twelve hours because of a possible concussion, so that gives me time to sort out where he’s going after.”
My skin buzzed at the thought that he would be somewhere out of reach or out of my sight. I told myself over and over that as long as he didn’t end up back with his father, he’d be okay.
The doors to the exam room opened, and I jumped up. The nurse locked eyes with me, then her gaze shifted to Windsor.
She didn’t get a word out when Windsor pointed a finger at her. “You treat this man the same way you would if he was his father. Tell him what he wants to know and stop throwing barriers in his way.” His tone was harsh and didn’t leave room for argument.
It probably went against some code the hospital staff was supposed to abide by, but the nurse nodded and turned to me. “Are you East?”
“That’s me.”
“He’s asking for you.”
I shoved past the woman and found a pale and sulking Percy sitting on the edge of a paper cover table, his arm in a bright purple cast. When he saw me, his chin quivered. I scooped him up, and he laid his head on my shoulder, fingers playing with the hair at my nape.
“I’m tired, East.”
“I know. They’ve got a room here for you. You can lie down and have a rest now. You ever sleep in a hospital before?”
He shook his head. “Will you stay with me?”
“Absolutely.”
I followed the same nurse down the hall and around a few corners until she directed us into a small room with a hospital bed.
“The doctor’s going to be in shortly. They did blood work, and he’s just waiting for results.”
“Thank you.”
Alone, I set Percy on the bed and scanned him head to toe. They’d stitched his forehead and given him child-sized scrubs to wear. I wrapped a blanket around him and pulled his chin up when it fell to his chest. “You look at me. You’re safe now, okay.”
“I was scared.”
“I know. Me too. The chief wants to talk to you ’bout what happened. Are you up for that?”
He thought for a minute, then nodded. “Where’s Daddy?”
“Your daddy’s not feeling so good.”
“Is he gonna be mad at me?”
“No one is mad at you.”
I pulled him into my arms and found a seat in a chair beside the bed. Percy curled up and was asleep in less than ten minutes. I took comfort in his warmth and the weight of him in my arms. But I couldn’t hold it together anymore. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I clung to this tiny child who’d wormed his way into my life. It could have ended way worse. The thought of having lost him gutted me.
After an hour of holding him, Windsor came and found me again. I transferred Percy onto the bed and tucked a blanket around him. He didn’t wake.
“He’s exhausted,” I said, watching him. “He was out there all night by himself.”
“They’re going to keep a close watch on him. You should go home and get some sleep too.”
I shook my head. “I’m all right.”
“Easton.”
“I said, I’m all right.”
Windsor sighed. “The lady from Child Services is here. She’s talking with the doctor, and I’m meeting with her afterward.”
My muscles tightened, and I couldn’t move my gaze from Percy. “Okay. You’ll tell me what happens?”
“Of course. You’ve got a crowded waiting room. You should go and let your family know the boy’s okay.”
I flashed a questioning glance at Windsor.
“Your dad’s here. Your sister and Austin. Also, that young man from the city who seems to be attached to your hip lately.”
“Lachlan.” I couldn’t believe he was still here. In all the chaos, I’d abandoned and forgotten about him. “He’s still around?”
“I saw the picture in the paper of you two.” Windsor’s lips turned up at the corner. “He’s quite the looker. How’d you manage that?”
“It’s not like—” I clamped my mouth shut because I didn’t know what it was. One minute we were enemies, the next, I couldn’t stop kissing him. Ducking my chin, staring at my boots, I mumbled, “He’s just a friend.”
“I’ve known you too long, East. You’re a terrible liar. How about you go check in with them. It wouldn’t hurt for you to go get some rest. Percy is probably going to be asleep for a while. He was pretty worn out, and all this commotion will take a toll on him.”
“I told you, I’m fine. Come find me when you’re