Page 54 of Velvet Corruption

Eventually, I wandered down to the gift shop.

It smelled like stale popcorn and cheap air freshener. I bought a bottle of water, a pack of gum, and—God help me—a stuffed dinosaur that said You’re T-Rex-Cellent! on its chest. I told myself it was for Rosie. I didn’t really know why I bought it.

The old woman behind the counter asked if I was visiting my wife.

“Something like that,” I muttered.

I spent a few minutes studying the hospital map like I might stumble on the truth somewhere between Radiology and the vending machines. No one asked me to leave. I was dressed nice enough. Walked like I belonged. It wasn’t hard to look like a husband pacing the halls.

I even filled out a visitor feedback card. Left it blank except for a single comment:

Your vending machine ate my dollar. Also, Ruby Marquez deserves a bed by a window.

I didn’t sign it.

All I could do was wait.

Chapter Twelve: Ruby

Of course he was still here…like a bad idea I couldn’t outrun.

I walked out of the ER with my hand wrapped in so much gauze it looked like a cartoon club, thick and awkward and already tugging at the stitches beneath. It ached. I ached. I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t slept, and every muscle in my back was threatening to mutiny.

But he was still there.

Kieran didn’t say a word. Just emerged from the crowd in the waiting room like he’d been waiting for this moment—and then fell into step beside me like we’d planned it.

I didn’t look at him. Didn’t need to. I could feel his presence at my shoulder, the heat of him like static just under my skin. He didn’t ask if I needed help. He didn’t even ask if he could walk with me.

He just did.

Bastard.

“And here I thought hospitals are where you go to get rid of nasty viruses,” I muttered.

“Ouch, Rubes—rough words for the man who saved your life.”

“You didn’t save my life,” I said as we walked out into the cool night air. I shot a glance at him. “I would have been fine on my own.”

He winked. “You keep telling yourself that, Marquez.”

I made it to the driver’s side of my car and yanked open the door with my good hand, forcing myself into the seat like nothing hurt. It did. My hand pulsed with fire. I fumbled for the keys, trying to jam them into the ignition one-handed.

They slipped.

Of course they did.

The keys clattered to the floor, and I sat there, breathing hard, my forehead resting against the steering wheel. I felt him watching me through the window, hands in his pockets. Not gloating. Not smug.

Just…waiting.

Like he always did.

“Can you give me some space?” I asked Kieran.

Kieran shrugged. “I’m just standing here. I can barely hear you.”

“Shoo,” I said.

---