Page 65 of Beautifully Broken Control

She looked back to me. “Mostly, you’re going to be very sore for the next week or two. I’m ordering lots of rest and no work or strenuous activity for the next seven days. I want you to follow up with your primary care doctor then.”

I winced. “Are you sure I have to miss work for a whole week? Wouldn’t a couple of days be enough?”

“Kennedy…” My name was a warning. I ignored Cain and looked hopefully at the doctor.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Charles, but it’s important you let your body heal. If you push yourself too much, too soon, the recovery could last much longer.”

I blew out a breath, sending the wisps of hair around my face flying. “Okay.”

She patted the side of my bed. “Take it as a forced vacation.”

A nurse strode into the room, syringe in hand. “I’ve got the meds you ordered, Dr. Moseley.”

“Thank you, Sean.” She took the syringe from him and deftly inserted it into the IV tube. At least I didn’t have to get poked again. “That should take effect very quickly. I’ll get your discharge papers, and you’ll be good to go.”

“Thank you.” I reached out to shake her hand.

“Anytime. But try to stay upright on that bike.”

“I’ll be doing my best, trust me.”

The medical staff left, and Cain rose. “I need to make a call. Will you be all right? It’ll be quick.”

“I’m fine. I’ll just be here waiting for those sweet, sweet drugs to kick in.”

His lips twitched. “You hopped up on painkillers could be interesting…” I stuck out my tongue at him, and he chuckled as he headed for the hall.

I ran my hands over the rough blanket. What would’ve happened if Cain hadn’t seen my fall? I would’ve had to go through this whole ordeal alone. I prided myself on how strong I’d gotten over the past two years. Steel forged in fire. But in this moment, I was so very grateful to not be alone in this. Not to be going back to an empty studio. To have someone to lean on.

A faint fog flitted over me. Ah, thank you, pain meds. I leaned my head back on the bed and let my eyes close.

“Kenz, open those eyes for me.”

I let out a little moan but obeyed. Cain was leaning over me. “The car is out front, and I have all your discharge paperwork.”

“How long was I out?” I gave my body a testing stretch. Things didn’t hurt quite as bad as they had before.

“Only forty-five minutes.” He reached out a hand. “Here, let me help you up.”

The getting to sitting had some pain flaring back to life, but I did my best to hide it. “Thank you.” The breathlessness in my voice gave the pain away.

The same male nurse from before appeared with a wheelchair. “Your chariot awaits, madame.”

Cain scowled at the nurse, and I grinned. “Thank you.” I eased into the chair, and we headed for the exit. “Wait. Cain, we don’t have a car.” I hadn’t even thought of that when I told him to tell Walker not to come to the hospital.

“I got a car service.” Of course, he did. “I’ll have them swing by your apartment to pick up Chuck and some of your belongings. I had Jensen pack you a bag.”

I blinked up at him. “You’ve been busy.”

He shrugged as the sliding doors opened, and a black town car appeared. The driver got out and circled to open the door. Cain helped me out of the wheelchair and held my hands as I lowered myself into the vehicle, wincing as I went.

In a matter of seconds, Cain was settled in the car next to me, and we were heading back to Sutter Lake. I glanced over at Cain. There was tension behind his eyes, a furrow of worry between his brows that had a swarm of guilt rolling around in my belly. I laid my hand over his. I wanted to tell him that I was fine for the five-hundredth time that day, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to hear me. Whoever he’d lost—it had marked him. Created a lens through which he viewed the world.

I knew a little something about lenses that changed the way you saw things. They were always a mixed bag. Some good, some bad, just like life in general. But Cain’s, it seemed to twist things into those old, dark fairytales, the real ones, not the Disney versions, where everything was a potential threat. I hated that for him. But I was sure that same lens also made him the fierce protector and amazing friend that he was. You couldn’t have one without the other. But maybe, just maybe you could heal a bit of the first.

26

Cain

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