Page 11 of Sergeant O'
Her face split into a grin, but there was no disguising the weariness in her eyes that said she’d been through a lot. I ran my hand up and down her arm.
“You need to get some rest.”
“I know. Teresa and Hugh offered to keep Conor tonight, but Adam wants him with us.”
“So, you and Adam…”
She shrugged, then looked away like she was embarrassed. “We didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“I’m not judging you. I think it’s great, Lain. He seems like a standup guy.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper when she replied, “He really is. And he loves Conor so much.”
“And you.”
Her smile was sheepish. “And me.”
“Then I’m happy for you. And anyone who isn’t can fuck right off.”
“God, I wish I had your confidence.”
I laughed and pulled her in for another hug. “It’s all an act.”
Chapter Four
Brian
After the second group of visitors left, the pain started to creep in. I did as instructed and told Nurse Doris about it, and thankfully, she was quick to shoot some drugs into my IV.
I didn’t get any more visitors after that, and I was too tired to ask why.
I remembered noticing a different nurse when I woke up briefly in the middle of the night, but the drugs did their job, and when I woke up again, the morning light was peeking through the window blinds.
Dr. Weaver arrived not long after the dietary aide came to take my breakfast order.
He offered a friendly smile as he scrolled through his tablet.
“How are you feeling, Brian?”
“Like I’ve been shot.”
My attempt at humor was lost on him because he stopped scrolling and looked over at me alarmed—his eyebrows in his hairline.
“Are you in pain?”
“No, no. The nurses have been great about managing that. I was just attempting a little humor.”
“Oh.” He looked back at the tablet like he was embarrassed not to get my joke. “Sorry. I haven’t treated a gunshot in a few years. I was worried I’d be rusty.”
“It’s been a helluva fifteen hours, huh, Doc?”
Justin Weaver served in the Navy as a Marine field doctor before coming back home to Haven Springs. He was also supposed to go on a date with Lainey last night before she’d been kidnapped by her nutjob of a landlord and his nephew.
Judging by how Adam had kept Lainey in arm’s reach the whole time they were visiting me, I’d say the date wasn’t going to be rescheduled.
Justin was a good dude. If Adam hadn’t decided to take his shot with Lainey, I would’ve been okay if she’d decided to date him.
“That’s putting it mildly. I was relieved to hear you’d found Lainey, although I’m sorry you ended up here in the process.”
