Lee’s parents thank her, and her family follows the doctor down the hall to her room. I’m left standing here, my heart aching to get to her, to just see her. Instead, my body falls back into a waiting room chair and my face goes into my hands. I feel someone sit beside me, then lean their head onmy shoulder. I don’t even have to look, I know it’s Nix. When Kieran was shot last year, we looked just like this.
Clara always has had a motherly air about her, but Nix slid into that sister role like it was made for her. Lifting my head, I lean it on hers and stare at the closed doors that lead to the hospital rooms.
“I want to see her.” I mutter in a barely whisper.
“I know, Quail. They’ll come get you in a few minutes.” I don’t even have it in me to smirk at the nickname she gave me after I started calling her Pigeon.
“What if they don’t?”
“Then I’ll set it off in this hospital, and we’ll get you back there.” She offers me a sad smile.
Not a minute later, Dieter comes walking out of the locked doors, his eyes searching the room until he finds me.
“She’s awake, and she wants you.” He offers a small smile. “She actually said, and I quote, ‘Go get Quill or I’m kicking you all out.’ So I guess you better go to your girl, brother.”
Standing, I make sure to tell my family and Davis thank you for coming and that I love them before Dieter leads me back to the room. When we get to the shut door, he grips my shoulder.
“I have to go get Hannah from school, but text me and keep me updated.”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“She loves you, and you make her happy. Thank you for that. I’ve never seen her truly happy before you. How could she be? But she is now. I can never repay you for giving us the peace of mind that even on her hard days, that’s your girl and you’re going to take care of her.”
I can’t respond without my voice cracking,so I offer him a nod and quickly swipe at my eyes before walking into Lee’s room. She looks so frail lying in the bed set in the middle of the room. Her parents are on either side of her bed. Annie’s standing against the wall with a haunted look in her eyes, and Jakob stands beside her with red rimmed eyes. She hasn’t seen me yet, and I hear her croaky voice ask for me again. She needs water. She just had a tube down her throat for two hours.
Picking up the cup of water from the movable table, I make myself known.
“Hey, Beautiful. You sound like you need some of this.” Carefully I put the straw to her lips while she looks at me like I hung the moon and stars as she takes a sip. She’s definitely still feeling the effects of the anesthesia. She pulls back from the straw and smiles up at me.
“You’re here.”
“I’m wherever you are, baby.” I can’t help but smile. It’s a little glimpse at what I feel our story could have been if our paths were different. If they were simpler and more innocent.
31
Chapter Thirty-One
Lee
Iwake up because my hand is hot for some reason. Opening my eyes, I instantly note that it’s dark. Looking around, I find the source of heat making my hand sweat. Mac’s sitting in a chair beside my bed. His arms are crossed under his head, and my hand is trapped under his arms. He looks so peaceful when he sleeps. All the hard lines and tension in his face disappears. His too long lashes look more defined than normal, and his perfect lips are slightly parted. Using my free hand, I gently run my fingers through his hair. He begins to stir right before his lashes flutter open.
“Hey, sleeping beauty.” I beam at him.
“What are you doing up? You should be resting.” His groggy voice is so sexy. I can feel the ache in my core starting.
Down, girl, we’re in a hospital bed.
“Come lay with me?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” He sits up and rubs his still sleepy eyes.
“You won’t. Please?” I give him my saddest expression so he’ll do it.
“Fine, just stop looking at me like that. It’s like a shot to the heart.” He moves into the bed, settling in on his back so my head can lay on his chest. Gently, so very gently, he moves my arm so it’s laying across his lower stomach.
“You trying to make a move, Quill?” I laugh knowing his answer before he gives it.
“I’m always trying to make a move.” He chuckles, “But, no. I’m just making sure your arm doesn’t get bumped while we sleep.” He yawns.
