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“Declan…I’ht Doctor returned I’m so sorry that you didn’t know At first…” I shake ht someone would tell you So I kept away Out of shame, I suppose, and perhaps a bit of practicality And then, when by chance no one did—when no one spilled ht Just for a moment” I s

I choose not to reveal ht What Declan just told e

Doctor doesn’t co, when Sailor awakens just before his NSAID dose and starts to trerits his teeth and whispers, “I know that fucker hurt you More than once Tell me he didn’t…but don’t lie to me”

I nearly laugh at that As he holds the tincture under his tongue, I rub one and we’re still here”

“You were scared of him”

I rub his hair “Carnegie,” I murmur

“I scared you,” he groans, “that night I’m sorry I scared you”

I abandoned him there on the floor when Doctor appeared, and it’s he who’s sorry I realize so more in that moment: It must have bothered hiround…

“It h, your reaction Please, let’s not dwell there I want to be here with you Only here, and nowhere else”

His tired eyes well “You do?”

“Yes” I wipe his eyes and brush a kiss over his lips

“I ain”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know about my shoulder…”

“You still have to endure rehab with it, yes?”