by Maya Banks
She smiled shakily, tried to speak, but burst into tears instead.
“Aww hell, Toni. Don’t cry. You know I’m worthless when it comes to tears.” He smudged at the damp trails with his thumb. “Are you okay? Do I need to call the nurse? If you keep crying, the two lug nuts are going to come charging back in here, and I’ll be forced to punch their headlights out.”
She tried to smile but only succeeded in crying harder. A.J. sat quietly, waiting for her to stop. He didn’t fuss over here, which was refreshing. But then he’d always given her the most breathing room. He stroked her hand until her sobs subsided.
“Better?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thanks,” she choked out.
“Do you need anything?” he asked.
“Not unless you can take me back a few months and let me do things all over again,” she said painfully.
“You did the best you could,” he said quietly.
“Will you stay?” she asked, begging him with her eyes.
He looked confused. “Sure, I’ll hang out for awhile.”
“No, I mean will you stay. I don’t want…I don’t want to stay by myself,” she finished.
His brow furrowed. “Ah, sure. I mean okay, if that’s what you want.” He scratched his head, clearly baffled by her request. Perhaps he imagined Simon would be staying, but she couldn’t bear his scrutiny. His solicitous attention. It was too easy for her to think he cared.
“I shouldn’t have asked,” she mumbled. Her request obviously discomfited him.
“I said I’ll stay,” he said firmly. “When are they letting you out anyway?”
“I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “The ER doc said a few days, but that was yesterday. So maybe tomorrow?”
“I don’t see them letting you go that quick,” he said with a frown. “You look like hell.”
“Gee thanks,” she muttered. “I can always count on you to be honest.”
He smiled at her. “I’m going to go get the lugs before they wear a hole in the floor.”
He paused as she looked at him in panic. He must have read the fear in her eyes, because he squeezed her hand. “I told you I’d stay.”
A.J. stepped into the hall, and Simon immediately started from the door. A.J.’s arm caught him. “Maybe you should go home for awhile, man,” he said quietly.
Confusion then anger surged in his blood. “I’m not leaving her,” he insisted, angry that A.J. would even suggest it.
A.J. sighed as Matt and Stephanie joined them. “Look, I know how you feel, Simon. I don’t blame you, but she is walking a fine line in there. One minute she’s looking like the weight of the world’s on her shoulders, and the next she’s sobbing her heart out.”
“She’s upset?” Simon demanded, his heart lurching at the thought of her crying.
“Let me finish,” A.J. interjected. “She’s been through a hell of an ordeal, and I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Simon, but her emotions are raw. I don’t think now is the time to hash it out between you. Let her rest. Heal. She needs it. You have all the time in the world to make it right. Just give her time.”
Simon looked away and swore. A.J. was right, but damn it, he didn’t want to leave her. He’d almost lost her, and he couldn’t stand the thought of being away from her for even a minute.
“I don’t think she should stay alone,” Matt spoke up.
“She’s not,” A.J. said. “She asked me to stay with her.”
Simon’s hands curled into fists at his side. “She doesn’t want me to stay?”
“I didn’t say that,” A.J. said calmly. “If I had to guess, she doesn’t even imagine you want to stay.”
“Which is why I need to be here,” he persisted. “I won’t allow her to continue believing the horrible things I said to her.”
“Not now,” Stephanie said firmly, stepping forward, her eyes flashing.
Simon stepped back in surprise. Matt looked no less shocked.
“You two aren’t helping with your guilt complexes,” she said scornfully. She rounded on Matt. “I can’t believe you, mister.” She stabbed her finger into his chest. “Taking sides against your own sister. And you,” she said, whirling on Simon, “I don’t even have words for you. This isn’t about you and absolving yourself of the awful guilt you’re feeling. If you’re miserable that’s too bad. But Toni doesn’t need this right now. She’s injured and she’s pregnant, and frankly, she needs the two of you hanging around like she needs a hole in the head.”
She stood with her hands on her hips, her breath coming out in a huff.
A.J. laughed. “I knew there was a reason I liked her so much,” he drawled. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“You make sure she gets rest,” she ordered, glaring A.J. down.
Simon frowned. Stephanie was right. It pained him to admit it, and it would kill him to put off pouring out his heart to Toni. But she was right. It wasn’t the time. The most important thing was for Toni to get well. Then he’d bring her home. To their home.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Simon paced restlessly outside Toni’s room three days later. The nurse was in the process of discharging her, and he was going to take her home. A.J. had stayed with her the entire time as he’d promised her he would. As grateful as he was to A.J. for providing much needed support, he resented the fact that he hadn’t been the one she leaned on.
But he only had himself to blame.
The door cracked open and he heard voices inside. “Do you want to walk or do you want me to get a wheelchair?” the nurse asked.
“I’ll walk.” Toni’s soft voice filtered through the door. She still sounded weak.
He strode in the room, unable to stay away from her a moment longer. She reacted in surprise, leaning against the bed where she stood. “I thought A.J. was coming,” she said in a shaky voice.
“I’m taking you home,” he said firmly.
Uncertainty flashed in her eyes.
“Are you ready?” the nurse asked gently.
Toni nodded, and Simon wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He could feel her shaking and he tightened his hold on her. She felt unbelievably fragile, like she would break into a million pieces with the slightest touch.
He shepherded her down the hall and punched the button for the elevator. She’d dressed in a loose fitting shirt and sweat pants. He
frowned when he realized he had forgotten to bring her a coat. Thankfully, he’d parked under the awning at the front entrance, and he’d left the heat running.
They walked slowly through the lobby, and as the door slid open automatically, cold air blew over them. She shivered, and he hurried her around to the passenger side. After she was belted in, he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.
He drove away, chewing on the inside of his lip. Everything rode on today. He’d planned meticulously, covering every angle, but the difficult part lay ahead. Convincing her to forgive him and give him another chance.
Toni stared out the window, glad to be going home, but surprised Simon had been the one to collect her. A.J. had left saying he’d return to pick her up when she was discharged. Had something come up?
To her surprise, they drove past her road. She turned to look at him. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he said, glancing over her.
She sat back, not sure what to say in response. Surprise? The only surprise was that he was still speaking to her. Maybe the guys were waiting for her at the house. A welcome home party of sorts.
