling. They roll out of the corners of my eyes anyway. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

“Shit, boss. If I’d known you’d throw yourself at me, I woulda got shot a long time ago.”

I laugh and practically collapse into the seat by the bed. It’s been a big few days, and I am utterly exhausted, but it could be worse. I could be lying in a hospital bed. “How are you doing?”

“Great.” Grant gives me a lazy thumbs up. “Woke up from a coma, so that’s a plus.”

I cover my mouth with my hand and then drop it to my lap picking at the chipped polish on my short nails. “I feel terrible you got hurt.”

“Hey, it’s not your fault.” Grant clears his throat. His eyelids flutter closed and open again, and I can tell he’s trying hard to fight the drugs. “I appreciate you coming to see me though. I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever see me at all,” he mumbles. “’Specially now that the biker is in town.”

I grin. “Oh, they put you on the good stuff, huh?”

He reaches out his hand for me to take and I slip my fingers between his and squeeze.

“I should go and let you get some rest,” I say.

“Don’t go,” he mumbles. “I’ve been waitin’ for you to hold my hand since junior high, Jupiter Jones.”

I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen the way Grant looks at me. I’ve known for a long time that he’d like us to be more than employer and employee, but I’ve only ever looked at him like an extension of our family, like a brother. I wish I could see him as something more. It would certainly make life less complicated and less dangerous, I guess, than falling for someone from a motorcycle club, but I’ve never been good at pretending.

Grant’s still looking at me like he expects something more. I can’t give him that, so I say instead, “I bet you’ve said that to every woman who’s come to see you.”

“There’s only ever been you,” he slurs and closes his eyes. “Feels like I’ve been waiting on you my whole life.”

Goddamn it, Grant. I swallow around the lump in my throat and tears prick my eyes. It seems like everywhere I go men are making declarations that leave me speechless and tie me up in knots. I really do love Grant; I could just never love him the way he wants me to.

I grab a tissue from beside the bed and dry my eyes. A beat later, his snores fills the room and I beat a hasty retreat before I have to deal with any more feels for one day.

On my way out of the hospital, I see a familiar figure lurking in the halls. His back is to me, but I’d know the cut of those broad shoulders anywhere. As I get closer, it’s impossible not to overhear his conversation. “I can’t get that kind of cash.”

“Bobby Ray?”

He pulls the phone from his ear with a shaky hand, and then ends the call. “Juju, what are you doin’ here?”

“Visiting Grant. Who were you talking to?”

“No one. It’s er ... nothing.”

I narrow my eyes and whisper, “Cut the goddamn bullshit and start talkin’, Bobby Ray.”

His tearful gaze locks on mine.Shit. He’s not okay.

“You’re in hot water, aren’t you?”

He nods, but then his face crumples, and he threads his fingers behind his head and leans forward, gasping for breath. “I fucked it all up, Juju. I fucked everything.”

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