“I can’t stay on my feet without you,” he whispered.

“Just go,” she insisted. “It won’t bother me.”

She helped him keep the hospital gown out of the way as he mostly hit the toilet. He couldn’t help but sigh with relief as he drained his bladder. His eyes rolled into his head in bliss. Aggie chuckled. When he’d finished, she helped him back to the bedroom and tucked him into bed.

“Thirsty,” he murmured, almost asleep again. Just the walk to the bathroom had sapped his energy.

She shook him awake and pressed a bottle to his lips. “Jace, you have to drink.”

When had he fallen asleep again?

“Jace? Please drink, baby.”

“Aggie?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Take a drink. Come on.”

The first swallow hurt going down, but then he couldn’t get enough. He chugged the icy sports drink until the bottle was empty, and then shivered uncontrollably. Why was he so cold? Aggie stood and started to leave him alone.

“Stay,” Jace whispered.

“I was going to get you another blanket.”

“Stay.”

She sat beside him, her fingers stroking his cheek. He could feel himself drifting back into oblivion, but wanted to keep his eyes open—wanted to look at her. He missed looking at her when they were apart, and they’d been apart far too long while he’d been touring last month. Aggie sniffed. A lone tear slipped down her cheek and dripped off the edge of her jaw.

“Don’t cry,” he murmured.

“This is my fault. If you’d never met me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“If I’d never met you, I would have never gotten to hold you. I’ll take the bullet.”

He hadn’t meant to make her cry harder. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his shoulder. Her body quaked with sobs as she clung to him. “Don’t die on me, Jace, please.”

“Not planning to.”

He wanted to hold her, comfort her, but his exhaustion had reached absolute, and he had no choice but to succumb to it.

Chapter 24

The next time Jace opened his eyes, a bright light was shining in his face. “Ah good, you’re awake.” A blurry face came into focus. At first he thought it was Trey, but the man was older and lacked Trey’s long bangs and face piercings.

“Doctor Mills?”

“I don’t usually do house calls.”

Well, of course not. He was a frickin’ plastic surgeon. What in the hell was he doing here anyway?

“Your friends think you’re on death’s door, but you’re just healing. No signs of infection. You are anemic and dehydrated, but you’ll recover.”

“I feel like shit.”

“Not that any of you kids ever listen to me, but you really need a blood transfusion and a month of uninterrupted bed rest. Preferably in a hospital, in case there are complications with your recovery.”

“Can Aggie take care of my complications?” He chuckled.

“This is no joking matter,” Aggie said from the opposite side of the room. He might have watched what he said if he’d known she was there. “He will stay in bed and rest, Doctor. You have my guarantee. I know fifteen ways to tie a man.”

Doctor Mills chuckled. “I bet you do.”

“I can’t spend a month in bed. We have three shows next week. In Canada.”

“Then you’ll be playing your bass from your bed,” Aggie said.

“Don’t worry,” Eric said. “I’ve got the perfect solution.”

Eric? Just how many people were in the room?

Jace lifted his head, his eyes scanning the room. Aggie, Brian, Trey, Sed, Eric, and Doctor Mills. Okay, all the guys were there witnessing firsthand how pathetic and helpless he was. Jace lowered his head to the pillow with a groan.

“What kind of perfect solution?” Sed asked.

“I asked Jon to stand in for Jace for a few shows,” Eric said cheerfully. “He said it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Jon? Jon Mallory? Sinners’ previous bassist, the sun rises and sets over his fingers, the only bassist who could ever properly fill Eric’s drum progressions, Jon Mallory?

“Yeah, that’ll work,” Sed said. “Good thinking, Eric.”

Fuckin’ A. Shoot me now.

Jace lifted a hand to cover his eyes. A burst of pain stabbed the back of his shoulder and snaked down his right arm, reminding him he’d already been shot.

Well then… shoot me again.

“You rest up, and we’ll see how you are when we get back from Canada,” Sed said.

“Fuck that. I’m coming with you,” Jace said. There was no way in hell he was letting Jon Mallory tour in his place without him there.

“Are you sure you’re up for it, little man?” Eric said.

Aggie took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “He’ll have me to take care of him until he gets better. If he’s going, then I’m going.”

Chapter 25

Despite Doctor Mills’s assessment of Jace’s condition, Aggie made him go to a hospital for a more thorough examination while the band and crew prepared for the next, extended leg of their tour. A blood test, MRI, and IV of enriched fluids later, Aggie seemed satisfied that Jace was okay to travel. He wasn’t used to having a woman as a fixture in his life. Wasn’t sure how to react to her constant hovering and concern. He hoped he healed quickly so she’d knock it off already. And she’d made him go shopping. Sure, her suitcase had been stolen, and she needed clothes and other necessities, but shopping? Jace hated shopping. Almost as much as he hated that pitying look she kept giving him.

“Maybe you should just stay at my place while I’m gone,” Jace said, leaning heavily on the shopping cart as they ambled through the aisles. She’d tried to get him to use one of those electric scooters when they’d first entered the store. Next, she’d ask him to hand over his balls on a plate. “I promise I’ll take it easy.”

“You don’t want me to go on tour with you?”

He trod carefully into loaded-question territory. “It’s not that I don’t want you to go with me.” The guys are going to rip on me constantly if I bring a smothering chick on tour. And this whole go on tour “thing” had been her idea, not his. He didn’t get why she insisted on it so vehemently. He knew she needed a break from her mother, but she didn’t have to ride on the tour bus to get away from her. “I just think you’d be more comfortable at my place. You’d still be away from your mother, and Brownie would love the company.” He rubbed his jaw on his shoulder to catch sight of her expression. Was she buying it? That would be a negative. She stared at the shampoo display with her pretty face twisted in a harsh scowl.