Alpha Male Romance(108)

“Thanks.” He opened the back door to the cab. “It was good seeing you again, X.” He paused, and then added, “Piece of advice: don't let this define you.”

I watched as the taxi pulled away and approached the next one. I got into the back and gave the driver the address to the diner. I didn't say anything else, too wrapped up in my encounter. Snyder hadn't said anything about how his own injury was so much worse than mine, how at least I had the use of both my hands, how it was possible for me to hide what happened. He'd lost men, his arm, his job, and now he was getting married and was able to smile. He hadn't sugar-coated things, hadn't told me that things were going to magically get better. But he'd given me hope for a future.

A future I hoped would include Nori.





Chapter Four





Nori





I hadn't been this bone-tired since...I didn't know when. I'd spent the entire day at the hospital, making sure my parents were settled in the same room, talking with the doctors and nurses who were on the floor. I knew some of them, which helped, but I hadn't wanted to leave until my mom woke up. When she finally had, I got the rest of the story, punctuated by annoyed interjections from Dad.

Not exactly the least stressful day I'd ever had.

And Tanner had been there through all of it. He'd given me privacy when I needed it, but had been by my side when I needed that too. He never pushed, never questioned what I needed. Instead, he'd done what he'd always done. He'd given me strength and protected me.

Even to the point where he protected me from myself.

After the hospital had served a decidedly unappetizing dinner of what I assumed was supposed to be meatloaf, both of my parents had fallen asleep, leaving Tanner and me sitting in a relatively quiet room. That had been when he'd told me that I needed to get something to eat.

I wrinkled my nose at the congealing meat on my parents' trays. “Yeah, not exactly the most appetizing thing I've seen.”

“Not that,” Tanner said. He stood and held out his hand to me. “Real food. And rest.”

I shook my head. “I have to stay here.”

He moved to crouch down in front of me, his expression both concerned and firm at the same time. “No, you have to take care of yourself or you won’t be any use to them.”

I frowned at him but didn't pull away my hands when he took them. It was nice to have the physical contact.

“The doctor said they can be released tomorrow, right?”

I nodded even though he didn't need me to since he'd been right there when I'd talked to them.

“So if you've eaten only this hospital stuff, and tried to sleep in one of those chairs after I'm betting you didn't sleep on the plane, how much help do you think you're going to be tomorrow?”

Dammit. I hated it when he was right and all logical about it.

“And you know that the two of them will argue about whatever plan you come up with to take care of them.”

Again, dammit.

“To face all of that, you need food, a shower, and a good night's sleep.”

I raised my eyebrow. “You didn't mention the shower before.”

He gave me a wry smile as he stood. “I didn't think it'd be polite.”

I glared at him, but he'd made his point. That my parents were doing well enough that an overnight stay was all they needed was good news, but that didn't make what would come next any easier.

Neither one of them would be able to do much for themselves for at least two months, and I had no clue what I was going to do about it. But, as Tanner had said, I wouldn't be in any position to make important decisions, or even suggestions, unless I took care of myself.

I reached out and took Tanner's hand. “All right. Lead on.”

An hour later, I was wrapped in my mom's fluffy pink robe, my dripping wet hair pulled back into a messy bun, and I walked out into the most delicious-smelling kitchen. Tanner had been busy while I was in the shower.

“I found some leftovers,” he said. “I figured it'd be better to eat this tonight and then if you needed to order food, you could do it tomorrow.”

“Good call,” I said as I walked over to the oven. I took a deep breath. Mom's roast chicken. My stomach rumbled and I was suddenly aware of how hungry I was. I didn't even want to think about the last time I'd had a real meal.

“Your mom doesn't cook often,” Tanner said. “But when she does, it's amazing.”

I pulled plates out of the same place they'd been since she'd moved in, handing them over to Tanner like we'd done this a hundred times. “She used to do it all the time...before. Back then, she only had a part-time job, so she'd always be home to make supper and we'd all eat together.”

Tanner reached over and put his hand over mine, giving it a squeeze. “Maybe this will end up being a good thing in the long run. Force your parents to start dealing with their own shit for a change.”