“So, you’re alone?”
I chuckled. “You deserve precisely zero details. Don’t think I don’t know what you did.”
“Did it work?” Val asked eagerly. “Is he here with you?”
“Yep.”
“Where?”
“Facing Will and Jace just outside the door.”
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Val exclaimed. “Should we save him?”
“Already got Lori on it.”
“Good thinking.” Val batted her eyelashes. “At least one detail? Pretty please?”
“Nope.”
“I’ve had a rough seven hours. And you weren’t here to calm everyone down. I deserve some juicy details.”
“I can’t believe you’re guilting me into this. Have you no shame?”
“I’ve had half the hospital staff look at my lady bits and give their opinion. I have literally lost all my shame.”
Laughing, I settled on the edge of the bed, with Carla still sleeping safely on me, and spoke in a low voice.
“Why are you whispering?”
“Because there are two pairs of brotherly ears in front of that door.”
“Oh, right. Great thinking.”
I didn’t get a chance to finish the story because Reid himself entered the room.
“Val, congratulations,” he said.
“Thank you. And congrats to you too. Heard you made it to Houston after all.”
“As if Bianca didn’t keep you informed.”
“You’re a fast learner. And Bianca is an excellent partner in crime. But I didn’t get any actual details until now.”
Reid looked from Val to me, and when I got to my feet, fully turning to him, he noticed Carla. His gaze softened, and I felt warm all over. I held the little nugget even tighter, not really wanting to let her go but knowing I had to clear the room because Val was yawning. My sister needed to rest.
As carefully as possible, I laid Carla in the small bassinet next to Val’s bed.
Val yawned again. “What are you doing? No, don’t go. We were just getting to the good part.”
“Go to sleep.”
“Bossy,” Val murmured. “But I am sleepy.”
“I’ll tell everyone you’re resting, okay?”
Val nodded, arranging the pillow under her head. I drew the covers up to her chin. Poor Val fell asleep almost instantly.
Reid and I tiptoed out of the room. The corridor was Connor-free.