Dahlia loves having her brother around as much as the rest of the Mitchell family does.
Concern for her blooms inside my throat. “Is she okay though, besides the break?”
Gabe nods. “Apparently, she passed out for a moment when she hit the floor, but the doctors did an MRI to make sure she’s all right, and nothing popped up.”
“Phew.” I take the cold water bottle off the bar and hold it against my forehead to help with the faint feeling that still hasn’t gone away. “I’m so glad nothing worse happened. They’re sure it’s just the arm and nothing else?”
“Yeah. They just got done with all of her tests at the hospital when Hudson called. She has a little bump on her head but is fine otherwise.”
I close my eyes and blow some air up my face. The Mitchell family has become like a second family to me, and the last thing I’d want is for something to happen to any of them. “That’s good. Good, good, good.”
Gabe plays with the phone in his hands. “Would you be mad if we left early to go back home? I want to be there for her.”
I tilt my head back so I can look up at him. “Mad? Why do you think I’d be mad? This is your sister we’re talking about here. Of course we’re going back home. You don’t even have to ask.”
For some reason, he chuckles. “Okay, okay. Sorry for asking, please don’t shoot me.”
A small smile breaks through on my face, and I stick out my tongue at him. “Do you want to leave right now?”
“How about we leave in the morning? That gives us enough time to pack, and we won’t be stuck in the afternoon traffic either. Plus, with the long drive we have ahead of us, we wouldn’t make it back in time for the visiting hours anyway.”
“That’s true, I didn’t even think about that. Let me go pack, so I’m ready to roll.”
Sliding off the stool, I grab my water bottle. Just when I’m about to pass Gabe, he grabs me by the wrist. Despite the situation, and the underlying worry for Dahlia that’s still simmering in my body, the skin contact has instant heat licking up my arm.
Light on my feet, I spin around to face him, waiting for him to say something.
After another minute of us silently staring at each other, he pulls me against him, wrapping his arms tightly around my upper body. With his chin resting on my head, he releases a long breath. “Thank you, Monica.”
I nod into his warm chest, realizing what a shock this must have been for him. I can’t help but hold him tighter, enjoying his warm embrace.
“Of course, Gabe. Always.”
Thirteen
Monica
We spent the rest of the day packing and getting things arranged for our trip back home, while Gabe tried to finish his work obligations he had for the day, on top of everything else.
When we enter the hospital the next day, I’m exhausted from a restless night and the long drive. Even though Gabe said Dahlia is okay, I need to see it with my own eyes.
Thankfully, the trip wasn’t too bad, and without talking about it anymore, Gabe and I just kind of jumped back into our old roles. Making sure his sister’s all right got pushed to the top of both of our lists.
Gabe and I walk next to each other, my body buzzing with awareness over his close proximity. I try to shake myself out of those thoughts because now’s not the best time for them, but as usual, my brain does what it wants. The last thing we need is someone catching on to us though. Not that anything has really happened—yet.
Sidestepping an older lady with a walker, I’m momentarily distracted by the pale hospital hallways filled with patients, visitors, and hospital staff. The sterile smell of hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies clings to the air, not helping my funky mood right now. Besides my stunt last year, I can count on one hand the times I’ve been to hospitals as either a visitor or patient, and I’d like to keep that number low. No matter how hard they try to make the place look friendly and happy, it’s mostly just a really sad place.
Since Hudson told us which room Dahlia is in, we find it without any issues. If all the voices and laughter floating out into the hallway are anything to go by, they have a little party going on in her room.
The door swings open just as Gabe reaches for the door handle, almost slamming him in the face.
Our favorite rockstar pokes out his head. “There you are. Finally.”
He pulls both Gabe and me inside with a big grin on his face.
I can’t help but smile back at my best friend’s fiancé before he gives us both a hug. With the commotion going on, it only takes a second for the others in the room to realize we’re here. I smile widely, like I always do when I see the family that has come to mean so much to me ever since I came to Brooksville last year to lick my wounds. I’m always genuinely happy to see them.
I spot Rose, Dahlia’s twin, first, since it’s hard to miss her with her colorful hair. What were just a few little strands of colored hair last year has, at some point, turned into a full head of rainbow colors she frequently changes. When we left, it was purple; now, it’s a striking teal. She’s been in a self-discovery phase ever since I met her, and it seems like nothing much has changed about that.
Out of all four Mitchell siblings, she’s the only one without any artistic talent, or so it seems, and I have my suspicion that plays a role in her indecision of what to do with her life. For now, she helps out Dahlia at the academy and seems happy enough about it.
“Nice hair.” I point her way and chuckle, unable to keep the happiness down at seeing all these amazing people.
Gabe grunts behind me but stays quiet. He thinks we’re all just encouraging Rose to not take life too seriously.
Everyone comes over to give us hugs, like we were gone for months instead of just a few weeks. Besides Rose and Hudson, there are also their parents, Rebecca and Thomas, and, of course, Hannah, their beloved grandma.
I immediately notice two important people are missing, and I look around to see if I missed my best friend and my little goddaughter.
“Mira got sick last night, so Charlie stayed home with her.” Hudson is next to me, knowing exactly who I’m looking for.
“Oh no. Is she okay?” I don’t have a lot of experience with children except for Mira, but I remember Charlie telling me once that having a sick child is one of the worst things. She said it’s utterly heartbreaking, and I totally believe it.
He nods, his well-defined arms crossed over his chest. “Yeah, she seems to be sleeping it off for now. Already much better when I left earlier, but still not a good fit for a hospital, you know?” He eyes me like he knows something I don’t. “I’m sure she’d love to see you soon though. Even though you talked a lot while you were gone, I know she missed spending time with you in person.”
My previous thoughts of not having been a good friend overtake me, making me swallow as I try really, really hard to keep my facial expressions at bay.
It’s suddenly quiet, and I feel eyes on me.
Did everyone just stop talking and decide to look at me instead?
“Please tell her I’ll call her later, okay?” I barely look at him long enough to see the nod he gives me before I make my way over to the hospital bed.
Dahlia looks tired but at least content. The bedside tables, as well as the windowsill, are filled with flowers and cards, some of them looking hand-drawn. I wonder if some of the kids from the academy made them for her.
Bending, I give her a half-armed hug before I sit down on the padded chair beside the bed. “You scared us. Couldn’t wait for someone to help you, huh? Just as stubborn as the rest of your family.”
Her quiet laughter fills the room. “Well, you were gone, so things got a little boring around here.”
“Very funny. Next time, just call me when you’re bored, okay?”
“That definitely sounds less painful.” She adjusts her sitting position on the bed and winces.
My hands automatically flutter up, wanting to help somehow. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
She grabs a pillow from the side of the bed and pushes it under her casted arm. “There. Much better.”
The cast on her arm is not even a day old, but there are already little doodles on it.
Her eyes follow mine, and she chuckles. “Can you believe it? Rose and Hudson have been awfully unhelpful. Sometimes they are more immature than some of my kids at the academy.” She’s trying to look annoyed, but it’s easy to detect the crinkles in the corners of her eyes.
This family gets on each other’s nerves like nothing else sometimes, but underneath, they are a tightly knit group, there for each other in a heartbeat and without a question. Being an only child, I never had anything like that growing up. The closest thing I had to a sister was Charlie, and that was enough for me.
Looking over my shoulder, I stare at the two people in question, who both give me huge grins. “I believe it in a second.” I chuckle and turn back around, pointing toward the “get well” cards that look like they were drawn with crayons and markers. “Did your kids from the academy make these?”
A big smile spreads across her face. “They did. Those kids are seriously the sweetest.” She leans back and rests her head on the white pillow. “I swear, I’m so mad this happened. I can’t believe I won’t be able to teach my art classes for several weeks now. Or maybe even months until this cast comes off.”
She points at the offensive piece of plaster adorning her broken limb.
“I’m so sorry. That must be incredibly hard for you.” Dahlia’s academy is her everything, and now she can’t even do her job she loves so much.
I wonder if it feels similar to how I felt without dancing—like the limb you used for your art is not just broken, but actually entirely severed. The pain engulfing you, making you so miserable, it pulls you into a deep, dark hole that holds you prisoner if you don’t pay close enough attention.
“Don’t worry, sis. I can help if you need me.” Gabe comes up on the other side of the bed, bending down to kiss her on the forehead.
The hero, as always.
“Hey, Gabe.” She squeezes his arm with her good hand. “It’s good to have you back. It feels like you guys were gone forever.” The smile on her face is tired but genuine.
Gabe snorts. “We just barely left a couple of weeks ago. It was only a short trip, but I’m definitely glad we got to spend some time up there.”
“I have to visit again sometime soon. It’s such a relaxing place.” She has a distant look on her face before looking back and forth between us. “You two had a good time then?”
“What?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure.”
“Absolutely.”
Gabe and I answer at the same time, our words a jumbled mess.
Dahlia is the only one that laughs, but thankfully, she doesn’t seem to notice our odd reaction. “You two are so cute together.”
I barely hold back the choke that’s forming in the back of my throat, trying hard not to let my real feelings show. My eyes stay trained on Dahlia, afraid I’ll blush if I look up at Gabe’s handsome face. I might end up drooling or something equally embarrassing.
No one needs to realize I can’t stop thinking about Gabe’s lips on mine.
Dahlia’s laughter suddenly fades, a more serious expression taking over her face, and my stomach fills with dread. “Speaking of you two being so great together, I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
Fourteen
Gabe
Seeing my sister look so small in the big hospital bed makes my stomach churn. My family is incredibly important to me, and seeing one of them hurt inadvertently hurts me too. Since I can’t change anything about the situation, the least I can do is try to help as much as possible. “Of course. What’s the favor?”
Her healthy arm goes up to her face, pulling on her ear a few times, something she does when she’s uncomfortable or nervous. When we were kids, we used to run away from her the second we saw her hand go up to her ear because we knew whatever she wanted usually wasn’t in our favor.
The impulse is still there, and I have to fight the urge to turn around and walk away.
Old habits die hard sometimes.
“Just tell us, sis.” I avoid looking over at Monica, but I can see in my peripheral vision she’s waiting too. I guess I’m not the only one apprehensive of whatever Dahlia wants from us.
My sister finally drops her hand and looks up at me. “Well, you offered your support, and I would like to take you up on it.” Then she looks over at Monica quickly and back at me again. “I was wondering if you two could help out at the academy? You’re such a good team, and I need all the help I can get. I’d hate to have to cancel my classes if I can avoid it. But only if you’re okay with that. I can always try and find someone else too.”
My sister is off to Babble Land, at least for her standard, but all I can think about is what she said about Monica and me.
About us being a team.
A great team.
It keeps coming up, and I can see why everyone thinks so. Isn’t that the way I’ve been feeling about us too? We have grown into a great duo, a friendship-team. Because that’s what everyone’s talking about, right?
I glance over at Monica. It’s hard to look at her beautiful face without wanting to pull her into my arms, now that I’ve tasted her. The memory of that moment at the dance studio is always just a thought away, making me want to kiss the living hell out of her every time I see her.
Dahlia’s accident put it all on pause until I could make sure my sister was really okay. But now, it’s like someone pushed the play button again, and my attraction to Monica is back in business.
When I told her I didn’t regret what we did, and that I want to do it again, I wasn’t lying. It’s all I’ve been able to think about.
Yet I’m also battling the doubts swirling around in my head ever since she made it clear she’s not looking for anything serious.
Because that’s what I want. That’s what I’m programmed for.
I’m the family guy. The one who wants a wife and a small herd of children filling the house with their laughter and shouts.
Starting something with Monica—knowing not only will she leave again soon, especially now that she’s started dancing again, but also not being on the same page when it comes to life and our futures—seems like a train wreck just waiting to happen, and it worries me.
But then again, it’s Monica. Sweet, funny, and incredibly sexy Monica that I can’t, and don’t really want to, say no to.
“Gabe? Are you okay with that? I’m sorry if it’s too much of an inconvenience. I know you’re still busy with your book. I’ll just ask someone else. Don’t worry about it.” Dahlia’s voice cuts into my thoughts, and when I look at her, disappointed puppy dog eyes gaze up at me.
Well, hell. I didn’t hear anything she said while I was in Monica-land, but how would I ever say no to that face? I’m pretty sure Dahlia knows it too, little sneaky thing.
I groan, knowing I have a hard time saying no to my sister in general, even less now that she’s injured. So, I let out a loud sigh and nod. “Of course I’ll help. I offered it, after all.”
“We’ll work it out somehow. Don’t worry about it.” Monica’s voice sounds normal, and I wonder if she’s thinking about me and our kiss at all.
It seems like I’m getting more and more obsessed with it by the minute.
Dahlia lets out a long breath. “Thanks so much, guys. That will be a huge help. I should be able to leave here tomorrow, so maybe we can meet up at Mom’s after, to talk? Will that be okay?”
“Absolutely.” Monica’s smiling at my sister, and I’m glad she still seems to be in good spirits.
“Perfect. And thanks so much for coming to see me. I’m sure you’re both exhausted from the drive.” She scans both of our faces, a slight crease forming between her eyebrows at whatever she sees.
The sooner we get out of here, the better.
Somehow, I have a feeling our poker
faces aren’t the best right now. “Of course we had to come here first. But you’re right, a nice hot shower and maybe a nap sound pretty good to me right now.”
“Well, what are you waiting for then? It’s almost dinnertime for me anyway, which means I’ll kick everyone out soon. I don’t need anyone stealing my food.” She chuckles before sobering up again, reaching out to grab Monica’s hand and then mine. When she squeezes mine, her eyes are shiny, and the corners of her mouth tilt up the smallest fraction. “Even though you really didn’t have to, thanks so much for coming back for me. It means a lot.”
I squeeze her hand. “Don’t even mention it. Let me know if you need any help before they let you leave tomorrow. Otherwise, we’ll see you at Mom’s, okay?”
“Of course, thank you. I guess it’s good I still live at home, seeing I’ll need all the help I can get.”
We both chuckle; the fact she’s the only one who hasn’t moved out yet a running joke in our family.
“Mom will take good care of you.” I bend down to give her forehead a quick kiss before leaving her bedside.
Monica and I are in sync, saying goodbye to everyone in record time. Not even five minutes later, we’re out of the room and on the way back to the car.
We coordinate well, even without words.
Always have.
The parking garage is illuminated by bright fluorescent lights, a cloudy sky looming outside the building, entirely fitting my mood.
We’re almost at my car when a truck pulls out of a spot close by, not slowing down despite us walking right there. I pull Monica out of the way when it looks like she might get hit.
“Hey!” My yell echoes around the concrete structure, my heart wildly beating in my chest.
The driver must have finally noticed us since the brake lights flash red right in front of our faces. Without as much as an apology or even a wave, the truck rushes out of the garage like it just caught on fire. What a jerk.
I turn to Monica, who’s trembling all over. “You okay?”
The Mitchell Brothers Collection: A Feel-Good Romance Box Set Page 43