Page 5 of Raven's Curse
“Chase.” Kash leaned back, giving Nyx a scratch. “You did everything you could that night short of magically changing places. You saved the three of us and Nyx. Stop beating yourself up.”
Chase pushed back his chair as he raked a hand through his hair. “Remind me not to fall in love, because the three of you have gotten disturbingly Zen since you shacked up. It’s annoying.”
Foster laughed. “Too late, buddy.”
Chase arched a brow. “Are you smoking something? Because the last time I checked, I was the only one still sane.”
“Except where you’re already hopelessly in love with Greer.”
Chase groaned inwardly. He never should have steered the conversation in this direction. Given his buddies ammunition to fuel the fire. Obviously, the strain of walking that tightrope around Greer had finally gotten to him, and he’d snapped. Had started blurting out the first words that popped into his head instead of weighing them out, first. Looking for any opening his asshole teammates would take to bring Greer up. “Can we not do this?”
Foster arched a brow in challenge. “What’s wrong? Afraid Rhett’s gonna open his eyes and agree? Because even he knows how far gone you are.”
Chase held up his hands in defense. “We’re friends. Until she decides she wants more than that, it’s a moot point.”
Zain scoffed. “Have you even tried asking her out? Or are you just making assumptions because she hasn’t shown up on your doorstep wearing only a smile.”
Chase chuckled. “We both know she’d never go anywhere without her service weapon and her badge but nice visual.”
Kash kicked Chase’s boot, again. “What Zain means is that maybe she’s not the problem.”
Chase groaned, allowed his head to tilt back. Damn, he was tired. Exhausted, and not just from the long shifts and physical work. Or walking into the lodge three times a week, hoping for some glimmer of hope only to leave dejected. Disillusioned. This thing with Greer…
It had drained him to the point he had trouble remembering his own name most days, all his energy spent on holding his emotions in check. Ensuring they didn’t spill out along with three words that looped endlessly through his head.
That somewhere over the past several months, he’d fallen hopelessly in love with her, just like Foster had claimed.
That insanity seemed like his only viable option.
“Chase.” Foster waited until Chase forced himself to meet his gaze. “All we’re suggesting is that maybe it’s time to tell her how you feel. It’s obvious she has feelings for you. Maybe you’re both just waiting for the other to make the first move.”
“She’d need to stand still long enough for me to get it out, which is damn near impossible.” Chase shook his head. “She’s running on empty and sooner or later, it’s gonna bite her in the ass. Which isn’t why we came here.” He turned back to Rhett. “Unless you have something you want to add, buddy?”
He blew out a rough breath. “That’s what I?—”
A squeeze.
Not much. More of a flutter, really, than an actual grasp, but Chase snapped his gaze to the bed — leaned in close.
“Rhett?” Chase studied his face, searching for a hint of a reaction. “Brother, do that, again.”
His buddies gathered close, breath held. Gazes focused on Rhett’s face. Silence filled the room, just that numbing beep in the background, endlessly marking out time. Making Chase’s left eye twitch until Rhett inhaled. Not all soft and slow like he’d been doing. This was raspy. Forceful, as if he needed more air to get everything working. He blinked a few times, his fingers closing around Chase’s before he slivered open his eyes — stared up at them.
“Zain. Get the doctor.” Chase inched closer, holding Rhett’s gaze. “Easy, brother. You’ve had a hard go of it.”
Rhett blinked, looking as if he’d passed out before he pried his eyelids open, again, shifting his gaze to Foster and Kash before sliding it back to Chase. Giving him a hint of a smile. “Hooyah.”
Chase whooped. “Hell, yeah. I knew you were faking.”
He moved so Kash could sneak in closer, put his palm over Rhett’s dog tags. Kash’s way of telling Rhett they were there — hadn’t given up on him.
Chase squeezed Rhett’s hand again. “Hold tight. The doctor’s on his way.”
Zain appeared a moment later, Dr. Tremblay in tow. The man stepped to the opposite side, flashing a small beam in Rhett’s eyes as he studied the monitors.
He nodded. “Can you hear us, Mr. Oliver?”
Rhett grunted, fading for a few seconds before nodding. Mumbling a raw, “Yeah.”
