When the Dead Speak by Bailey Bradford (books to read to increase intelligence txt) š
- Author: Bailey Bradford
Book online Ā«When the Dead Speak by Bailey Bradford (books to read to increase intelligence txt) šĀ». Author Bailey Bradford
And heād rather have Sev playing nurse for him any day than the sour-faced guy whoād been prodding at Laine here in the hospital. Matt tapped on the door then made his way over to the bed. Heād been released three days earlier, but as far as Laine could tell, he hadnāt left the hospital much at all. He seemed to feel personally responsible for Richās survival.
āAny changes?ā
Laine shook his head. āNo, but that isnāt necessarily a bad thing. Heās not getting any worse. Dr. Hunter says it could take a few more days, and consideringā¦ā
Matt nodded in agreement. Considering all the blood Rich had lost, the multiple stab wounds that had taken hours in surgery to repair, and the near miss to Richās jugular from the gaping gash to his neck, the man was lucky to be alive.
āBut he will wake up. Heāll be okay.ā Mattās voice rang with a surety that Laine wished he felt. Rich was so still, except for the steady breaths. He hadnāt flicked so much as a finger since heād been laid on a gurney and wheeled from Laineās house.
āHe will be.ā Sev squeezed Laineās waist before stroking his hand over Laineās hip. āRich will wake up soon.ā
There was that surety that, once again, Laine wished he could feel. āMatt, call me ifāthe second he wakes, okay?ā
āYeah, Iāll do that. You get everything straightened out at work?ā
Laine shrugged and grimaced, the move pulling at his wound. āWasnāt as many people screaming for a recall vote as I, or the mayor, thought thereād be. Irma was the loudest, and I think she scared off most the other people who werenāt happy with me being gay. Or maybe the people of McKinton are tired of violence and hatred. Everythingās okay for now.ā
āLaine,ā Sevās voice carried a hint of reproach, āI think you misjudged the people of McKinton. There are a few narrow-minded bigots, sure, but youāll find those people anywhere. Think about all the flowers and cards and visitors youāve had, and Doreen tearing into anyone who dares to speak ill of you. The support has really been overwhelmingly in your favor.ā
Thinking about it made Laineās cheeks heat with embarrassment. āI guess so, though Deputy Sparks doesnāt seem to be able to even look me in the eye. I keep hoping heāll come around, butā¦ā Laine didnāt think it would happen. It had hurt, having a man heād worked with and known for years look at him like that, disapproval clear in his eyes.
āSparks is an asshole, Laine, seriously. If he is gonna be a dumbshit, then I hope he does quit. I personally canāt stand the guy, anyway.ā Mattās gaze darted away, and Laine wondered what had happened between the two men to make Matt feel that way.
āYou never said anything before.ā
This time it was Matt who shrugged, blowing off the unasked question.
āWell, guess heāll do whatever heāll do. Worrying isnāt gonna make a difference.ā Laine looked at Rich, willing the man to wake, to smile and make a snarky comment to Matt, or bitch at Laine for not staying in touch. Anything. Heād settle for a nervous tic, but Rich remained as heād been for days, silent and unmoving.
āYeah.ā Matt rested his hands on the bedrail. āBut Iām sorry heās being a prick.ā
Sev tapped Laineās hip and Laine took it for the signal it was. He touched Mattās shoulder then let Sev lead him out of the room. They left the hospital and, after a short debate, decided to have lunch at Virginiaās cafĆ©.
Laine parked his truck in front of the cafƩ and fingered the keys as he considered what he wanted to say. He could feel Sev watching him, and it made him more nervous, terrified he would bumble the words that were so important to him.
āLaine, youāre making me nervous,ā Sev teased, trailing a hand up Laineās thigh. āJust spit it out already.ā
Thatās my romantic little lover. All poetry and flowers. And he was stalling. Laine raised his eyes to Sevās and held his hand where it pressed against Laineās thigh.
āOkay. Iām not good with words, but thereās some things I need to say.ā He felt the tips of his ears burning and wondered if he couldnāt have found a card to say it for him. A distinctive thump to the back of his head knocked the idea away. Guess that would be Connerās version of ānoā.
Sev looked worried now, his eyebrows knitting together, and Laine knew then that heād been quiet too long. He was fucking this up.
āIā¦ You havenāt said if youāre planning on staying, andāā Sev didnāt look worried anymore. He looked pissed, and Laine hurried to finish before that frown on his lover turned more severe. āWeāve been staying with Zeke and Brendon. I canāt go back to that house, canāt live where Rich almost died, I just canāt.ā A quick check told Laine Sev had softened somewhat, but the man still wasnāt happy. āIf Iā¦ We could, maybe, we could get a different place? If you want to stay here, stay with me?ā Say the words, you idiot! Laine would have sworn that wasnāt his voice he heard rattling between his ears. And Sev still didnāt look happy.
āLaine, why do you think Iām not planning to stay around, as you put it? Do you think Iām not capable of being serious, of loving one person, loving you?ā Sevās voice hitched with hurt. āI thoughtā¦ I thought youāā
Laine was stuck on the āloving youā part of Sevās speech. He smacked the
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