Page 6 of Walk on the Wilde Side
"Well, you're sort of acting like one," Nev says back.
Dad laughs. That causes the monitors to react, too. "You're just like your grandmother Ellen. Never got to tell that woman how much I admired her."
"She admired you, too," Nev says.
Dad chuckles. "Bullshit, but you're a sweet guardian angel for saying so."
Jameson and I are rendered silent as we watch the exchange, and the way Nev is handling my dad is impressive as hell. She is a lot like her grandmother, Ellen Honeysett, or El Honey as we called her. We all loved El Honey.
"I guess I'll get rid of the apple juice," Nev says.
"Hold on." Dad's hand is shaky as he reaches for the cup. "Haven't had apple juice in ages."
three
Nev
For some ridiculous reason, I wasn't braced for a Zander run-in. It was stupid since Finn is his dad, and even though they fight a lot and there's as much bad blood between them as there is good, I should have known he'd come to the hospital to check on him. Still, I'm having a nearly impossible time looking his direction.
Jameson, Zander and I stand like silent observers, watching Finnegan Wilde, a notorious criminal and womanizer and one of the toughest, fiercest men anyone could meet, as he sips a cold cup of apple juice like a happy, red-cheeked toddler.
Finn drains the cup. "Hmm, not bad but would be better with a splash of gin."
I take the empty cup from him. "Gin is probably on the same no-go list as coffee," I say.
The curtain slides over. Nate has returned with his twin brothers. They're dressed in dust-covered motocross gear. Ronan and Colin are as different as they are the same. They finish each other's thoughts, like most twins, but Colin is wiry and muscular, a true athlete, with dark blond hair and blue eyes. Ronan lacks the athletic discipline of his brother, but he's still tough as nails. He's got his Irish mother's black hair and green eyes. Ronan is one of those always-up-for-a-good-time kind of guys, whereas Colin takes life more seriously. Not that he isn't a major party boy like all his brothers. He just manages it with more finesse.
"Dad, what the hell?" Colin's voice is shaky. "You scared the hell out of us." He crosses the small space, and Finn reaches up a hand. They clasp hands for a second. It's probably the most affection I've ever seen from Finn. This health scare really smacked him hard.
"I'm fine. Not going to get rid of me that easy," Finn says. He's lighthearted and jolly now, but a few hours ago, he looked plenty scared that this was the end.
The curtains get pulled back wider. Dr. Patel, a lovely woman with a gracious smile, glances around at the five big men standing in the room. Separate, the Wilde brothers are always attention grabbers, but standing together, in a cluster of muscular hotness, they are downright breathtaking. "Ah, this explains why there's so much nervous, excited energy at the nurse's station," Dr. Patel says.
"Dr. Patel, these are my boys." It's impossible to miss the pride in Finn's tone, and he has every right to be proud. Somehow, through his shoddy, spotty parenting, he managed to raise five great men. I decide it's time for family only and make my way out.
"Where are you going, angel?" Finn calls.
I feel a warm blush cover my face as I turn back. Everyone is looking at me, and I can feel the blush deepen. As usual, I avoid looking straight at Zander because that always takes an extra dose of courage. "I think we can drop the angel nickname, Finn. Calling for an ambulance isn't quite the heroic feat you make it out to be. Dr. Patel is your guardian angel." I smile at the doctor. "I'll leave you to talk to the family."
I make a quick exit. It's been a crazy day, and I left Mona, my assistant, all alone at the sandwich shop. Summer is basically over, so the crowds have shrunk, but Mona isn't exactly a sandwich making pro. In fact, her only real talent is taking cute selfies and posting them on Instagram. I searched for an assistant for months but couldn't find one, and my sister's patience on pitching in to help me run the place was wearing thin, so I hired Mona out of desperation. I'm slowly training her to be better at her job, but she's one of those one step forward, two steps backward type of people.
I hurry through the waiting area to the exit. I rode with Finn in the ambulance, so I'm going to need a ride. I glance at the time. Kinsley is off from her bank job in half an hour. She won't be thrilled when I tell her that I need a ride home from the hospital.
I need a ride home. I'm at Basset General. I'm fine.
I type quickly as if she can read my text in real time.
I'll explain later. I'll be waiting outside the emergency room doors. Let me know when you get this text.
Her manager, Mrs. Sully, is a real tyrant, and she blows her stack if she catches any of her tellers checking their phones, so I'm sure Kinsley won't see it until she's off work.
I call the shop next. I know that Mona's boss is far less of a tyrant, and her boss, me, also knows that Mona will have her phone nearby. I decide to call, and she answers energetically. "Nev, is that you? Oh my gosh, what a morning. I can't believe how cool and calm you were through the whole thing. I can tell you I was freaking out. I've never seen a person die before, and I was sure that poor old man was going to keel over right there on the shop floor." I take a second to smile at Finnegan Wilde being referred to as that "poor old man." Boy, would he hate that.
"Mr. Wilde is fine. Just a mild heart attack. He'll recover. How's it going?"
"Uh, real good. I got like a thousand likes on this picture I posted wearing cat ears."
"Actually, I was asking about the shop. How is it going at the shop?" After her last response, I'm fretting the answer.
