Page 74 of Penny & Royce

It took everything in him not to throw the fact that he had a new family in his brother’s face.

Penny wouldn’t be thrilled with it going down like that. And every choice he made needed to have her in mind, not just his temper.

So he tightened his hold on the helmet and continued to scowl at his brother while Lincoln ranted about how they were raised. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he swiped a hand through the air.

“I’m done with this. Pick someone else to be your protégé. Leave me out of it.”

He turned on his heel and headed for his bike. Penny was the most important person right now.

“Royce!” Lincoln shouted after him. “If you leave?—”

He didn’t hear what his brother had to say. Not after he started the engine and took off down the gravel path.

His fury continued to bubble, but beneath it was something heavier.

Hurt.

He was a good son. An even better brother. All he wanted was the support no one seemed ready to offer him when it came to falling in love.

Where was the trust?

If Lincoln believed so much in family and the importance of being there for each other, why did Royce know in his heart of hearts that they would tell him to walk away from the first good thing to ever happen to him?

He was so consumed with his thoughts that he didn’t see the deer leaping across the road until it was too late.

He swerved.

His motorcycle went down, skidding along the asphalt. Royce hit hard, his clothing tearing and the visor of his helmet cracking.

For a moment, he couldn’t move.

His body felt broken as he lay there on the road and stared up at the darkening sky.

“Royce. Royce Meyers,”a frantic, familiar voice called from somewhere near the front of the ER department.

Royce closed his eyes and smiled.

The second he’d gotten to the hospital, he’d insisted they needed to call his wife. It had felt so good to say that. The sweet woman who did his intake took down Penny’s information and assured him she’d make the call.

She was here.

A quiet gasp ripped through the silence of his room, and he peeked one eye open.

She was furious.

“What in heaven’s name were you thinking?” Penny snapped.

He let loose a soft chuckle and lifted a hand.

“This isn’t funny, Royce,” she bit out again, but there was emotion in her eyes.

“I know, baby. It’s definitely not funny.”

At that, her lower lip wobbled. She wasn’t dressed for the wedding anymore, and he had to wonder if she’d been home when she got the call or if she’d stopped by their apartment to change before coming.

If he had to guess, it was the former.

“Come here, sweetheart. I’m fine. Just some scrapes and cuts.”