Page 201 of Distant Shores
I leaned down to Delly and whispered, “You’ve got the guys?”
She scanned my face, the frown on hers turning into a huge smile before she nodded enthusiastically. I squeezed her shoulder and glanced around the room one more time, in case I’d missed her.
Impossible.
She could be anywhere.
The Cadillac, maybe?
I left the cafeteria, wincing at the stiffness in my ankle. I’d wrapped it up tight and let out my shoelaces for extra room, but I was paying for being on it for so long.
The quiet in the hallway was an instant relief, and I drew in a deep breath before hurrying to catch up with Cody and Liem, favoring my right foot more the longer I went.
“Liem,” I called, running out of steam right before they made it to the front doors.
They turned toward me, their eyebrows raised expectantly.
“Have either of you seen Ireland?”
Liem shook his head as Cody reached behind him and pushed the door open, and a wave of hot, humid air wafted in.
“Pretty sure I saw her haul ass out of here on that longboard,” Cody said, gesturing to the open door. “Or… roll ass, I guess. We should get a couple of those, Ti Bet.” His brow furrowed before he grimaced and shook his head. “Forget I said that.”
Liem laughed, light as air, and Cody smiled at him before they looked at me expectantly again.
“You gonna go find her, or…?” Cody asked, cocking an eyebrow as he drew out the last word.
My heart leapt, and I nodded, taking a determined step forward.
With my left foot.
Cody’s reflexes werefast. He grabbed my arms, keeping me from tumbling over as my ankle gave out. “No need to fucking swoon,” he muttered under his breath.
That was it. I was going to double my PT starting next week, or simply never leave the house on Camellia Lane again. I could not continue living like this.
The door slid shut as he guided me to the nearest bench and forced me to sit.
“Want to take my ride?” Liem asked kindly, offering me his keys. “And maybe… get a crutch too?”
“Or a sturdy stick,” Cody drawled, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes.
I saw why he and Ireland got along.
“No, I can….” I put my glasses back on and reached for my keys, but remembered they were in my jacket pocket.
I muttered a curse under my breath, then patted my pants pocket, sighing in relief when I felt the box.
At least I had that.
“I’ll drive the Vespa around for you,” Liem said before easing out the door, leaving me and Cody in the small, quiet foyer.
I sat there like a moron, squeezing my eyes shut as I silently begged the universe for a break.
As if on cue, I started sweating again.
Great.
“You okay over there, mon frère?”
