“Smile,” I ordered Milo as we paused at the door.
“Trying.” His smile looked closer to that of a dog with a bellyache, and I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or groan.
“Try harder.”
“Hey, Jasper! How’s it going?” Natalie, the room attendant greeted us, her Disney-print scrubs as cheerful as the rest of the colorful space.
“Great.” I moved aside so everyone else could enter the room.
“You brought a new Neptune with you!” She smiled at Milo, who managed a nod.
“Yup. This is Milo.” I gestured at him, almost accidentally hitting him in the chest. He was sticking close to me, and his nerves would be endearing if it were anyone else.
“Hey.”
The kids had taken notice of our group, and moving slowly, they clustered around us. I loved feeling like an actual superhero for a moment, even if my superpowers couldn’t extend as far as I’d like. Some kids were in pajamas and slippers, while others were in hospital gowns and robes. A few had IV poles with them, and as usual some were in wheelchairs while a couple of others had walkers. We got some smiles and waves from those who had seen us before, and as much as I didn’t want any kid to have a long hospitalization, making our regulars happy made my insides all warm.
“So, who’s up for a game of Odyssey?” I asked the group.
“Are you going to let me win this week?” Jenny, an imp of a girl who reminded me a lot of a younger April, offered me a toothy grin as she leaned on her walker.
“No chance.” I wasn’t going to play one of my best decks, but I’d still give her a good game.
“I want to play Prince Neptune.” Chase, another regular, spoke up from his wheelchair. His eyes were more tired this week, his skin pale, head slumping forward. His dad, who was an ever-present fixture on the ward, hovered nearby.
“I…uh…” Milo swallowed several times. His own skin was a worrisome shade of greenish-white. Crap. The guy couldn’t even manage five minutes in costume. I should have known.
“Sure thing,” I answered for Milo. He’d play Chase even if I had to personally shuffle for him and push him into a chair. “Let us get the decks out.”
I steered Milo toward the table in the back of the room that I always used as a staging area for the decks and props.
“What’s your problem?” I demanded as soon as we were out of earshot.
“I don’t have one.” His expression was more pained than sullen, but I still wasn’t impressed.
“Yeah, you do. You think you’re too good to play some kids?”
“No! That’s not it.” Milo was quick with the denial before pausing to lick his lips. Gaze darting away, he still radiated discomfort. He lowered his voice further. “I… Other than April when she was little, I haven’t been around a lot of sick kids. Like that boy… He’s really sick.”
Oh. His reaction made a little more sense now. I’d been volunteering so long that I forgot that not everyone was used to sick kids and medical equipment. And Milo’s unease stemming from a place of uncertainty and compassion was better than him continuing to freak out over being seen in costume.
“He is.” I softened my tone and put a hand on his arm. His very bare, very warm arm. Oops. I shouldn’t have touched him, and my voice sped up as a result. “Prince Neptune is his favorite character. He was in the hospital in the fall, and Ronnie always played with him. So how about you don’t let him down?”
“I’ll try.” Milo’s nod was firmer now, and he accepted the two introductory-level decks I handed him.
“Good. Let Chase play the purple deck. It’s his favorite. And you’ll need to shuffle for him.”
“Got it.” Milo headed over to the small table where Chase and his dad were already waiting. I took another two decks over to where Jenny was waiting to kick my ass. April and the others also found kids to visit with or play. Jenny was a good enough player that I needed to focus on the game, but my attention kept wandering over to Milo’s table.
To my surprise, he was smiling. He laughed at something Chase said before plunking down a card, arm muscles flexing, crown catching the light. Damn. He really was the perfect Neptune. He’d never accept the compliment, but he did regal well, and the white of the toga contrasted nicely with his Italian looks. Something about the gold jewelry worked for him, too, and my brain kept buzzing with unwelcome thoughts about teasing his ears and neck.
“Jasper! How are the games going?” Ned, the administrator of the hospital’s charitable foundation, came into the room, followed by a young, dark-haired woman a little older than me. I paused my game with Jenny so that I could give them my attention.