An Early Widower

Kade

I pace the length of the waiting room, my heart seizing with every passing minute. Sora was deathly allergic to roses. Deathly and I wasn’t aware. The room had been filled with roses, rose petals and those godawful scented candles. The doctor said that if Cameron hadn't found her when he did, if she'd remained in that room for even one more minute, it would've been too late.

Even now, it had been close. Too fucking close.

I drag a hand through my hair for what has to be the hundredth time tonight, my chest tightening painfully. God, this is all my fault. She didn't want to come on this stupid date in the first place and I pushed her into it. If I hadn't pissed her off, if I hadn't stood there entertaining Daisy while Sora was upstairs alone, I would've been with her. I would've noticed something was wrong. I would've gotten her out before she collapsed.

Instead, Cameron found her.

The thought twists something ugly inside me.

My attention drifts to Daisy, who is currently crying into Cameron's shoulder. Even a blind man could tell those tears were fake as hell. She'd been sobbing since we got to the hospital, apologizing over and over again, insisting she had no idea Sora was allergic. Maybe she was telling the truth, maybe she wasn't, but I can't shake the feeling that she had a hand in this.

Maybe it's the way she won't look me in the eye. She’d conveniently avoided going upstairs with us, heck she insisted and swore Cam was already there waiting for us, but he wasn’t and Sora was found in the wrong room.

Whatever the reason, I know one thing for certain. If I find out Daisy had anything to do with Sora ending up in that room, I'll kill her.

Consequences be damned.

I exhale harshly, leaning against the wall and scrubbing both hands down my face. The sterile smell of antiseptic fills my lungs, making me feel vaguely nauseous. Monitors beep somewhere down the hall, nurses move briskly from room to room and every time a doctor walks past, my head snaps up in hope only for disappointment to hit seconds later.

Shit. I need a smoke. No, I need an entire fucking pack.

I push through the hospital doors, immediately wincing when the cold night air slams against my bare chest. The parking lot is mostly empty, save for a few scattered cars and the occasional nurse hurrying inside for the night shift.

I don't care.

Right now, all I want is nicotine and enough of it to burn away the image of Sora lying unconscious in Cameron's arms.

I fish a pack out of my jeans, tapping a cigarette against the box when movement flashes in my peripheral vision.

I barely have enough time to register Cameron before a fist comes flying at my face.

Years of racing kick in on instinct.

I duck.

Cam's punch cuts through empty air.

I stare at him, momentarily stunned.

For a second, I assume this is about Daisy. Maybe my little bathroom interaction somehow got back to him.

Honestly, I wouldn't blame him.

But then Cameron speaks, and every assumption flies out the window.

"What kind of fucking boyfriend leaves his girlfriend all alone?" he snarls, chest heaving.

I blink.

"What?"

"What kind of boyfriend leaves his girlfriend by herself and disappears?" he repeats, shoving me hard in the chest. "Sora could've died, Kade."

The accusation catches me off guard.

I don't have time for Cameron's bullshit.

"The same kind that leaves his fiancée alone to guide his best friend and brother?" I shoot back.

Cameron's jaw tightens. "I had to handle something."

"Oh, did you now?"

"I did." He looks everywhere except at me, his gaze darting toward the parking lot, the hospital windows, anywhere but my face. "But you left Sora. If you know you can't be there for her, then leave her the fuck alone."

I stare at him, really taking in his actions because something isn't adding up.

Cameron isn't angry that I was alone with Daisy.

Hell, he isn't even curious.

Most men would've asked questions by now. Most men would've demanded to know why their fiancée was in a bathroom with another guy.

Cam hasn't asked a damn thing.

Instead, all his anger, all his fear, is centered on one person.

Sora.

Interesting.

"You must really trust Daisy," I say slowly.

His brows furrow.

"What?"

"You heard me." I light the cigarette, taking a long drag before exhaling smoke into the night air. "You're more upset that Sora passed out than you are about your wife-to-be being in possession of my shirt."

Cameron finally looks at me.

For the first time since we've been outside, genuine confusion flashes across his face.

"My shirt," I repeat. "You know, the one I threw away after she touched me."

The silence that follows is deafening

I smile, slowly. "Oh."

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he asks, finally taking in my shirtless state.

I glance down at myself before looking back at him.

“Remember when you yelled, ‘What the fuck is going on here?’ right before the ambulance arrived? I assumed you were talking about Daisy and me.”

His brows furrow. “You and Daisy?”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “I thought that was why you came out here swinging.”

Realization dawns on his face and for some reason it only pisses me off further.

“And the only reason I left Sora alone was because she asked me to do something for her.” I take a step closer, my irritation simmering beneath the surface. “Your woman, however, decided wasting my time was more important.”

Cam's expression darkens immediately. “What are you implying?”

I let out a humorless chuckle. “I think it was intentional.”

“I think Daisy deliberately kept me occupied and before you start defending her, ask yourself why she was so interested in discussing my relationship with Sora in the first place.”

Cam opens his mouth, but I don't give him the chance.

“Maybe I'm wrong. Hell, I hope I'm wrong because if I find out she had anything to do with Sora ending up in that room, you'll have much bigger problems than your brother dating your best friend.”

His jaw tightens. “Kade—”

“No.” I shake my head. “For once, stop looking at me like I'm the villain in your little love story and make sure your fiancée isn't involved in this.”

I brush past him, pausing only long enough to add, “Otherwise, you'll be an early widower.”

I don't wait for his shitty ass response.

The craving for nicotine dies as quickly as it came. All I can think about now is getting back to Sora.

Gee, thanks brother.

The automatic doors slide open and the familiar sterile scent of antiseptic assaults my senses.

For the first time in my life, I'm grateful for it.

Anything is better than standing outside with Cameron and whatever the hell that conversation was supposed to accomplish.

I make my way back to the waiting room only to stop short.

Daisy is standing by the nurses' station, speaking quietly with a doctor.

My heart immediately lodges itself in my throat.

Without thinking, I stride over, interrupting whatever conversation they're having.

"How is she?" The words come out rougher than intended. "I'm her boyfriend."

The doctor looks mildly startled by my abrupt appearance but recovers quickly.

"Miss Raine is awake."

Every muscle in my body goes slack with relief.

Thank fuck.

"She's still weak, but her vitals are stable and we'd like to keep her overnight for observation." The doctor offers me a reassuring smile. "You can see her now, but try not to overwhelm her."

I don't bother responding, I'm already halfway down the hall.

The room number Daisy reluctantly gave me blurs past in seconds. My pulse pounds loudly in my ears as I push open the door.

Sora is sitting up in bed.

Alive, annoyed and very much conscious.

The sight nearly brings me to my knees.

She notices me immediately, her eyes narrow and before I can say a word, something comes flying at my head.

I barely dodge in time.

"What the fuck?" I stare at the offending toy now lying on the floor.

Sora crosses her arms.

"You left me."

I open my mouth, close it, then decide against defending myself.

Fair.

Her gaze drifts over me, irritation momentarily giving way to confusion.

She blinks then blinks again.

"Where's your shirt?"