Second Chance Summer(80)

“What are you doing?” Lily gasped, when Hudson began stitching up Aidan, who lay there perfectly still, his hands fisted in the bedding beneath him.

“Don’t worry,” Hudson said without looking up from what he was doing, which, near as she could tell, was torturing Aidan, given the seriously profane muttering still coming from his mouth.

Don’t worry? Was he kidding? She felt bells clanging in her head, and her vision got cobwebby. “You’ve … done this before?”

“I became a pro on Jacob, although I think this one puts Aidan in a dead tie.”

She made a sound that was pure anxiety, and Hudson spared her a look, narrowing his eyes. “You going to faint?”

“No!” Maybe …

He held her gaze, his own steady. “I need a cold, damp washcloth or something and a glass of ice water. Lily,” he said firmly, when she just stared at him. “Go.”

She ran to the kitchenette and came back with both, which she held while she stared at the scene before her.

Aidan was gritting his teeth and staring up at the ceiling, his face damp with sweat. Her heart squeezed, and she moved to his other side and put her hand over his.

He flicked her a quick gaze of surprise and managed a smile for her.

She rolled her eyes at him and sat at his side. “And we didn’t get him to the hospital why?” she asked Hudson.

“Hello, have you met him?” Hudson asked. “He’s got more rocks in his head than actual brains.”

“Fuck. You,” Aidan said between his gritted teeth. “Last time I stitched you up, you cried for your mama.”

Lily divided a horrified look between the two of them. “You two play doctor a lot?”

Hudson shrugged. “Shit happens.” He glanced up from his hands to Aidan’s face, smirked, and then went back to work. “Hate to crack his image for ya, but he’s really just a big baby, emphasis on big.”

Apparently, Aidan only had enough energy to spare for a growl. Then he went on with his steady stream of swearing, directing it at Hudson.

Hudson just kept calmly stitching. “You know safety means everything to him, right? That he rarely gets hurt and if he does it’s only because he’s put someone else’s safety first?”

Lily realized he was talking to her, and she stared at him.

“And he’s never out there alone, doing something he shouldn’t be doing,” he said. “He’s got Mitch or me at his back. We won’t let anything happen to him.”

She swallowed hard at the realization of what he was trying to tell her, that Aidan wasn’t going to do anything like climb Dead Man’s Cliff on his own without ropes and fall to his death.

She nodded, and Hud gave her a reassuring smile and went back to stitching, and then finally, after what seemed like hours but was really only twenty minutes, tied off the last stitch. Leaning over Aidan, he very gently added some ointment, and then carefully covered the entire injury with gauze and wrapping. His hands moved efficiently and professionally, and yet there was an affection and care very clear in every single touch.

When he was done, he kept a steadying hand on Aidan and said his name quietly.

Aidan opened his eyes and looked at him.

“Where to?” Hudson asked. “Because I’m about to drug you, and you’re going to stay horizontal for twelve hours.”

“I’m going to kick your ass.”

“Maybe tomorrow.” Hudson twisted to Lily, took the ice water and cool washcloth, and turned back to Aidan. He ran the cool cloth over Aidan’s face before tossing it aside and handing his brother the glass.

Aidan downed it in what seemed like two gulps.

“More?” Hudson asked quietly.

“I’m good.”

Hudson rolled his eyes and turned to Lily. “He’s good.”

She gave a small smile.

“He staying here with you?” Hudson asked her.

She glanced at Aidan, who was watching her from those melting brown eyes. “Yes.”

“He thinks he’s ‘good,’” Hudson warned. “But he’s full of shit. He’s dehydrated from working the fire, so keep him in fluids.”

“And his injury?”

“He’s had worse. Just keep him down as long as you can. And good luck with that, by the way.” Hudson headed to the door.

Lily followed him. “Are you sure he’s going to be okay?”

“Physically, yeah. He’s running a pint low, but sleep is all he really needs.”

“What about … not physically?”

At the front door, Hudson paused and turned to look at her. “Not physically?”

“Yeah.” She spoke low enough for only him to hear. “You know, mentally.”

Hudson studied her a moment and then spoke just as quietly. “I think you’ve got him all twisted up. Again.”

“Again?” she repeated.

“Look, you left Cedar Ridge for some damn good reasons. I get it. You needed off the mountain. But you left a hole in him, Lily, one he’s never quite closed.”

“My leaving here had nothing to do with him,” she said.

He lifted a hand to stop her from saying anything more, not that she would have. “Like I said, I get it,” he said. “But I also get that you’re only here until something else comes along. For his sake, I hope that’s soon. Because the longer you stay, Lily, the harder it will be on him when you go again.”