Heal Me One Night (Bellehaven Hotties #6)

Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

Silas

“You look beat.”

Britt smiles, but it doesn’t reach her tired eyes. “I am. Karli doesn’t get sick a lot, and when she does, it’s usually not bad. This was more than I expected. I’m so tired.” She yawns, putting her hand over her mouth.

“You were running on adrenaline last night. How’s she doing?” I take a drink of the orange juice I brought along with the coffee.

“Good. She’s still running a fever, although it’s coming down. The Benadryl really helped her itching. Thank you for giving her that.”

I shove the rest of my donut in my mouth. “You’re welcome. I rarely give it intravenously like that, but you kinda got VIP treatment.”

“I know, thank you.” She leans in, kissing me softly. When she pulls back, she’s yawning again.

“Why don’t you go upstairs and get some more sleep? I’ll hang out down here in case Karli wakes up.” I offer.

“I wish I could, but I can’t ask you to do that.”

Reaching over, I wrap my palm around the back of her neck. “You’re not asking, I’m offering. You’re recovering too. You put a lot of pressure on that leg, and I saw you limping. Let me help you.”

Unexpectedly, she sobs, full on gut-wrenching sobs that come from deep within her.

“Hey, hey, hey, what’s wrong?”

She shakes her head. Those lips of hers pressed firmly together again.

I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Everything’s gonna be okay, Britt. Just let it out.” It hits me that she does all of this by herself. She’s expected to always be strong, and she’s breaking.

“I’m so sorry.” Her voice is muffled next to my ear. “I don’t normally do this.” But that voice breaks again and her body shakes as she continues.

“It doesn’t matter what you normally do. You do exactly what you need to right now. You went through a very scary situation last night. It’s okay if you’re feeling that today.” I rub her back, rocking her, trying to offer what comfort I can.

There's a knock at her door. “I better go get that. It’s probably Dad.”

“I’ll handle it. It’s time I meet him somewhere other than the hospital.” I let her go, and start toward the door.

She reaches out, grabbing my hand. “Don’t let him in. I don’t want him to see me like this.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of it.” It’s not as if he won’t see the moisture on the shoulder of my scrubs. He seems to be intelligent. He’ll put two and two together. I’m nervous as I stride through the foyer and open the door.

“Dr. Blake.” He gives me a shit-eating grin. “Why am I not surprised to see you here?”

“You’re a smart man, Ranger. I think it’s time we meet officially. I’m Silas.” I offer my hand to him. He takes it, pumping it up and down firmly.

“Ranger, as Britt must have told you.” He looks down at my hand. “You’ve got working man’s hands. You worked on a farm or something?”

For the first time, I don’t feel intimidated by him. “Grew up on one. Help on my days off, now.”

“I respect that a lot. You’re definitely different than Dakota.”

“I’ve heard a few things about him.”

“Yeah, he was a piece of shit from the day I met him. Both of those girls deserved better than what he gave them.” He rocks back on the heels of his boots. “That’s neither here nor there, though. Here’s Karli’s medicine.” He hands it to me, but doesn’t release the bag when I grasp it with my fingers. I raise my eyes to his. “Make no mistake, this time if she gets hurt, I won’t hold my tongue. You’ll feel my wrath, and it’s not one that you’ll want to be on the opposite end of.”

“I don’t doubt it, Ranger. I don’t plan on hurting either of them.”

Ranger shoves his fingers through his hair. “No one ever plans to do anything, Silas. Just be honest with them and yourself.”

“I will. Thanks for the medicine.”

“Thanks for taking care of them. If you need me, I’m sure you can find my number on Britt’s phone.”

With those words, he turns and leaves. This man is so much like my own father. I have to pinch myself to make sure they aren’t the same person. Holding the bag of medicine, I go back to the kitchen, where Britt has gotten herself together. “Got Karli’s stuff.” I put it on the counter. “Why don’t you go get some sleep? You could use it, and if you get sick, you’re going to be no help to her.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Go on upstairs. I’ve got this under control.”

She kisses my cheek before slowly walking up. “It looks like I’m always going to be thanking you, Silas.”

“You’ll always be welcome.” I grin before grabbing another donut and heading over to the couch.

“What are you doing on my couch?” I hear the whisper super close to my ear. I slowly open my eyes and come face-to-face with Karli.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” I ask her, automatically reaching out to check her temperature. Her forehead is much cooler than it was last night.

“A little better. My throat hurts, and I’m not as itchy as I was.” She climbs up on the couch and has a seat on my stomach. “Why are you at my house?”

Rubbing a hand over my face, I do my best to wake up. “I’m friends with your mom and I came to check on you.”

“On me?” She seems surprised.

“Who wouldn’t want to check on you? You seem like a cute kid.”

“I am.” She smiles widely, showing a missing tooth. “I’m hungry.”

This is good news. “What do you want to eat?”

She whispers. “Mom doesn’t usually let me have cereal, but I’m sick.” She coughs pitifully, definitely laying it on thick. “Maybe I could have it?”

I’m slipping, giving into her. “Alright, let’s go find some.”

After getting a quick delivery, I’m standing in the kitchen pouring milk into her bowl, as she chatters on about all the things she’s been doing in school. I make sounds where I’m supposed to, but I’m still trying to wake up.

“Do you think he likes me, Doc? Cause I like him.”

I shake my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. “I’m sure. Who wouldn’t like you?”

“Sydney said I was a little brat, and a tattletale...”

I half-snort, trying to hold it in, and that’s when I see Britt standing on the stairs, watching the two of us with a look of amazement on her face. I’m grinning as I continue talking to Karli. “Sounds like Sydney knows a thing or two about that...”