Owen stood in front of the door his head down. He’d been standing there for the better part of half an hour. Not sure if he should knock on the door. Not sure if he should go in or if he even had the right to. Walking back toward the seat he started to sit but was already mentally berating himself for quitting too easily.
But he was scared. Terrified really.
Taking a very slow breath he approached the door and tried to knock but his hand missed the door and he was knocking on air. Frustrated he squared his shoulders and knocked again but this time the door was opening. Coming face to face with a woman he’d never met before his face went many shades redder.
The woman’s hair was pulled back in a tight bun and she was wearing a business suit, a clipboard clutched to her chest. Backing up he started and she looked at him with narrowed eyes, “Who are you? Why are you at this door?”
“Oh. Um. I’m no one. I just uh.”
“If you’re no one why are you here? No one is supposed to know about this room. What are we paying security for around here!”
“Who the hell is it Judy?” she shouted. “And why the fuck are they here to begin with?”
He knew that angry and annoyed voice because despite the weird way that their voices had traveled it was familiar. Fighting back the smile he looked at the woman. “I’m a. I’m a friend of hers. Actually.”
“You and her are not friends. I’m sure she doesn’t even know who you are,” she said curtly. “Please leave.”
That stung more than it should have and he looked at the ground quickly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”
He started to turn around frowning harder, “I know him Judy. Pretty sure at least. Let him in.”
Judy turned around quickly her eyes widening, “You can’t be serious.”
“Let him in. And wait outside.”
“I cannot do that. I won’t,” she said simply. “That’s beyond dangerous. You’re in the hospital in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Trust me I haven’t. But I want to hear what he has to say. Besides he’s harmless. Look at him.”
He looked at her and smiled in agreement as Judy scowled. “I will remain outside but the door will be open. And the moment I think something is wrong I will remove him from the hosipital.”
“Remove me?” Owen repeated and Judy just glared at him. He raised his hands. “I’m sorry. I won’t be a problem. I promise.”
“You better not be.”
She stepped aside and Owen nodded slowly as he walked inside. It was a simple enough room, the bed in the middle of the far wall, a chair and table against the corner, and a window opposite that to let in light but not directly on the bed. He stepped around the curtain and looked at the bed.
Gen’s head was down, deep in her phone wearing a typical hospital gown while under the blanket. Her blue hair was pulled back and out of her face, bandages around her forehead, her cheek and across both arms. Through a slip of the gown he could see even more around her hip.
“So Aegis. What are you doing here?”
“Owen.”
“What?”
“My real name’s Owen,” he said looking down. “Owen Haag.”
She looked up at him and it was surreal. He’d seen her in so many movies before now. Doing kung fu and kicking ass on the big screen. “You know you’re one of the reasons I got into boxing.”
“That so? Kung fu not your style?”
He scratched the back of his head and laughed, “Not really. I had a. A friend. Who helped me learn the ropes at first.”
“Cool. Why’re you here? Gonna try to kill me too?”
“What? No! Never.”
Something about the mild panic in his face made her snort into laughter. Covering her mouth she waved her hand back and forth as he blushed which she had to fight not to laugh even harder at. Instead she took a slow breath and smirked, “Sorry. It’s just. You’re so fucking earnest. It’s adorable. I couldn’t help it. How’d you even find me?”
“I had some help. Could still sense you I guess is the way to word it.”
She shrugged, “Considering everything else that happened sure why not. Why’re you here?”
He made a face, somewhere between a frown and a grimace. “I came because I wanted to make sure you were okay. When it was the three of us. You didn’t seem like a bad person. Not like Hawk.”
She frowned looking past him and out the window, “I may not have been as bad but it doesn’t make me innocent. I did fucked up things.”
“I did too,” he said softly. “But I want to try and do better. Make up for what I did.”
“And is checking up on me a part of that?”
“Well no,” he looked away again.
She stared at him and something made the usual disdainful scowl on her face soften. She suddenly felt very tired and fell back against the bed staring at the ceiling. She loosely heard Owen start and she raised her hand. “I’m fine Owen. You’re a better person than me that’s for sure. I’m planning to retire away from the public eye. Forget about this mess.”
“I don’t blame you,” he gave her a small smile. “I’m glad Hawk didn’t kill you.”
She laughed and nodded, “You and me both.”
He nodded one more time and waved half-heartedly. “Well I guess I’ll go. Don’t want to bother you too much more than I have. See you around maybe.”
He started to walk out of the room and Gen stared out the window glancing at her phone again. She shook her head a small smile forming on her face. “Hey Owen.” He paused as he was stepping out of the door. “Give Judy your number. Once I get out of here buy me a coffee.”
The Harlequin Library 