Page 16 of Make Me Fool You

“Really?”

“Really. And then I’m going to take you home and take care of you.”

He snorts. “You’re going to smother me!”

She grins. “Yeah. Maybe. But that phone call scared the hell out of me, James. I love you so much it hurts. When Ruth called, it felt like my whole world died. If anything happened to you…”. Her voice trails off and a tear trickles down her golden cheek, dancing over her freckles like a tiny diamond.

“I’m fine. I swear. Better than the guy who hit me. I thought Tate was gonna kill him when he got there.”

“Good,” she sniffs. “Asshole.”

The doctor peeks around the door. “So can we talk about those tests now, James?”

She shakes her head, her usually perfect hair standing up wild on her shoulders. “No need to talk. He’s going to be a good boy and do exactly what you say.”

My eyes narrow. “I better be getting something for making you guys happy here?”

She leans over and whispers in my ear. “I might have plans for you later. But I need to know that you’re up for it.”

I shoot the doctor a smirk. “Let’s do this. The faster we get this shit done, the faster I can get home.”

The doctor chuckles. “Now you’ve got someone to hold your hand, huh?”

“Something like that.” I laugh and groan, holding my side when Bri flushes bright red.

And less than an hour later, I’m holding prescription painkillers, sporting a brand-new ace wrap on my wrist with a clean bill of health. My ribs are only bruised so no restrictions except take it easy on the wrist for at least a couple of weeks and take the painkillers, ice for inflammation.

Bri helps me into her car and then runs around to the driver’s side, sliding in and shooting me a shy, sweet smile. “I’m so happy that you’re alright. I was coming to see you soon anyway. I had a talk with someone who reminded me that love forgives and you didn’t actually do anything wrong.”

“Ruth?”

She shakes her head and smiles wryly. “My sister if you can believe it.”

My eyebrows lift. “I can’t believe that.”

“I think catching Cameron kinda woke her up and she realized that she doesn’t want to live her life like my mother has.”

“Well, that’s all to the good.”

“I feel bad for her though. It’s going to be all around town what happened and I know she’s going to be so embarrassed by all the attention.”

“Maybe it won’t be as bad as you’re thinking.”

Snorting, she shoots me some side-eye and a reluctant laugh escapes me. “Okay. Yeah. Ridge City is a small town and they’re going to be all over this for quite awhile.”

“Exactly. Maybe she should take a vacation.”

“I don’t know if that would help or hurt the story.”

“Ugh,” she groans. “Well, I’m sure she’ll handle it like she always does. With grace. Way more than I would if you ever cheat on me.”

“Won’t happen. You’re the woman I’ve dreamed about for years now. The one I fall asleep thinking about. Wondering what you’re doing and if you ever think of me. The one that I think about when I jack off in the shower.”

“Well, that was very romantic until the last part!”

“Hey, it’s true,” I protest. “You should take that as a compliment.”

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll try and work on that.”

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