17 Chapter 17

This was darn near close to the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to her. And there were a lot of moments on that list.

The family surrounded Camryn's ER bed, fighting and carrying on, her hospital gown left her rearend hanging wide open for the free world to see, and her doctor looked like he should be doing pelvic thrusts on a wet bar, not practicing medicine. Add in the fact that Troy refused to leave the room, including when they'd undressed her, and she had the cherry atop the ice cream sundae from hell.

They were awaiting x-ray results before discharge. Thankfully, she didn't need stitches. The cut on the back of her head was small. The doctor had assured them, Troy several times due to him freaking out, that head wounds bleed a lot, even minor injuries.

By the time Troy had been grating on her very last nerve, he'd plopped in a chair in the corner and shut up. Next time, she'd push him off a horse.

"You're lucky you don't need stitches, young lady." This from Mom. Because Camryn had done this all on purpose. "What would your hair look like for the wedding?"

She knew it was her mom's worry showing, but still. Camryn didn't appreciate the "concern" just now.

"At least something good came from this," Baba proclaimed. "Have you seen her doctor?"

Oh God. Baba was going to hit on the ER doctor. Perfect. Just perfect.

Kuma Viola opened a cabinet door and closed it. "Never mind the doctor. Have you seen those slipper socks they give you in the hospital? I just love those."

And now they could add theft. Lovely.

The doctor strode into the room holding her x-rays. He uncomfortably wove around the family to get to Camryn's bedside. "Okay, nothing is broken. Pelvis, neck, and spine are intact. You do have a minor concussion, so take it easy for the next twenty-four hours. Have someone wake you every couple of hours tonight. It would be a good idea to stay in bed tomorrow. No rigorous activity like exercise-" Baba snorted "-or sex."

Yjaka Harold laughed. "Hear that Troy? None for you tonight."

"Cam wouldn't know rigorous sex if it bit her in the ass," Baba said. "But her doctor on the other hand-" Baba pinched his butt, causing the poor man to jump.

Camryn closed her eyes as the ER staff spontaneously broke out into song and dance. The nurses climbed on top of the station outside her room and kicked their legs in chorus. Doctors stripped off their white coats, twirling stethoscopes around their fingers and blinking the otoscope light lenses in harmony. Just as they were hitting the peak crescendo, her doctor interrupted.

"Ibuprofen is okay for pain. If you have any nausea or memory loss, come right back in. Do you have any questions?"

Are you sure you can't admit my family to the psych ward for observation?

"Nope. Can I go now?"

He nodded. "I'll get your discharge instructions ready." He glanced around the room, looking like a five-year-old who'd just wet himself. "You can get dressed now."

"Well, at least she won't be wearing a cast in the wedding photos," Tetaka Myrtle said.

Troy rose slowly, and before Camryn could open her mouth to intercept, he started yelling. "She could've been killed. She could've been paralyzed, and you're worried about wedding pictures? If not for her, Emily would be a patient, too."

Heather clapped her hands. "Out, everyone. Before Troy goes postal. Enough for one day. Come on."

There was that halo again, popping over Heather's head.

The family exited the room in silence.

Troy pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. Hard. He stared down at Camryn with an expression she'd never seen from him before. After staring at her for several moments, he pivoted and flopped sideways on the foot of her bed.

"I thought I was going to kill them. How's that for wedding photos? No one would be alive. We'd have to prop them up like mannequins."

She grinned. "They were just worried. You know them. They treat everything like an apocalypse."

He turned his head and studied her a long beat. "I've never been that scared in my life. I'm so glad you're okay."

Her chest swelled, making it hard to breathe. "I should have a t-shirt made. -甀 visited a Boulder ER and all I got was this lousy shirt.'"

Frowning, he sat up and stared at her. "You pick now to grow a funny bone?"

If only he knew. She shrugged. "At least I saved you from having to ride the horse back to the stable."

"Dear God, you are trying to be funny. You hit your noggin harder than I thought." He shook his head. "If I ever see you on a horse again, it'll be too soon."

"May I remind you, if you hadn't been flirting with a pretty blonde farm girl, this never would've happened."

His gaze shot to his hands as his throat worked a swallow.

She'd gone too far. Her stomach sank. She reached for his arm, but he rose and stepped away.

"I'll leave you to get dressed. I'll meet you outside."

Shoot. "Troy, I was only kidding-"

But he was gone.

Troy stepped out into the Hortons' yard and drew a deep breath. Still shocked at how much cooler it was here at night, he crossed his arms and glanced heavenward. Thunder rolled in the distance. Moments later, the western sky flashed with lightning. The storm was coming later than forecasted, the humidity heavy. His and Cam's bedroom light blinked on above him.

He'd nearly lost it today. Seeing her on the ground, with Emily sprawled over her-

They'd been his family, his only true family, since long before he'd thought he needed one. He told himself the panic was for that reason. Even now, he still feared the Covics abandoning him. In the quiet of night, though, he knew that to be a lie.

Somewhere in the space between right and wrong, between family and friend, Camryn was becoming more. Warning knells had gone off before they'd even left for Colorado when she'd backed into his table at his house. When he'd touched her. From a distance, he eyed the spot in the yard where they'd kissed.

He shook his head. Because of his inattention, Emily or Cam could've been hurt. There was no force on Earth that would've allowed him to forgive himself had that happened.

Ever since his father had gotten locked away when Troy was eighteen, he'd made a pact with himself to never become the monster his dad was. Never raise a fist, never drink more than one beer, never hurt another person. Use humor when possible, smile freely, show those he loved how he felt.

In honesty, his pact was probably why he'd not allowed himself to truly fall in love. Love led to marriage, which led to kids- And though it sickened him, his father's DNA coursed through his blood. It only took a second to lose his patience and repeat the cycle of abuse.

A door closed behind him. He turned and looked at Fisher. "What are you still doing awake?"

Fisher shoved his hands in his pockets and stood next to him. "I could ask the same thing."

"I keep seeing them in my head, laying there." Troy looked over the horizon.

"Me, too."

"I'm so, so sorry. I should've paid more attention."

Fisher faced him. "That's not why I came out. It was an accident, Troy. Nothing more. And thankfully, not serious."

His friend was more forgiving than Troy. "What do you want to say, then? I know you. There's something on your mind."

Fisher glanced up at their bedroom window, then at his feet. "Emily and Camryn aren't the only ones I keep seeing in my mind. It's you, too. The expression on your face when you saw her fall. The one you had at the hospital." He looked Troy in the eye. "You've never looked at a woman the way you looked at her today. So, this thing with you and Cam? It's okay with me."

Troy closed his mouth and searched Fisher's face. Long and narrow, perfectly shaven jaw, dimple on the right cheek. Eyes staring frankly into his, offering Troy the ultimate trust. If he was becoming that transparent Fisher could see his emotions, what must Cam be thinking?

He couldn't say anything through the lump in his throat, but his mind raced to spill the truth to his best friend.

No words would come. Truth be told, he'd rather have Fisher mad at him.

Fisher nodded. "Good night."

Troy stared at the door as it closed, and then up at the sky as it let loose.