Free Oliver's Online by Stephani Hecht, Amber Kell Page B

where he banged it up.
    The doctor pulled a tiny flashlight out of his white coat and approached. Patrick moved out of the doctor’s way. “I’m Dr. Craig Melvik, and it’s nice to see you awake.”
    Oliver shook the hand offered. “Thanks.”
    Melvik flashed the light into Oliver’s eyes. “Look directly at the light.”
    He couldn’t help blinking at the brightness directed at his eyes but he tried to stay steady. Lane’s hand rubbing soothing circles across his back helped.
    “Follow the light.”
    Oliver obeyed even though his instinct was to flinch away.
    “Any double vision?”
    “No. A little fuzziness.”
    “Hmm. Your x-ray didn’t show anything worrisome. I think if one of your friends is there to watch you and wake you up every hour, you should be fine. What do you think?” Melvik’s blue eyes held nothing but warm concern for his patient. Oliver relaxed beneath the doctor’s professional regard.
    “I’ll watch him,” Lane said.
    “He lives with me,” Patrick countered.
    “I’m not letting him go again,” Lane growled.
    “Well, I’ll let you two fight it out. As long as someone stays with Oliver, I’ll sign the release paperwork. The nurse will come in and take care of your IV, and I’ll give her a prescription for a painkiller you can take if your head begins to hurt too much.”
    “Thanks,” Oliver said.
    “No problem. You take care and don’t let them fight over you too hard.” With a friendly wink, the doctor left the room.
    “I want my own bed,” Oliver announced. He caught Lane’s stricken look and quickly amended. “I wouldn’t mind having company, though.”
    Lane nodded. “Good. It will be harder than that to get rid of me.”
    Oliver smiled. Maybe hitting his head had knocked some sense into him. He was ready to move on with his life and see where a relationship with Lane might go.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Oliver bit back a laugh as Lane all but carried him up to his apartment. Actually, he had tried to pick him up and physically carry him, but Oliver had drawn the line and refused.
    Becca met them at the door, and once they got inside, she did what she does best, ordering in a bunch of pizzas. She then came over and began to make a big fuss over Oliver.
    “Didn’t I warn you how dangerous bathrooms could be?” she chastised.
    “You also warned me how dangerous subways could be,” Oliver countered.
    “They could suck you in.”
    “And airplanes.”
    “You never know when they’re going to crash,” Becca pointed out.
    “And using my cell phone when I pump gas.”
    “The static could spark a fire.”
    Oliver threw up his hands. “The whole world is dangerous to you.”
    She pouted. “I’m only trying to keep my Ollie safe.”
    “Why don’t you wrap me in bubble wrap? It would be easier that way.”
    She flicked him on the arm. “Don’t tempt me. I may just do that. It wouldn’t be just any bubble wrap either, it would be bright pink. That would teach you to mess with me.”
    Lane leaned over and whispered in Oliver’s ear. “I’d watch out, she may just do it.”
    Oliver sat on the couch. “There is no may. She would do it in a heartbeat if she thought she could actually get away with it. For some reason, she thinks that she’s my mother, and she has to protect me from the evils of the world.”
    “I think it’s sweet,” Patrick said with an evil grin.
    “Only because she doesn’t do it to you,” Oliver retorted.
    In truth, he really didn’t mind it too much. It was Becca’s way of showing that she cared. Even if it was a bit annoying at times.
    She reached up and fingered his stitches. “Hopefully, this doesn’t scar. If it does, we can always change your hairstyle to cover it.”
    “He’ll look just fine either way,” Lane said.
    Becca stared at Lane for several moments. “You know what? You just may be a keeper after all.”
    Ronnie’s phone rang. He looked down at it and frowned. “That’s weird. It’s my