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“It’s my term of endearment for him,” I explain, not wavering my stare from Remi’s. “He overheard me saying he was hot one day and has never let me live it down.”
Everyone around the room takes a collective breath, releasing the building tension.
Cody starts belly-laughing. “Oh, this is classic cornball Remi.”
Kiara’s face morphs from surprise to bemusement. “Alright, flirt, tell the fine doctor your real name so he doesn’t think you’re incapacitated.”
He clears his throat, still smiling at me, before he turns to the doctor. “R-r … emingt-ton.” He swallows, forehead creased in concentration. “A-ar … ison.”
“That’s right. Are you in any pain?” the doctor asks, and my spine stiffens.
In all the celebration, I forgot that Remi might be in immense pain.
His forehead creases as if he’s testing his limbs and joints. “Just my head.” His pupils float to the left. “My side.” His chest pumps quicker with exertion. “My left arm.”
He nods. “That’s because you’re in a cast. Can you move your fingers on that side?”
Remi winces, successfully performing the task.
I rub his shoulder. “You are doing great.”
“That’s good. We’ll give you some pain meds and run a few tests, but it looks like your cognitive thinking and motor skills aren’t inhibited. Though, we won’t know to what extent until we get you up and walking.”
“H-how long?” Remi’s voice is still rusty, but hearing it is a balm to my chafed nerves.
“A little over twenty-four hours, which is quite frankly a miracle. If you had been hit an inch to the right, you wouldn’t have fared as well.” Dr. Raj’s lips flatten. “You’re lucky to be alive.”
Remi’s eyes drift back to me. “I know.”
My heart swells and bursts, spreading the tingling sensation of blissfulness throughout my body. It’s like a star exploding, throwing tiny diamonds across the galaxy—something rare, priceless, and beautiful. My world rights itself.
“What the hell is going on?” A voice I never want to hear again booms into the room.
I practically place my body over Remi’s. His skin pales, and I feel his body tense under me.
“Hey, look at me,” I say to divert Remi’s attention. His gaze locks on mine. “He isn’t allowed to be here. We’re going to protect you, and everything is going to be okay.”
There’s a bit of commotion going on behind me. It’s loud. Abrasive. Acerbic. But it doesn’t matter at this moment. My manny is my only concern.
Even though he’s still with me, the quick rise and fall of his chest builds to a gallop. Panic, swift and unwelcome, returns back into the room.
I block it out and focus. “Remi, love, you have to calm down. You could still have a seizure, and that would be bad.”
His lips thin as he nods. “‘Kay.” It’s a gravelly mumble.
I rub his sternum with a gentle touch. “That’s it. Just pretend it’s you and me here.”
It’s hard, but Remi fights to slow his heartbeat in time with mine.
“You remember the last time I was sitting beside your bed while you recovered?” His stare warms. Yeah, he does. “Guess what, I actually will give you a nip slip this time.”
All tension leaves his body as he grins. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” My voice turns husky.
“I’m sorry, Remi.” Kiara’s apology is thick with distress, and that’s when I realize the room has cleared out except for her, Cody, and me. I shift away so Kiara can update her brother on the situation. “They came. Father tried to bring you back to California. I found your medical power of attorney and filed it. I won’t let him anywhere near you,” she explains, pointing her thumb toward the closed door behind her. “He’s just pissed he can’t do shit about it.”
“Thanks, you’re a good sister.” His signature smile makes an appearance, and a wave of emotion falls over me, realizing just how much I missed it. “But you’re still a booger face.”
