He’d left a T-shirt behind, and I’d put it on almost as soon as I got home. I was barely existing. If it weren’t for food delivery, I would have starved.

“Naomi,” Trex said.

I looked up. “What?”

“I was giving you shit just now,” Sloan said, his mouth full. “You didn’t answer, and it hurt my feelings.”

“Oh,” I said, sitting up. “Sorry.”

The team traded glances.

“Okay,” Martinez said. “It’s time to tell us what’s going on.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said.

“Too bad,” Sloan said. “That’s what we do. We talk about shit.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He pointed his knife at me. “Don’t you come at me, Nomes. I’m not in the mood.”

“Okay, everyone, calm the fuck down,” Trex said.

I dropped my fork, letting it clang against the sectioned plate. “He’s sick. He has a heart condition. He doesn’t want me stuck with an invalid the rest of my life.”

Kitsch stroked his beard then frowned. “Is he that sick?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. But it could become more serious if he doesn’t seek out treatment soon. They wouldn’t let him re-up with the Alpines or anyone. He appealed, but they don’t want him having an episode in a remote area and dying before they can get him out.”

“That’s possible?” Harbinger asked.

I nodded.

Harbinger’s brows shot up. “Damn.”

“He’s angry,” I said. “Things hadn’t been great. We’d been fighting a lot.”

Trex wiped his mouth with a napkin then threw it on the table. “If you ask me—”

“I didn’t,” I said.

He grimaced. “Let me rephrase. Men are intimidated by you. He was okay with it before, but now he’s not—for obvious reasons. He’s fought for you once, right? It’s gotta bother him that he can’t do that for you or anyone ever again. You make him feel even weaker.”

“That’s why I didn’t ask you,” I grumbled.

“This could be good news,” Harbinger said. “He could come around once he comes to his senses.”

“He’s lucky,” Kitsch says. “If he wasn’t sick, I’d beat his ass for doing this to you.”

I reached across the table and held Kitsch’s hand. “I know you would.”

“Hey, Caroline is talking about grilling out tonight. I can get extra if you all want to stop by.”

We all nodded, never a group to turn down a meal.

“Uh, there’s one thing,” Harbinger said, clearing his throat. “She got on really well with Senator Bennett. She asked if I’d invite him too.”

“It’s not my party,” I said with a shrug.

“You sure?” Harbinger asked again.

I nodded.

“Okay, see you after rounds then around six thirty tonight.”

***