More Than Friends (Kingsley #4) Read Online Free PDF

fitting with Harmony and Cameron, and Cass and the twins. She told me she didn't feel well, I told her to be careful coming home, and then police on scene called me back since mine was the last number she called." He brought his hand up and slipped his fingers through his hair. Michael could see the fine shiver running through the youngest Kingsley all the way across the room, but Evan was tough; he held his composure and went on. "She'll be at the hospital at least overnight. Dad and the girls are there now."
     
    Swallowing the lump that threatened to choke him, Michael bent forward and tugged his shoes from under the coffee table. A blink of white paper was visible for only a second in his left shoe, before he crammed his foot in on top of it. He didn't have time today for any more notes.
     
     

Chapter Six
    At the hospital, Michael walked side by side with his brothers; Evan took the protected spot in the middle, just as he had when he'd first learned to walk, back when he had counted on his brothers to hold him up. Now, no longer learning but still the baby of the three, Evan stood tall, his hands in his pockets to hide their shaking. Drew's face was drawn, his lips tight, but he walked with shoulders high and Michael could hear him forcing his breath to come evenly. Michael was the oldest brother, but this time he followed their examples, forcing himself to look fine even though fine was the last word he’d use to describe how he felt. His stomach was in knots, but his shoulders were squared. His throat felt like it was closing, but his face was carefully arranged in what he hoped was a tough expression. His heart was hammering in his chest, but his step was steady – until he saw her.
     
    Eva looked small in a way he had never noticed before, one leg thin under the blankets, the other already wrapped in a purple plaster cast. She was sleeping with her broken wrist propped on a pillow, the cast glaring bright purple against the clean white of the pillowcase. Drew and Evan fell away as they entered her room, giving Michael the lead as the oldest brother. He stepped close to the side of her bed, looking down at her as his brothers followed him into the room.
     
    Evan's shoe squeaked slightly against the floor as he moved into place at Michael's right elbow; Eva opened her eyes, smiling as she realized she was not alone. "Hi, boys. Felt like standing around watching an old woman sleep?"
     
    Michael rolled his eyes while his brothers laughed nervously. "You're not old, mom. You can't even retire."
     
    She smiled, shaking her head. "I told your dad not to call you kids down here. I'm going home tomorrow anyway. I could have just stayed here and went home; you didn't even need to know about it."
     
    Evan snickered, reaching out to tap the edge of the cast on her wrist. "Right," he said. "None of us would ever have noticed the cast."
     
    "I wouldn't," Drew said, forcing a tense smile as he looked at their mother. "And certainly not two casts. I mean, it's not like I get paid to notice stuff or anything."
     
    "You kidders. Where are your sisters, then? They were here a while ago and we were watching TV ... I guess I dozed off. The pills they gave me for pain knock me right out." She sounded strong, just like always, but tired. The gash on the upper curve of her cheek was unbandaged because it was so close to her eye, but the stitching was neat and clean. She flipped a lock of dark blonde hair from her face, looked up at her sons, and smiled. "Stop looking at me like I'm dying. I'm fine; it's just a little break. Or two." She caught the look of protest on Michael's face and reached up to pat his forearm, braced against the bedrail. "I'm really okay, son. I'd tell you, if I wasn't."
     
    Michael forced a smile to his lips, covering his mother's hand with his own. "If you say so. I'm gonna go find dad and the girls – let them know we're here." As he backed away from the bed, Evan stepped closer, closing ranks with