“Jules, Jules, Jules,” Dean said as he approached my bed, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets. “Any other secrets that your oldest friends should know about?”
I cut a look to Landon as Dean kissed my temple. Landon gave me a slow nod before Maria pulled me into a gentle hug.
“How much do you know?”
“Enough to know that your husband stole my idea.” Dean scoffed and narrowed his eyes at Landon. “Asshole.”
“We have the same anniversary,” Maria said as she sat on the edge of my hospital bed. “We need to plan something big next year.”
“As soon as I get out of here, we can make all the plans. If Landon ever lets me out of his sight.”
“We’ll see,” Landon said, shooting me a scowl. “Dean is going to drive me back to the house, and Maria is going to stay with you until I get back.”
“You guys didn’t have to drive down. I can stay alone while Landon goes home.”
“Actually, I’m not leaving you alone for a while, but we’ll talk about that another time.” He jerked his chin at Dean and Maria. “They’re mad at you too.”
“But we love you and need you to get better before we tell you that.” Maria squeezed my arm.
“I’m sorry.” There went the tears again. “I didn’t mean to lie. It was just that I was—”
“Stubborn? Unreasonable?” Dean teased as he nudged my blanket-covered foot. “Maria is right. We love you. I think what we all have is something special.” Dean smiled as he gazed around the room. “How many people get to keep their best friends since college? You guys are family. If you needed us, regardless of if you didn’t want to upset us or put a damper on something, you tell us. Let the people who love you be there for you.”
“Yes,” Maria said, studying me with glossy eyes. “Do you know when you can go home?”
“Tomorrow,” Landon said. “All the tests should be back by then. She hasn’t had a fever since I’ve been here, so they think she’s moving in the right direction. She’s going to have to rest once she’s home, and I’m going to make damn sure that happens.” He picked up my hand and brought it to his lips, raising a brow at me as he pressed a kiss to my wrist.
“Don’t you have to work?” I asked, more tears pricking my eyes. I was exhausted and overwhelmed in every possible way, but the pinch in my chest squeezed my heart instead of my lungs this time.
“I have some time off coming to me. And I can work out of the spare room when I need to. My wife is my priority and all I care about.”
“You’re married,” Maria said in a loud whisper as she looked between us. “This is sowild.”
“Seriously,” Dean said, barking out a laugh. “Let’s go. We can grab some dinner for all of us on the way back. And I never asked, did you do the Greatest Hits package?”
“We walked down the aisle to‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’” Landon said with a smirk twitching at his lips.
Dean’s eyes thinned to slits as he glared at Landon.
“Fuck you, man.”
Maria and I shared a laugh until I was knocked out by a coughing fit.
“I’ll be back,” Landon said and pressed a long kiss to my lips. “See? Everyone loves you and wants you to get better. And that is what we’re all going to make sure of. Got it, darlin’?”
“Sure, doll.” I draped my hand over his cheek as a wide smile spread over his perfect mouth.
“That’s my girl.”
“Yes, get better,” Dean said, kissing my cheek. “There is a whole bunch of shit I’m waiting to give both of you, and I can’t until you get well.”
I smiled as they made their way out of my hospital room.
“I wish you would have told me.”
Guilt coiled in my stomach when I spotted the regret in Maria’s eyes.
“Not many people know. Landon had to drag it out of me in Vegas. I just wanted to celebrate with you both and not think about it.”
