Page 106 of Clashing
Ryker
TheToddincidentscaredDanny into taking care of himself. A double knee surgery wasn’t fun for anyone, but never again did he want Scarlett in danger where he couldn’t reach. She drove him to the hospital, but she had an exhibit for that art program she’d saved up for and it ended around the same time as the surgery. He insisted she go and assured her I’d give him a ride home. After lecturing me about updating her regularly and sending every last detail the doctor gave, she relented and left, and I hung around until the operation finished.
It went well. The surgeon was confident that with physical therapy, Dan would be up and walking around the bar again. I got him into his van and put the wheelchair in the back while he grumbled about the recovery time. His eyes drooped as I drove out of the parking lot.Lingering anesthesia, probably.
“You need anything before I take you home?”
Danny yawned. “Let’s get a burger.”
I took the next right turn to his favorite place. “You got it.”
As usual, we picked up the food and fought over who would pay. He won by playing theI had surgery, so what I say goescard. Jackass.
I kept my burger in the bag, but Danny was starved from fasting before the operation. He munched on his burger while I drove to his house. The silence after he finished wasn’t unusual. He and I both did well in comfortable silence.
Except this silence didn’t seem comfortable, and I couldn’t put my finger on why.
I cleared my throat. “You all right?”
“Why did Scarlett call you that night?”
Fuck.Not what I expected. Good thing the military taught me how to handle pressure. “I didn’t ask. She called and told me what was happening, so I got there.”
“But why you? Why not Collin?”
“I don’t know, Danny, you’d have to ask her.” I regretted the words instantly. Saying that transferred the heat to her. “I mean, like I told the cops, I saw her beforehand. Maybe she figured I was nearby. Doesn’t Collin live a ways away?” I actually had no idea. I was grasping at straws.
“Yeah, he does.”
Thank fuck.“I’m sure that’s what it was, and she knows I’m always armed and ready for a fight. Collin doesn’t seem like the fighting type.”
“That’s true.” Danny frowned. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that. I wish she would’ve called me.”
“Shit, Danny, what could you have done?”
“I know.” He scratched at his beard. “It irritates the hell out of me that I wouldn’t have been able to help if she did call.”
“Well, that changes now. That’s why you got the surgery, right? For her?”
He nodded.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s in the past. You’ll be the first on her call list now, as long as you do what you’re supposed to with those knees. You’ll be up and working the bar before you know it.”
“It’s shit to be useless, Ryker,” he grumbled.
“You’re not useless, Danny.” I shook my head. “You’re her rock. You know that. She’s been staying with you, hasn’t she?”
“Not the last couple nights.” He huffed. “I wish she’d stop staying in that apartment. She hasn’t slept since she tried being there again. She refuses to see reason. Told me she needs her own space to overcome it.” He scowled. “She almost fell asleep making dinner last night. So goddamn stubborn.”
Dammit. That sounded like her.
“She’s gotta figure it out herself, Danny. At some point she will, or she’ll be too tired to stay there. Something’ll give. Be patient.”
“Yeah, I guess.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “She’s been working with me on texting. Helps me stay in contact with her better.”
I nodded and said nothing while he typed a message that’d likely go to Scarlett. I’d kept my distance the last several days. Despite the fact I didn’t want to.Despite the fact she dumped Collin.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to tell her the truth. What I said was too vague. She needed me to man the fuck up and flat out admit I wanted a relationship. I was so fucking worried about her and wanted to be there for her, but I wasn’t sure it was the right time to tell her. She had so much happening and I didn’t want to take advantage of her vulnerable state. I’d fucked things up with her too much to risk fucking up anything else.
