Bad Seed

“So.”

Hollis eyed me dangerously, and I shook my head. I wasn’t playing the dick-measuring game any longer. I shook my head, then brushed past them as they were preparing to load Theresa into the ambulance. I was readying myself to get in and go with them, but Hollis’ hand fell to my shoulder and whipped me around.

My nostrils flared as my angry stare met his.

“What?” I asked.

“I told you that you and I were going to have a talk about this,” Hollis said.

“And you two assholes think this is the time to do that?” a voice sounded from a few feet away.

My eyes flew over to Theresa, and I watched her lean up from the gurney. She reached out her hand for mine, and I took it without hesitation. I walked over to her and bent down to her forehead, kissing it tenderly before cupping the top of her head. Severe bruising already showed on her arm, and it made me sick with anger. I saw Hollis approaching us from the corner of my eye.

I held my hand up to him to stop his approach and his eyes grew wide.

“That’s my damn sister,” he said.

“Then start acting like a proper brother.”

“What the hell do you think I’m doing right now?”

“Nitpicking her life choices,” I said.

“Hollis, give it a rest, okay?” Theresa asked.

“Give what a rest?”

Theresa shook her head as a big sigh left her lips.

“Grant?”

“Yes?”

I watched a grin spread across her face, and it filled my heart with so much joy.

“I love you,” she said.

Everyone turned to stare at us as her hand came up to cup my cheek.

“I love you more than air. Or water. Or sunbathing topless next to a creek.”

“What?” Hollis asked.

“I love you more than wine. Or Jane. Or the lilies on my mother’s grave. I love you more than snow, or thunderstorms, or oceanfront views from lavish hotel rooms.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Hollis asked.

“But most of all?”

She guided my face toward her lips and paused, allowing her breath to pulse against my skin. Then, she fisted my shirt, commanding my body and attention as all the cops and the EMT workers turned to look at us.

“I love you more than Hollis,” she said, whispering.

“Now that’s just bullshit,” Hollis said.

She pulled me toward her, and our lips crashed together. Our tongues battled as I chuckled into her taste. Her arm slid around me, gripping me so tightly I thought the EMTs were going to have to pry her off me with a crowbar.

But I didn’t care.