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“Need to keep me close?”
“Yes.” His rebuttal shocks him more than me given how fast he snaps his head away to hide the blush that was at a risk of being seen. “I…have work… I should do.” An uncomfortable throat clearing precedes a clipped. “Enjoy your night, Bryn.”
“Try to enjoy yours, Wes.”
Another word doesn’t leave him during his dismissal, and in spite of that, I continue to longingly gaze.
Follow him until he’s completely out of the room.
Back in the shadows.
At that point, I shift myself around to J.T., beer bottle floating up towards my lips. “Well, that was progress.” A small swig is consumed. “He actually had a real conversation with me.”
The gawking male on the opposite couch comments just above a whisper, “If only you knew how much progress that truly was…”
Chapter 8
Wes
“Make me understand, Clark.” My ass rests against the very edge of my upstairs office desk. “How is it Lauren was better two days ago, but now, she’s not?” Folding my arms firmly across my black hoodie is attached to a deep scowl. “What exactly happened last night?”
The older male who has been more of a father figure to me than I know I deserve, maintains his collected composure. “Upon reviewing the footage with Park and Hamilton it seems she was fine after her daughter’s visit. She was fine after J.T. brought by a deck of Grey’s Anatomy trivia cards. She also was fine after mine – which was when I brought her the bouquet of snapdragons, her favorite – and she was fine after Penny’s before bed check. However, about two hours later she took an unexpected turn. Her fever returned along with a rash.”
“So, it’s environmental,” I state definitively.
“That is the direction Hamilton is leaning.”
“It would make sense.” A small shrug bounces my shoulders. “She’s been overly exposed to them – given that you said they’re her favorite – and her body has most likely built up an intolerance over the years.”
“Hamilton declared something similar.”
“And trashed the flowers?”
“Yes.” The faintest bit of sadness can be sensed in his tone. “He also had me remove the vase from the building to be washed in an entirely separate vicinity to reduce the risk of infecting the air further.” His spine straightens itself back out. “Once more, no one is allowed in or out – at this time – other than him. There are enough meals currently in the facility’s kitchen to accommodate them both through at least the weekend.”
Great.
Bryn’s just gonna love that.
During her mother’s previous lockdown, she threatened to set a golfcart on fire in protest.
Only Bob Kane knows what sort of comic book villain shit she’ll attempt being cutoff again.
“Are fresh flowers allowed in other parts of the estate?” Keeping my voice even is harder than anticipated. “I assume that’s fine as long as they as well as whoever handles them have no direct contact with Lauren?”
“Correct.” His curt nod is accompanied by a cordial smile. “And if we’re done here, I will begin refilling the vases now to ensure we are on time for your scheduled outing.”
“Assign that task to Penny.”
“But-”
“You are in charge of handling Lauren’s duties while she’s on leave; therefore, someone that isn’t you needs to stay on top of yours.” Another shrug is presented. “It’s logical.”
“It is, but is Penny the best…choice for such duties? She’s still quite young. And relatively new. And a bit…uncomfortable in her coordination abilities.”
“The girl is at times concerningly clumsy-”
“I think it’s cute,” my second in command mutters from where he’s leaning beside me.
