Page 21 of When We Fell Again
Jordan pulled his hand out of mine and rubbed it across his eyes. When he dropped it back down, I could see tell-tale signs of moisture. I had no idea how close he’d been to Dexter, but the situation and what he’d been through afterwards clearly still affected him.
“This tour was meant to be like starting over. And now, here I am, fucking it up again.” He gestured to his shoulder. “If I hadn’t reacted to that guy, if I didn’t feel the need to still protect you, we wouldn’t be here now.”
His words echoed around my head.
If I didn’t feel the need to still protect you.
After all these years, Jordan… what? Still had feelings for me?
I didn’t have the opportunity to process the thoughts or challenge him with questions as the nurse called his name.
Any answers would have to wait.
CHAPTER9
Jordan
The last coupleof times I’d been in hospital, I’d been off my face on drink or drugs. Being here, stone cold, sickeningly sober was a million times worse. Every inch of my body hurt like I’d been beaten up, but I’d been the only one to throw a punch. And stupidly, I’d thrown it at a wall, which didn’t have one ounce of give in it.
Hauling my body up out of the chair, I glanced over at Lex, my memory fresh of everything I’d just told her. Her green-grey eyes questioned me, concern etched all over her face.
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asked.
“Please.” It would be good to have her there, supporting me. Like she used to.
She stood up too, and we followed the nurse into a cubicle.
“Do you want to tell me how this happened?” she asked while I settled down on the bed.
I cast my gaze towards my feet. How did I explain jealousy over my ex-girlfriend and my reaction to some prick who was hassling her without looking like a total prick myself? I knew what I’d done was stupid, I didn’t need telling again.
Lex cut in. “He recently dislocated his shoulder and thinks he might have done it again. He sort of fell against a wall.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“No. I’d just finished a gig at the uni and, um…”
“He was helping me pack up the merchandise stand and somehow stumbled carrying a whole load of stuff.”
It took all of my willpower not to laugh. Lex’s explanation somehow sounded utterly believable, but I couldn’t let her make excuses for me.
The nurse started to say something, but I held up a hand. “I’d love to say that’s true, but I can’t let Lex lie for me. I punched a wall.”
“If you have repositioned the joint, that’s a far more likely way for it to have happened rather than simply falling.” Her mouth twitched. “Let’s take a look.”
Her fingers manipulated my shoulder, making me wince. The pain wasn’t quite as bad as when I’d first done it, but the dull ache which now lingered seemed much worse. “It feels like you’ve been lucky. There doesn’t seem to be any dislocation, but let’s just say that your actions won’t help you heal.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lex watching, hanging onto the nurse’s words intently. I still couldn’t quite believe she was there with me. Although, if I thought about it with my rational brain, as our tour manager, she had to be. A small part of me hoped she wasn’t only here because of duty.
“We’ll get you an x-ray to be sure there isn’t any further damage.” The nurse stepped back. “I’m assuming you’re already on some kind of pain relief?”
“He is.” Lex rummaged in her bag and handed over my pills. “I’ve been giving them to him in accordance with the instructions.”
The nurse looked between the two of us as if trying to work out our relationship. Fuck, I was doing the same thing.
As if sensing the silent questions, Lex explained. “I’m Jordan’s tour manager and I’ve been looking after his medication.”
“Right.” The nurse nodded. “That seems sensible. Let me go and sort out that x-ray for you. I don’t know how long it will be, but I’ll get it arranged as soon as I can.”
