“Hey,” she greeted, taking a seat on the opposite side of the bed.
Luke looked rough.Like he hadn’t slept, either.“Hey, sweetheart.”He gave her a weak smile.“The guys wanted to come see him, you don’t mind us taking turns coming in, do you?”
She shook her head.She knew Benny’s teammates filled the waiting room.Even Zach and Libby remained after getting the all clear.She was both surprised and grateful they hadn’t insisted on visiting his room until now.ICU had strict visitor rules, and they’d already pushed the two person at a time limit with Bethany and both of Benny’s parents being in his room for the past nineteen hours.
Both their gazes went to the hospital wires hooked up to Benny.You’d think after staring at them for so long, she’d be used to the sight.She wasn’t.Just like every other time her eyes lingered for too long, they began to mist.
“He’s too damn stubborn to die, B.Knowing Benny, he’d drag himself back just to tell me I’m full of shit.”Luke’s gruff voice had her glancing back up and the beginnings of a smile forming.“I wouldn’t put it past the fucker to be waiting for the right moment to open his eyes—like when he decides I’ve been talking to his girl a little too long.”
That sounded exactly like something Benny would do.The thought alone enough to ease some of the tightness in her chest as she whispered a “thank you” to Luke.
His chin dipped at her thanks.Then he stood, clearing his throat and muttering, “Hunter’s up next,” before heading for the door.
Bethany laced her fingers with Benny’s.She needed to touch him while she internally screamed at him to wake up.She couldn’t lose him.Not again.She barely survived the first time and everyone was still breathing.Her heart had only just found its way back to him, how was it supposed to keep beating without him?
A strangled sob made her body vibrate.She let the tears fall.She’d give herself one minute to fall apart.One minute to let the fear take over.Then she’d dry her eyes and get her shit together.
Thirty more seconds.
She shook harder.A whimper escaping as her head dropped to her lap.
“D-don’t c-cry.”
Bethany stopped breathing.Her gaze flying up in disbelief until she was looking into Benny’s bloodshot eyes.She still couldn’t breathe.But she forced herself to blink.Worried this wasn’t real.
Pinch yourself, too!
“B-baby.Please.”His voice cracked again.Each word sounded like it was being forcibly dragged from his throat.
It was real.Benny was awake.And just like that, she could finally breathe.
***
“B, baby?”Bethany ignoredBenny and continued to load up his bedside table with water and snacks.“NeNe?”he tried again.And when that didn’t work, he whined, “Bethany?”
She was not doing this.Not again.
“No, Benny.”She attempted to scold him, but the mock-stern expression she was going for only made him smile wider.
Benny had only just been discharged and after resisting the urge to shower with him, she was tucking him into bed.Like a good girlfriend.
“It’stechnicallya form of self-care,” he argued.“No?Okay.It’s good for morale?”
She fought back her own smile and decided on a dramatic huff instead.“Yeah, yeah,” she scoffed.“You know what else is good for morale?Being able to breathe.So how about, you stop flashing that chest at me until we get the all clear on your inflamed lungs next week, okay?”
This was hard for her, too.She’d almost lost him.Again.Which meant all she wanted to do was climb him like a tree and never let go.
Benny’s head dipped to his bare chest, his gaze coming back to her complete with a devilishly sexy smirk.
“You like what you see, baby?”He winked.
“You’re a doofus.”
“Want me to get up, give you a little show...maybe turn around and show you the back?Imayormay nothave forgotten to put boxer shorts on.”
A giggle broke free just as he whipped up the sheet his lap had been covered with.
“Oh my God, Benjamin Tucker, you put that thing away before you take my eye out,” she snorted.
