It’s like the wind has been knocked from my entire body.
I turn to Hux, who’s frowning. He doesn’t offer me the support I desperately need right now as I try to hold it together. Not that I blame him. He’s just as lost as I am right now.
“Dee baby, it’s me. It’s Colt,” I plead, but she keeps thrashing around. Her arms start to slap me away while she starts to cry. I try to grab her hands, but she’s too frantic for me to control.
“I’ll get a nurse,” Hux announces and rushes from the room.
Tears run down her face while she fights me, and then suddenly, she stops thrashing and looks at her hand where the drip is inserted. She goes to rip it out, but I grab her hands, stopping her.
“Get off me!” she yells, and it’s then reality sets in.
She honestly has no idea who I am.
My heart shatters and splinters into a million pieces while it pounds so hard I think it might explode. “Dee, baby, it’s me,” I yell, still trying to fight against her.
She tries to sit up but groans loudly as she does, then flops back on the bed, her hands rushing to her stomach. She starts tosob and leans over, picking up her glass and throwing it against the wall.
I stand back, stunned.
My Dee is nowhere to be seen.
In her place is this aggressive and angry woman, and it scares the hell out of me.
Dee keeps her focus firmly on me as she calms down, and her eyes show a slight glimmer. She whimpers slightly, trying to move the covers off, but I stop her.
“No, Dee, you can’t move. You’ve had surgery, and you’re only just waking up. Please calm down. I love you, and I’m here for you,” I plead with her, and thankfully, she stops, tears still flowing down her cheeks.
Dee creases her eyebrows as she stares at me, and I wonder what’s going on in that gorgeous head of hers. “You love me?” she asks with a rasp in her throat, and I step toward her and nod my head.
“I do, baby, so much,” I reply, and she rests her head back on the pillow and relaxes. Her breathing slows as she calms down.
“I know you, don’t I?” she queries, and I smile, dipping my head.
“Yeah, you know me,” I answer.
When I step to the edge of her bed, she brings her hand out and touches my chest, sliding up to rest over my dog tags. I savor her touch, smile, and instinctively move my hand to hold her wrist. She peers up at me, and I see her brain working overtime.
She smiles, and her breathing increases, like maybe she’s affected by me. At least, that’s my hope.
“Colt?” she murmurs, and I caress her cheek and lean in closer.
“Yeah, baby, it’s me,” I say while my bottom lip quivers.
“I love you, don’t I?” she asks, and I can’t stop the loud exhale that escapes my lips.
“Yeah, you do,” I reply, leaning down to kiss her.
She smiles, kissing me back. It’s not a manic, full-on kiss, just a soft, gentle peck on the lips, but it’s enough to get me by. Pulling back from her, I lick my lips.
“Yeah, I do,” she says and smiles, making herself comfortable on the bed again.
I can tell she’s totally relaxed, whereas I’m about to blow a gasket. She is looking at me, but her eyes are starting to shut. I dread that she’s going back to sleep, but her brain obviously has more healing to do. She closes her eyes, and I lean down to kiss her forehead.
“Sleep, Dee,” I say and watch her drift off once more.
Then the enormity of what just happened hits me.
My breathing increases, and I know I’m not coping. I back myself up against the wall and try to control my erratic breaths. It doesn’t work, and panic sets in. I don’t know if I’m devastated or thrilled that Dee has woken up. My head’s a mess, and I can’t think straight. Sliding down the wall, I bring my knees to my chest as I try to breathe.
