“Being in love suits you,” she grinned coyly, searching the box for another treat.
I smiled a little, feeling my face growing warm as I took another small bite of my lemon-colored macaron.
We were in silence briefly before she said, “He only left the hospital once, you know... It was early Sunday morning. He said it was for his boss— that boss— but when he got back he refused to stray too far from your room. Or sleep. And if he did leave, it was for a shower, or a coffee from down the hall. Or when your parents were visiting.”
“They didn’t want him here?” The fact he stayed in the hospital, a place that reminded him of a traumatic past, made my heart ache.
"Surprisingly, they did— Well, your dad did. Your mom was...your mom about it,” she cringed.
“That makes sense.”
“I think he wanted to let them have their time with you...” She smiled faintly. “The reason I’m telling you this is because, one, I know Mr Self-Sacrificing probably wouldn’t tell you it himself. And two. He’s one of the good ones. Hold on to him.” Her brown eyes shone with happy tears before she laughed a little at herself. “It would’ve made more sense for me to tell you all of that before you professed your love for each other, but it still counts, right?”
“Of course it does. Because now I can back my reasoning for telling him to get some sleep if he refuses to.”
“Look at you already acting all wifey.”
I laughed nervously. “Baby steps, Kira.”
“I can’t help it. You’re both so freaking cute together.” She was almost beaming until a thought crossed her mind and she sank a little. Still smiling, just not as brightly as she began picking crumbs from her lap. “I have to admit, focusing on you guys is helping distract me from thinking about the fact he is here...”
I took hold of her hand, squeezing it in reassurance as I listened.
She frowned at herself. “Is it weird that I miss what I had with him? The good parts I mean... He could be so funny sometimes.”
“Kira. There is nothing weird about missing him. You were in a relationship. You can’t expect yourself to get over him that fast.”
Her smile was sad, but she agreed with a nod.
“How are you coping with him being here?” I asked.
“Scared that he’s just going to walk through that door at any second?” She brought her shoulders up and willed herself not to crumble as she forced a painful grimace. “I know that sounds silly though because he can’t walk at the moment, but I can’t shake the idea from my head that somehow he’s going to appear.”
Empathy poured from my heart for her as I thought of a way to make her feel better. “Jane said something about him looking like a pretzel. I think he’ll find it hard to walk for some time if that’s the case.”
She huffed a laugh as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“He won’t be going near you again, Kira.” I nodded to Seb and Dean, standing just outside the door in a light-hearted conversation of their own. “They definitely won’t let it happen.”
Kira looked back over her shoulder just as Seb released a belly laugh that echoed down the corridor. Dean was shaking his head at whatever was said between them. The corner of his mouth turned up into a lopsided smile.
The entire scene was a far cry from everything that happened. A moment of peace with friends. Kira’s lingering gaze on Seb didn't go unnoticed either.
Chapter 69
Lily
I spent two weeks in the hospital.
Each day was a blur of tests, check-ups, bland hospital food, taking short walks to and from my room, and being shown how to change the dressing on my wounds. I was also visited by a psychologist who worked with gunshot victims. No, survivors. He told me to refer to myself as a survivor. He said to call him whenever everything felt like too much.
It was no surprise that I felt relieved when Dean offered to help in the hospital and when I was discharged. Of course, my parents stepped in, saying it would be better for me to move back in with them temporarily while I healed.
“That apartment building has too many stairs,” Mom said as she sat in one of the plastic chairs by the wall of my hospital room. “I think it’s important you’re surrounded by family, and in a comfortable environment.”
“The apartment has an elevator, Mom,” Jane muttered from the bed, moving it up and down slowly with the remote as she lay on it.
“Stop playing with that,” Dad said firmly, taking the seat beside Mom as he snapped his fingers once at Jane. She rolled her eyes and dropped the remote.
