“Just a little broken?” I smirk and move my free hand to caress her cheek.
“Yeah, it was only bent on a ninety-degree angle, not a full one-eighty or anything. So yeah, only a little broken. Seriously, babe, I don’t want to hold you back,” she says as she turns her head in my hand, kissing my palm.
I exhale. “You amaze me. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. And that fact makes me love you even more than I thought humanly possible,” I admit, and the smile she gives me only serves to crush me a little more. She is looking at me with so much love right now.
Will that love still be there once I rip her heart out with the news that will surely crush her soul?
“Say it again,” she whispers as her eyes start to brim with tears slowly.
I chuckle and caress her cheek again. “I love you, Dee. With every ounce I have in me. With every fiber of my being. With every beat of my heart… I. Love. You. I always have, and I always will, until the end of time, baby,” I say, meaning every word.
Tears flow down her cheeks freely, and she grins before wiping the tears away with her hand. “I love you too, and you have no idea how good it is to finally hear you say it without hesitation or fear of what will happen. You make me so happy,Colt. I’m the luckiest woman to have found you. Now I have to get out of this hospital and back home so I can show you how much I love you. In our bed… in the shower, on the lounge suite—”
“Now, now, don’t get too ahead of yourself. You’ve had major surgery, and I don’t want you straining yourself before you’re ready. You can’t even walk without crutches, so I think having sex is out of the question for a little while,” I say, and she frowns and pretends to sulk by popping out her bottom lip.
“I guess you’re right, but can I have one small thing to tide me over?” she asks as she puckers her lips in a kissy face.
I chuckle and nod, leaning in and pressing my lips to hers, kissing her gently. The last thing I need is to hurt her. Her hand moves to the back of my head, and her mouth opens, letting my tongue in. I smile against her lips and kiss her softly. She tries to deepen the kiss, and I can’t help but chuckle, pulling away.
She frowns again and folds her arms tightly across her chest. “It’s not nice to laugh while kissing your fiancée, Colter Slade.”
“Sorry, baby. It’s just when you try to kiss me like that, I can’t be held responsible for my actions. So, instead of ending up on top of you, I pull back so I don’t end up hurting you. See, not laughing at you, baby, laughing at me for not being able to control myself around you,” I explain, and she smiles as she leans back against her raised mattress.
“Well, I think it’s time we ask when I will be getting out of here, don’t you?”
I tense instantly. I know Dee feels like she’s ready to go back to London. The only problem is, I have to tell her about her injuries before we leave the hospital, and unfortunately, that day seems to be coming a lot sooner than I fucking like.
Chapter Five
DEE
Ever since Johnny and Anna left yesterday, Colt’s been acting… off. He’s quiet, withdrawn, and won’t say much about whatever went down between him and Johnny.
I’m guessing it’s because he doesn’t want me to feel guilty.
But I do.
I know he’s been skipping interviews and canceling band commitments because of me. And as much as that makes my chest ache with guilt, there’s also this selfish part of me that’s relieved. Because I don’t think I could have come this far without him, without his constant presence, his steady strength.
Knowing he loves me—openly, freely, in front of anyone—makes me feel invincible. To finally be loved back, just as fiercely as I love him. Well, that’s more than I ever dared to hope for.
Colt walks into the hospital room while I’m eating my Jell-O, and my heart stutters.
He looks terrible.
Is he getting sick?
Still, when I glance up at him, I can’t help but smile and shift my broken leg to get more comfortable. But then I notice the doctor following behind him, and my stomach drops.
Something’s wrong.
They both look so grim, and every hair on my arms stands on end.
“Colt, are you okay?” I ask, frowning as he comes over and sits on the edge of my bed.
I set the container of Jell-O on the tray and watch him closely, anxiety creeping in. He doesn’t say anything, and his silence is starting to terrify me.
He slides the tray aside and moves in closer, as close as he can get.
