Vulnerable [Suncoast Society] (Suncoast Society #29)(68)

Jesse couldn’t focus on anything and didn’t try. As he and Eva sat there, holding on to each other, they waited with Tilly sitting on Eva’s far side and maintaining the vigil with them.

Finally, a nurse came out to get them and they went back to see him.

Jesse didn’t dare hope, seeing the vent tube gone.

Tilly talked with the nurse, then translated.

“He responded to basic commands, but he’s going to be very groggy and loopy. He might not make any sense, if he even wakes up again right now. They gave him meds to get him up, but he’s back down again a little. Don’t panic. And let’s not stay long, because we don’t want to stress him.”

Jesse and Eva nodded, taking up positions on either side of his bed.

Jesse leaned in, his head on Leo’s pillow, fingers curled around Leo’s. “I love you, Sir,” he softly spoke in Leo’s ear.

Leo’s lips moved but Jesse didn’t hear anything, and Leo didn’t open his eyes. Jesse looked at Tilly, who nodded at him encouragingly.

Jesse tried again. “I’m taking care of everything for you, Sir. We’re okay. You have to get better for us.”

Leo’s lips moved again. That time, it almost sounded like he was trying to speak. Tilly looked around, spotted a cup and a new, wrapped sponge swab, and quickly got it unwrapped and ran water in the cup to dab Leo’s lips and tongue with the swab.

Leo’s eyes didn’t open but he slowly licked his lips. Tilly dabbed at them again, not letting him suck liquid from the sponge.

“We need to get him some lip balm,” Tilly said. “I didn’t even think about that.”

Jesse reached up and stroked Leo’s stubbled cheek. “Love you, Sir. Everything’s under control.”

“My…good…boy.”

Jesse thought he imagined it, wishful thinking matched to the movements of Leo’s lips, until Tilly clapped a hand over her mouth as she burst out laughing.

Eva’s eyes widened as she looked at Jesse, who didn’t care if either woman saw him crying.

He’d do anything to hear those three damn words.

“Thank you, Sir,” he whispered. “I promise I’ll be your good boy until you get home.”

Leo’s eyes slowly flickered opened.

Jesse wasn’t sure if there was a better sight in the world than Leo’s blue eyes.

Leo focused on Tilly first, who stood at the end of the bed with the cup in her hand. His brow furrowed a little, but she pointed at Jesse.

Jesse moved so Leo didn’t have to turn his head to see him. He offered Leo a tearful smile. “There you are, Sir. Your boy’s missed you so f*cking much.” He leaned in and kissed Leo.

A soft sigh escaped Leo, his eyes drooping closed again. He slowly licked his lips. “What…”

That was all he said before finally opening his eyes again, this time focusing on Jesse.

“Are you asking what happened, Sir?” Jesse asked.

Jesse thought Leo’s blink had probably felt like a head nod from Leo’s perspective. “You were in a car accident on Sunday night, Sir. A guy was texting. He blew through a red light and hit you.”

His funeral, in fact, was today. Jesse only knew that because Tilly had kept track.

And it hadn’t been the guy’s first time, either. He had several previous traffic tickets for careless driving, running red lights, and texting while driving.

Ed had volunteered that he was already preparing the lawsuit to help take care of Leo’s medical bills. When Jesse tried to protest that Leo probably wouldn’t want to sue, Ed had stood firm.

“Then when he’s better, he can tell me to drop it. Until then, I’m your attorney and doing what’s best for all of you.”

No, Jesse wouldn’t argue. He didn’t have the energy. That had to be saved for the battles he could win.

“Eva’s here, too, Sir.” He pointed.

She walked around the bed and stood next to Jesse so Leo wouldn’t have to turn his head. Tilly took Eva’s place and again dabbed at Leo’s lips with the wet sponge.

Leo stared at Eva for a moment. “Where’s…”

Tilly was the one who finally put Leo’s worried expression together with the word and made the connection. “Laurel’s fine, Leo. She wasn’t in the car with you. She’s safe. You’d already dropped her off at Eva’s before the accident.”

His eyes dropped closed and another sigh escaped him.

“Laurel’s fine,” Jesse reassured him. “We took her to school this morning. It’s Wednesday, Sir.”

His eyes opened again, focused on Eva.

She offered him a smile. “I’m playing nice. I swear.” They had agreed not to say anything to Leo about his divorce by proxy and the new custody arrangement until he was feeling stronger.

Jesse reached out and stroked his cheek again. “Everything’s okay, Sir. I called Carl and they’re handling the shop for you. Ed’s helping us. We’re okay. And we’re all here for you.”

Eva put her arm around Jesse and tipped her head over onto his shoulder. “I swear, Leo. Everything’s okay. We’re leaning on each other and we’re both taking care of Laurel. All you focus on is getting better. Okay, Sir?”

His eyes closed again. Then, they popped open and he scowled at them.