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He sat back in the chair, and I noticed it looked like he might have been in a fight recently with the multicolored bruises around his eyes. This was beyond awkward with the giant boner I was currently sporting. I was more than thankful I had some underwear on, and I wasn’t just lying here with some flimsy hospital johnny, because my dick would probably be waving hello right now.
I still couldn’t believe Shepard was in my hospital room. He hated my guts, so what was he doing here?
“Sure, fine. Never better.” I shifted, trying to deal with my hard-on. “Are you hoping I might die or something? Is that why you’re here? You have to know that you’re not in my will,” I blurted out just as his wife, Brooklyn, came into the room. Christ, her, too?
“Watts!” she exclaimed before flinging herself at me, and when I met Shepard’s eyes, I was sure I saw actual concern on his face. “I’m so glad you’re awake. We were so worried.” Brooklyn pulled away to press a kiss to my cheek. “How are you feeling?” She moved to sit on her husband’s lap.
“Er... like shit, but otherwise all right.” What in the hell? Had Hell frozen over? What was going on?
Shepard pushed the dark hair back from Brooklyn’s neck. “Darlin’, I think you’re scaring Watts. Bring it down a notch.” He chuckled softly. “You look a bit confused.” His brows dipped.
“He doesn’t remember anything.”
Holt was leaning against the doorway, and the second I looked at him, my cock perked right back up at the memory of the dreams I’d had. I was going to have to find out what drugs they were giving me because, because wow, they needed to switch them to something else, pronto.
“So, your fight and bonding session? Nothing up there.” He moved his hand up to his head and wiggled his fingers around before he pressed it against his sternum and rubbed lightly.
I smirked. “Thanks, H. That pretty much described my brain before the accident, so I guess nothing has changed. No chance of me waking up brilliant like Einstein.”
“Right.” Holt didn’t smile or even laugh at my lame joke. Rough crowd.
Shepard’s eyes slid over to me. “You don’t remember anything?” he asked. “Like at all. Not even—”
“Nope, nothing.” Holt cut him off. “You might have to convince him to be your friend again.”
Rand Shepard and I were friends now? Someone was going to have to explain that one to me like I was a two-year-old at some point in the near future.
Shepard snorted. “Jesus, the first time was hard enough.” Brooklyn nudged him, and he laughed before wrapping his thick arms around her to draw her closer. If you had told me that they were a couple, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Apples and oranges, I suppose.
“Seriously, though, Watts, how are you? I know when Rand had his accident, I was terrified. You know we got married the next day. In the hospital. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.” Brooklyn gazed at her husband.
My brows shot up. “Right, well, that’s not happening to me today or ever, but I’m all right. Like I told your hubby, I feel like I was hit by a bus. Everything literally hurts. Doc says I can’t race for a bit.” I groaned at the thought. “Won’t stop me from going to the track, though. I hope to be set free in a day or two from here. I’m getting stir crazy in this place.”
“What about your memory?” Shepard asked. “Did they tell you if it would come back or when?”
I looked over at my stepbrother, who was rubbing that same spot on his chest again. “In time, maybe, or if not, they said they could try to help. They said I should try to talk to people I’m closest with, although this one”—I hooked a thumb at Holt—“doesn’t seem to want to be around me.” I watched the surprise in his face, like I hadn’t noticed. I patted the bed. “You know I won’t bite, H.” I flashed him a smile, but he didn’t budge.
Shepard coughed. “We’ll let you rest. I’m sure Mason has his hands full with all the kids, anyway.” He helped Brooklyn to her feet. “I mean, with his two and ours at the RV? That’s a lot of energy.” He glanced at my brother before he held his fist out for me. “I’m glad you’re okay, man, other than the brain scramble. I’m sure Holt will help you figure all of that out, though.”
I gave his fist a bump, then Brooklyn hugged me again. They did the same with Holt and then we were left staring awkwardly at one another.
“So...” I took a deep breath, wondering why this was so weird with us. I wasn’t making it that way. Holt was. “You want to sit or just stand there, making me feel more useless than normal?” I pointed to the chair Shepard had just vacated.
Holt’s eyes hardened. “Don’t say shit like that.” He grunted before moving to sit down. “You know how I...” He stopped and dragged both hands through his dark hair as he let out a long breath.
“Did we have a fight?” His head shot up. “It’s like there’s some wall between us now. Like we don’t know one another, and I know that’s bullshit. You’re Holt, my best friend, and I would do anything for you. We don’t fight, so if we did, I want you to tell me. I’ll fix it right now.”
Holt shook his head. “No, no fight.” He flashed me his crooked smile, and for some reason, it made my heart feel all flighty and happy. “I was just... worried.”
Lie. Holt was lying to me, and I think it was the first time he had since I’d met him. I opened my mouth to call him out on it, but at that exact moment, my doctor walked in, stealing my chance. What reason would Holt have to lie to me?
***
I was released from the hospital the next day, only to go home and find out that Holt had gotten his own apartment and moved out of our parent’s place. Something was wrong. What had happened between us that he wasn’t telling me?
“I’m sorry, but you did what?” I stared at him as I sat down on my bed. “Why would you do that?”
Holt shrugged. “I don’t know. I wanted to?” He seemed so nonchalant about it. Like it wasn’t a big deal. We were a team.
