His brow furrowed, a mix of irritation and hurt. “You’re in the hospital because you’ve been bitten by a poisonous snake.”

I crossed my arms and stared down at my maimed leg. “You should leave.”

“Careful now, Austin. Your mean side is showing.”

I tucked the blanket tighter under my thigh. “But someone might see you with the riffraff.”

Vance moved closer until his nose touched mine, arms braced on either side of my hips. “I’ve had enough of you calling yourself that. No more, Austin. My girlfriend, who is dynamite, is hurt in the hospital. I will be nowhere else but by her side.” His drawl pulled each word until they were filled heavily with meaning.

Before I could get good and choked up over his declaration, murmurings interrupted the moment and reminded me we weren’t alone.

“Austin is a girlfriend!” Nash gasped.

We both looked over at the row of spectators sitting on the other bed. The little twins looked confused, but the others were fighting grins. Well, not Peg. No, he looked ready to punch something.

I didn’t want to address the girlfriend comment, so I glanced at Vance and asked him, “How’d you even know I was here? And what about your classes?”

“You. Were. Bit. By. A. Poisonous. Snake.” Vance enunciated each word carefully, his eyes rounded for emphasis. “Classes are the last thing on my mind.” He tipped his head to the line of whispering spectators. “Peg called me. I gave him my number before I moved in case you were too stubborn to call if you needed me.”

I worked on gathering a retort but a knock on the door interrupted me.

A nurse came in with the doctor for the hourly check. They both froze, looking between Vance and me.

The doctor cleared his throat. “Mr. Cumberland.” He extended his hand toward Vance. “It’s a surprise seeing you here, young man.”

Vance shook his hand, the action resembling his father while on mayor duty around town. “Good to see you too, sir.” His tone polite and posture straight, there was no denying Vance’s proper upbringing as town royalty. He let go of the doctor’s hand and reached over to hold mine. The gesture made it clear as to why he was in my hospital room and surprised me more than the doctor or nurse.

The nurse smiled at our entwined hands while the doctor examined my repulsive leg. He made another line with a marker to track the purple swelling rising up my leg, and then he checked my vitals and made a few notes in my chart.

“You’re still having shortness of breath, so I’m going to keep you overnight for observation.” The doctor glanced at the other bed. “We need to call your father to come pick up your siblings.”