Time to cowboy up.
He walked into Sky’s room with a smile because Sky deserved it.
Sky was packed and waiting, sitting on his walker. He had on jeans and a button-up, tennis shoes and his hat. The bag of stuff sat on his lap, dark glasses on his face. Oh, his man was loaded for bear.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Stud.” Beckett went right to Sky and kissed his forehead. “Ready to roll?”
“Yes. Let’s blow this popsicle stand. I want out.” Sky grabbed his neck and kissed him on the mouth. “Hey.”
He blinked at Sky. That was his cowboy in there. “Hey.”
“I brought the wheelchair in, but he cursed me out.” Kevin laughed. “Asshole.”
Beckett raised an eyebrow. “He told me your deal was he’d walk out of here.”
“Figure of speech.” Kevin grinned.
“Not to a cowboy.” Beckett grinned right back.
“When I get settled, I’ll have you over for chili.”
“Oh. Your chili.” Beckett’s mouth watered thinking about it. Sky wasn’t a prolific cook, but he had a few things down. His Texas chili was out of this world.
“I’m in, man.”
Beckett scooped up Sky’s bag so he could get up, and Kevin came over to spot him.
“I’m right behind you. Take your time, sit if you need to.”
Beckett wondered if Sky would listen to him that way at home. Somehow he doubted it. “I’m parked right out front.”
“I can do this, no worries.” Then Beckett heard Sky whisper, “Please don’t let me fall in front of him, buddy.”
“Not a fucking chance, friend.”
“I’m not worried,” he lied. “Kevin says you’re a rock star.”
He headed out into the hall and waited for Sky and Kevin to follow.
“Look at you!” Janie stood up behind the desk as they slowly passed by. “Kevin only breaks the rules for the really good ones.”
“Good, stubborn—six of one, half dozen of the other,” Sky teased back.
“Psst.” Janie leaned over the desk, stage-whispering. “The stubborn ones are the good ones.”
“Damn right. I knew we were going to get along the first time you told me to fuck off.” Kevin laughed loud enough that it echoed through the ward.
He watched Kevin like a hawk, needing to know exactly how to help if Sky did fall.
He got the answer as they got to the elevator.
“Take a load off while we wait for the elevator, cowboy.” Kevin didn’t even wait for an answer, he just tapped Sky’s fingers and when Sky let go, he spun the walker around so Sky could use the seat. “Listen, Beckett. No alcohol with his meds, eight to ten hours of sleep a night and naps are golden, lots of protein, and no stairs. At all. You hear me, right, tough guy? No stairs.”
“No…no stairs. Got it.”
“I’m serious. I want him to protect that hip.” Kevin stared at Beck, dark eyes serious as a heart attack. “Protein shakes, eggs, cheese, turkey…”
“Blowjobs?” Sky snapped.