Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Knight sat up straighter, frowning as he glanced at Brynn. “Give me a couple days, Doc. She had a head start on me, so it’s hardly fair to judge…” He trailed off as both Brynn and Dr. Patel burst out laughing. Knight looked confused.
Brynn grinned at him. “I can’t tell if you’re more upset Doc didn’t think you understood everything you needed to, or that I’m smarter’n you.”
His frown deepened. “Are not.” He stuck out his chin.
“Am too.” She continued to grin.
“You’re kinda making her point, Rhys,” I whispered.
He whipped his head in my direction, a startled look on his face. Then realization dawned. “Fuck,” he muttered. Dr. Patel and Brynn both laughed again. Even the resident grinned. Poor guy.
Dr. Patel stood. “Another couple of days will tell the tale. In the meantime, the two of you need rest.” She gave both me and Knight stern looks. “Split your time if you have to, but if both of you don’t get rest, I’m going to have security ban you from the building.”
Knight got a mulish, angry look on his face, but I put a hand on his shoulder. He shot me a look like he couldn’t understand why I was being so calm.
“What she’s trying to say, Knight, is that you and Mom look like shit. It’s bad for business.”
This time, the resident barked out a laugh before smothering the sound with a cough.
Dr. Patel just grinned. “Get some rest. All of you. I’ll be back this evening and I don’t expect to see but one of you. At maximum. I know you have friends here Brynn likes. I know because she talks about them. See if one of them will stay with her.” She pulled her glasses down her nose to look over the rim directly at Knight. “Doctor’s orders. You’re going to strain something in your head, and then I’ll have to pass you on to one of my colleagues since I don’t do brains, and I know you don’t want that.”
“Is this Pick on Me Day?” Knight asked with a glare. “Because it feels like Pick on Me Day.” He probably grumbled to make Brynn laugh. Kid could pick on him all she liked as long as she let him stay and be her entertainment. Warmed my heart.
“Every day you’re here is Pick on You Day,” Brynn replied.
Dr. Patel said her goodbyes. The resident even gave me a nod of acknowledgment before following the doctor out the door.
Not long after Dr. Patel left, Brynn drifted off to sleep. I’d nearly drifted off myself when the door swung open, and Ada stepped in with Jag looming behind her like a shadow. She carried a duffel bag in one hand and a determined expression that immediately set off warning bells in my head.
“Uh-oh,” I muttered. “I think we’re in trouble.”
He nodded, giving his sister a wary look. “Yep.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ada said, quietly taking us in with a quick sweep of her eyes. “You two look terrible.” She kept her voice low, glancing at Brynn’s sleeping form.
Knight grunted something unintelligible. I straightened in my chair, suddenly self-conscious about the coffee stains on my shirt and the state of my hair.
“Not that I blame you,” Ada continued, setting the bag down with a soft thump. “But this ends now. Jag and I are taking over this evening and tonight.”
I was on my feet before I fully registered moving. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not leaving Brynn.”
Ada’s expression softened, but her stance didn’t. Behind her, Jag crossed his arms over his chest, his face impassive, but his presence unmistakably backing Ada’s play.
“Lavender,” Ada said, her voice gentle but firm. “Brynn needs you at your best, not sleep-deprived and barely functioning. We’ve booked you a room.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted, though the room tilted slightly as I said it. “I’ve gone longer without sleep. Besides, I doze. When she was a baby, I --”
“She’s not a baby anymore,” Ada cut in. “And this isn’t a colicky night. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re no good to her like this. Me and Jag know how to get you here quickly if she or the doctors need you. We’ve got this.”
Knight pushed himself to his feet, his movements slow and heavy. “Ada, I appreciate the thought, but --”
“But nothing,” she interrupted, pointing a finger at his chest. “You’re worse than she is. You haven’t even changed your shirt in two days. I can smell you from here.”
I might have laughed if I’d had the energy. She wasn’t wrong. The sharp tang of anxiety sweat hung around both of us, mixing with the antiseptic hospital smell in a way that turned my stomach.
“I promise I’ll call if she wakes up and asks for you,” Ada continued, her voice softening. “Or if anything changes. Now, go shower and get some actual rest. Do not come back until morning unless I call.”