Page 123 of Danger

I nod just as a different nurse wheels a chair into the room and locks the brakes.

"Hospital policy," she says with an apologetic smile.

Danger keeps hold of my wrist as he helps me ease into the chair, making sure I'm settled before crouching long enough to tuck the blanket over my legs. His hand lingers for a second. Then he grips the handles behind me.

I try to focus on anything but the way his hands feel on me again. The brush of his knuckles. Even in a hospital, he smells like Rainforest cologne and worn leather.

“So you bought me a car?”

He tips his head, smile tight. “No. I bought myself peace of mind.”

“You always hated my car.”

“I always cared about your safety,” he says, all stubborn and unshakable. Then he clears his throat and adds, “If there’s ever a problem with this car… or if anyone messes with the engine, the security system locks up. Won’t even let you shift into drive. It’ll alert me, too.”

I scoff. “You rigged my car to tattle?”

He shrugs. “I’m not above it.”

For a second I see his boyhood. Or what’s left of it—barefoot in the stables, cursing at his brothers, trying to be the one who keeps them in line. It’s still there under all the grown-up scars.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, quieter now. “I’ll pay you back for it.”

He shakes his head. “You won’t do nothin’ but get better. And never do that to me again.”

I nod and say, “So are you gonna give me the keys, or do I have to hotwire my own car in the parking lot?”

He grins. “You’re not driving.”

“Excuse me?”

He opens the heavy door with his shoulder, guiding me through like a gentleman. “You’re still on painkillers. I’ll show you how it works.”

I want to argue, but I don’t have the energy. Instead, I make a show of rolling my eyes, and he makes a show of pretending not to notice.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

danger

I’ve been thrown harderthan this.

Eight seconds. Dirt in my mouth. Crowd screaming.

I can handle pain. What I don’t know how to handle is the way Winnie hasn’t asked me about Rylee.

It’s been a week since she got out of the hospital.

A week since I started going by her house every day—checking in with her parents, making sure she’s got everything she needs.

I promised her space.

And I’ve been giving it to her. But it doesn’t change the fact that things aren’t the same between us anymore. She’s been healing. Getting back on her feet. Acting like she’s okay. And the worst part is that she hasn’t asked me about it once. Rylee is gone—back where she belongs. The town has moved on like nothing happened. But between me and Winnie? Something’s still stuck in that hospital room.

But tonight? I’m hoping we finally get it all out in the open. I’m on my way to Sawyer and Trouble’s save-the-date party, and I know she’ll be there. The second I step into the bar, I look around until I see her.

Not because I’m looking. Because I always know where she is.

She’s laughing at something Sawyer says, head tipped back, hair catching the string lights.