Dylan (Inked Brotherhood 4)

“What are the symptoms?”

“Fever, fatigue… He cries a lot.”

“Any skin rashes?”

I think about that. “He had one, but it’s faded now.” I lick my dry lips. “Why? What is it?”

“I can’t be sure before we do some analyses, but it could be Lyme disease. Do you have ticks at your house?”

Lyme disease. “What is that? Is it serious?” I know even before they answer that it is. “Can it be cured?”

“Yes, it is curable,” the nurse says. “Come, Mr. Hayes, why don’t you take a seat?”

She grabs my elbow and steers me—well, us—to a chair, and it’s a good thing, because my knees can’t hold me anymore, and I sink down, the air leaving my lungs.

Damn.

Miles presses himself to my side, and I gather him close distractedly. People move around us, more nurses and doctors, other technicians holding tablets and forms and various devices I don’t recognize.

I’m starting to hate the smell of antiseptic that permeates the halls. My arms are cramping from holding Teo, but the pain is nothing compared to the misery I feel when I think I might have failed him, not gotten him proper treatment in time, for whatever this disease is.

“Dylan.” Miles is tugging on my sleeve. “I’m hungry.”

I blink, coming out of my trance, and glance at my watch. Of course he’s hungry. It’s afternoon. I can’t leave here, not while waiting for the doctors to come back and examine Teo, tell me they’ll make him well.

Fuck. I can’t do this on my own. No matter how bad I feel for not being there for the guys, I need their help, and I hope they won’t mind.

“Just a minute, buddy.” I dig into my back pocket for my cell. “Gonna get some backup.”

“Can we get a burger?” Miles asks. “And soda?”

“I don’t know yet, buddy. We’ll find something. Hold on.”

I call Zane first. He’s my closest friend in the Brotherhood, and he’s already offered to help. But when he answers, out of breath—with laughter, I realize—he tells me he’s out of town, with Dakota’s folks. He asks if it’s important, if he should drop everything and drive here.

And he would, too, I know it.

I glance at Miles, who’s pouting, shifting from foot to foot, obviously bored, and sigh. No sense in bringing Zane back just for this. I tell him it’s not important and call the next person on my list.

Rafe. Always dependable, he’s another rock in the Brotherhood. But my call goes straight to voice mail, and a recorded message informs me that his inbox is full.

Frowning, I hang up and resign myself to calling Tyler and Erin. I’m leaving Asher and Audrey for last, as I still can barely bring myself to ask them for help, after having been such a dick to Ash.

Only problem is, Tyler tells me they’re visiting Erin’s family, and they’ve taken Asher and Audrey along. They won’t be back until late.

Fuck me. So much for swallowing my pride and asking for help. Though it’s not their fault for having a normal Sunday with their families, is it? I wish we had a family. Both Mom and Dad come from the west coast, and I haven’t even met their relatives. Could sure use some family support right now.

What can I do? Christ. Miles is still tugging on my sleeve, his mouth downturned at the corners.

I could call Tessa, I guess. If she hasn’t left town already… But why should she come? And how can I ask?

“We have to wait a bit longer, buddy,” I tell Miles. “Until the doctors examine Teo, and then we can go look for food.”

“That’s what always happens,” Miles says, and to my shock, his eyes are filling up with tears. “You don’t care about me. You don’t love me like you love Teo.”

I gape at him, my thoughts tripping over each other. “What? Says who?”

He shakes his head.