Evers & Afters (Dare With Me #2) - J.H. Croix Page 0,5

some beer,” Diego called.

“I don’t need to be reminded of that,” Flynn replied as he lifted his hand in a wave and then left the room.

Diego’s eyes scanned the space before coming back to me. “Daphne fixed this room up nice for you.”

They’d put me up in the only guest room in the downstairs of the resort. When Daphne came to stay, she had originally been an actual guest and stayed upstairs where guest rooms occupied to the two upper floors. Then, she stayed on after Flynn chased away another cook and moved down here before she and Flynn finally fessed up to being in love with each other. Despite my irritation with the situation, I was in a ridiculously comfortable bed with a fluffy down quilt and enough pillows for about five people.

“Of course, she did. It was spotless already.”

Diego’s green gaze landed on mine. “It looks like she gave you some extra pillows,” he observed. “If you don’t need them all, I’ll take a few.”

I lifted a pillow with my good arm and tossed it toward him. He caught it easily with a chuckle. “I’m glad you’re okay, man,” he said, his gaze sobering.

“Thanks. I’m okay enough to be annoyed while I recover. It’s boring.”

Diego was quiet as he regarded me. “Boredom’s always a good sign.” He gestured to the flat screen television mounted directly on the wall across from the foot of the bed. “You can watch all your favorite shows.” When I rolled my eyes, he waved toward the windows. This room had windows facing in two directions, one looking out into some trees behind the resort, and the other offering a partial view of the field with mountains and the ocean in the distance. “At least you have a good view.”

I bit back my retort. Despite my frustration, I wasn’t going to cast aspersions on the view here.

His lips twitched with a smile. “Hang in there. You’re on the mend. How’s your pain?” he asked.

I wanted to growl, but that didn’t seem reasonable. Like Flynn, Diego knew of my brief brush with opiate addiction.

“It’s fine.”

Diego gave me a long look, and I forced myself not to look away even though I wanted to. He was a good friend, the best kind of friend, the kind who always had your back. He was also perceptive as all hell, which sometimes drove me insane.

“Good. You don’t have to be an ass to everybody.”

“I’m not,” I protested.

One of Diego’s brows hitched up. “Man, your baseline is bordering on being an ass. If you need anything, let me know.”

At that moment, the door to my bedroom opened—again—and Nora, Flynn’s sister entered. “Hey,” she said, her eyes bouncing from me to Diego. “Why do you have a pillow on your lap?”

Diego shrugged, casting her a quick grin. “We had a pillow fight, and Elias lost.”

Nora laughed softly. Crossing the room, she held up a mug. “Fresh coffee. It won’t be as good as Cammi’s Red Truck coffee, but Daphne made it extra strong just for you.”

I held up my hand, curling my fingers around the mug handle as she released it. I took a big swallow, closing my eyes as the rich flavor slid across my tongue. “That’s delicious, thank you,” I said as I opened my eyes.

Nora’s brown hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and it bounced when she slid her hips on the foot of my bed. Her eyes matched her hair, and she was the only one of the Walker siblings who had those brown eyes. They coasted over me. “How’s your pain?”

“Oh, my fucking God,” I muttered. “You’re the third person who’s asked me that in the last ten minutes. It’s fine. Ibuprofen is amazing.”

Nora’s forehead creased as she looked at me. “No need to be so irritable. You had a piece of plane metal puncture you in the side. It’s kind of serious. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

I felt a twinge of guilt at my irritation. “I’m comfortable. I promise. I will lay in this bed like a good boy and watch TV and hopefully be off these crutches soon.”

“Have you had a shower yet today?”

My alarm must’ve shown on my face because she laughed. “I’m not planning to give you a shower. I just didn’t know if you needed help getting in and out.”

Diego threw his head back with a laugh. “Like he’d let any of us help him.”

Nora gave me a concerned look. “Don’t be stupid. We have the