Max smirked, dropping a quick kiss on Ivy’s forehead before turning to the doctor. “I’m glad to see you survived getting shot only to freak out about a needle.” He was secretly relieved to see her agitation.
“You know I don’t like needles.”
“That’s why that whole ‘I’m getting a tattoo’ threat you bandied about senior year didn’t scare anyone,” Max said. “She’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”
Nesbitt nodded. “She’s going to be fine,” he said. “Well, she’s going to be fine as long as she lets me treat this wound. I needed to numb the area before I can clean and sew it up. She’s being a pain.”
Ivy scowled. “I think I have the right to be a pain.”
“You do,” Nesbitt agreed. “I would prefer you not be in pain when you’re inflicting it on others, though. I’m funny that way.”
“It doesn’t really hurt that much,” Ivy said, her eyes drifting to Jack. He looked lost. “I’m fine, Jack.”
Jack forced a smile onto his face when he realized she was looking at him. “I know, honey. You should let the doctor treat you the right way, though. You don’t want that shoulder to get infected and have your arm fall off because you’re being difficult.”
“See, listen to Jack,” Max chided. “You’re going to be really hard to marry off if you’re missing an arm. The attitude is enough to scare most men away.”
Ivy narrowed her eyes. “I’m going to beat you when I get out of here.”
“Not with one arm you’re not.”
Ivy let loose with a long-suffering sigh, resigned. “Fine. Poke and prod me. I just don’t want to see it.” She tilted her head and focused on Jack again. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to make you dinner.”
“Ivy … .”
Max cut Jack off, worry the man was about to say something entirely stupid washing over him. “I’ll order pizza for everyone,” he said. “That’s my idea of cooking anyway.”
“That sounds good,” Ivy said, her eyes wary as they searched Jack’s face. He looked as if he was about to fall apart. She longed to offer him solace, but she had no idea how to do it. “Do you want to eat pizza with us?”
Jack frowned. “You were just shot,” he hissed. “You can’t be worrying about pizza. For crying out loud … .”
Max grabbed Jack’s arm and twisted it, scorching him with a harsh look. “Do you want to step out into the hallway with me?”
“Max, leave him alone,” Ivy ordered. “He’s just … upset.”
“I’m upset?” Jack’s voice bordered on shrill. “You were shot. Why aren’t you upset?”
“It’s just a flesh wound, Jack,” Ivy said, her face twisting. “I … I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to him,” Max snapped. “He’s being a … butthead.”
“Leave him alone, Max.” Ivy’s lower lip trembled. “You’re making things worse.”
“Don’t cry, honey,” Jack said, exhaling heavily through his nose as he tried to rein in his runaway emotions. “I’m sorry. I’m going to go out into the hallway and … get a drink of water. It’s going to be okay.”
Ivy mutely nodded, but she looked miserable.
“Get your arm taken care of the proper way,” Jack instructed. “Make sure you take care of that first and foremost.”
Ivy nodded again.
Jack flashed her a weak smile, moving to leave the room and then turning back. He strode to Ivy’s side and dropped a kiss on her forehead, lingering with both hands on either side of her face. “You’re going to be okay,” he whispered.
He left her with Max, trying to push the threatening tears in her eyes out of his mind as he trudged down the hallway. He moved toward the lobby, skirting to the side when he saw Michael and Luna Morgan hurry in the direction of their daughter’s room. He watched them go, his heart rolling, and then he walked out of the hospital and didn’t look back.
“I CAN’T believe this happened,” Luna said, fussing over Ivy as she tried to make her comfortable. “I … this is beyond words.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Ivy said, rolling her eyes as her mother attempted to fluff her pillows. “Stop that!”
Luna frowned. “When your daughter gets shot, you get to make a big deal out of it. Shut your mouth and let me handle this my way.”
Ivy’s irritated gaze bounced from her mother to her father. “Do you want to help me here?”
“No. Once your mother is done fretting it becomes my turn. I’m going to put her to shame.” Michael was unruffled by the disgusted sound Ivy made in the back of her throat. “I’m going to double my efforts every time you make that noise.”
“Why couldn’t I be an orphan?” Ivy complained.
“That is not funny,” Luna snapped, waving her finger in Ivy’s face. “I’ve just about had it with you and that’s a pretty impressive feat given the fact that you were just shot.”
“I was barely shot, Mom,” Ivy said. “It doesn’t even hurt.”
“That’s because it’s all numbed up,” Max supplied. “It’s going to hurt tomorrow. Trust me.”
“That’s why we’re giving her painkillers,” Nesbitt said, striding back into the room. “Okay. I checked over your X-rays … .”
“Why did she need X-rays?” Luna interrupted. “I thought it was just a flesh wound.”
“Mom, let it go,” Ivy interjected. “I don’t care what documentary you saw on Oprah’s television network. One X-ray is not going to give me cancer.”
Nesbitt nodded knowingly. “I see where this is going. Ivy is correct. She’s not going to get cancer from this. I promise.”
“I still don’t understand why she needed an X-ray if it’s just a flesh wound,” Luna pressed. “Are you lying to me? Is this an elaborate cover-up to make me think she’s not hurt as badly as she’s really hurt? Oh, God, is she going to die? Tell me now.”
“Okay, we need to cut down your caffeine intake,” Michael said, cracking
