I nodded. “I did, babe. I knew in my gut something was wrong when you didn’t come for my physio.”
I leaned forward and lifted her head up lightly, drawing her beautiful ice blue eyes to mine. They were filled with worry. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry that you had to see me like that.” She began to shake, tears fell softly from her eyes, staining her cheeks.
“Babe, fuck.” I didn’t know what else to say. All I could do was stare at her eyes which took a part of my soul with each blink.
“You never agreed to this broken me, so I understand…..”
Anger coiled inside me as I looked into her eyes, my anger danced on each syllable.
“You understand what?”
“If you wanted to go.” She pulled her hands from mine; her eyes fell away from mine.
“Gracie, what the fuck? I don’t want to go anywhere!” What was she getting at? Did she honestly believe I would turn my back on her because of the damage a gutless asshole had caused? Or did she think I’d want to leave because seeing her that way brought back memories of Ari that I didn’t want to deal with?
After everything she’d been through, she was awake and I’d soon be able to take her away from here. It was the only thing keeping me sane.
“You don’t owe me anything, Kaden, you don’t need to try and save me. I’m beyond lost and far from fixable.” Her head was lowered as she spoke, there was so much pain in her voice.
I stood in such a rush; I sent the chair flying backward. My hands cupped her face, making her look at me.
“I’m not going anywhere. Ever. You hear me, Gracie? You’re mine. Nothing, absolutely nothing will keep me from you. So, stop, don’t you dare try and push me away.”
“But I don’t want to hurt you, being like this could send you back down into the dark. I don’t want you to look at me through haunted eyes, Kaden.” Her eyes swelled up with tears. “I don’t want you to regret this, looking after me when I was supposed to be the one looking after you.”
She could say what she wanted, protest all she wanted, but I wasn’t turning my back on her. Not now. Not ever. She was all that mattered to me. As far as I was concerned, my life revolved around her now. Keeping her safe. Healing her. Loving her and taking her away from here.
