Page 9 of Composed at Randy's
“Ugh. Fine!” Gwen throws up her hands. “I’ll let you take him, Bael, but if you ask me what I’m talking about when I check in with you tomorrow, I’ll make you wish you were never born.”
Bael’s eyes go wide. “I would never!”
“You’d better not.” Gwen gives him a death glare. Then she shuts it off and gives me all of her attention. Her hand is warm and gentle as she runs her fingers through my hair. “You must be tired, honey. You still need to finish your IV before I let you go, so you can sleep if you need to.”
Things fade in and out for a bit as my eyes lose the fight to stay open, and I hear Gwen say, “Bael, I’m texting a list of instructions to your manager. At the very least, I can trust that Harvey can keep this poor boy alive.”
“I’m not going to let him die. He’s not a fish.”
That’s the last thing I hear before I fall asleep.
Chapter 4
Bael
The little guy is out cold again, and I look at Gwen in alarm. “Is he okay? What did I do? Did I do something to him?”
Christ on a crutch, maybe heislike a fish. I’ve accidentally killed the shit out of so many fish. Poor little guys…
“Calm down. You didn’t do anything to him. He’s just exhausted and fell asleep again. This is good for him.” Gwen does doctor things around Wren while I work on not freaking out.
His name is Wren! Isn’t that just the cutest name ever? That Hello Kitty sandwich I ate earlier has nothing on this guy. He’s adorable from top to bottom.
No, I didn’t feel him up when I was carrying him. First of all, I was way too freaked out at the time to think of anything other than finding someone I trust to fix him. Second, gross, okay? Just… no.
I’d kick a whole slew of assholes down a flight of stairs if they even thought about touching Wren like that while he was sleeping. I’d do it for anyone, but the idea of it being Wren gets my dumbass hero complex ramping up an extra notch or three.
So no, I didn’t feel him up while he was unconscious. But if I did happen to notice how warm, small, and perfect he felt in my arms, it was an unavoidable, if enjoyable, side effect.
“How long until you’re done with him? I’ll call and make arrangements to have him moved.”
“I’ll be done soon, but you can’t move him while he’s asleep.”
“Of course I can. Wren said I could.”
“I was in the room the entire time, Bael. He definitely didn’t say that.”
“He said he wanted to go with me so I could take care of him. That was his consent for me to take him and keep him safe.”
“Bael, that isnotwhat happened just now.”
“I’m pretty sure it was. We were both in the same room, right?” People tease me about being unobservant, but really, I think everyone else just fails to grasp the essence of most situations.
“This isn’t like you, Bael. I mean, yes, you’re dangerously impulsive, but you don’t usually get attached to people so quickly.”
“Come on, Gwen. I’m nice to everyone.”
“Nice isn’t the same as attached. I’m not surprised you helped this kid, but I’ve never seen you stick around for the aftermath of one of your good deeds. Are you sure you’re up for this? I can find someone else to take him in for a few days.”
Alarm shoots through me. “No! I’ve got this. If you’re really worried, you can check in with Harvey like you said.”
Gwen is crazy if she thinks I’m going to ditch the mysterious bundle of adorable human that just got dropped in my lap.
I mean, where did he come from? How did he become homeless? He seems like such a sweet little guy. How could the world throw him away like that? And will he let me fix everything for him, so he won’t ever be hungry again?
I start texting the band group chat furiously so I can rally the troops to my side before Gwen can talk herself out of letting me take Wren.
Bael
