His words wash over me, and my stomach flips.
“I love you,” I say without hesitation.
“Really?” he asks like he doesn’t believe me.
“Yes, I love you,” I say, smiling. “I love you so much, Tanner Mitchell.”
“I love you,” he says, pulling me into him. I’m overcome with emotions, and tears begin to fall again.
“Thank you for coming,” I say, wiping them away.
“There is nowhere else in this world I’d rather be.”
The automatic sliding doors open, and my Uber driver from earlier walks in holding my purse. “Oh, good,” she says, a little out of breath. “You left this in the back of my car.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the bag. I pull out my phone and am met with a flurry of missed calls and text messages. Every single one is from Tanner.
He shrugs. “I might’ve freaked myself out when you weren’t answering me and panicked a little.”
“Come on. Let’s go see Cody. My parents were asking where you were.”
“Ma’am,” the nurse behind the counter calls. “He is not permitted in the ER if he’s not family or a spouse.”
“Then as far as you're concerned, we’re married.” I flash a smile towards the nurse, grab Tanner’s hand, and pull him through the door.
CHAPTER 42: HOME
TANNER
The doctor came in thirty minutes ago to tell the Dawsons that Cody could go home. Fatigue covers everyone's faces, and I know they’re ready to get him home and back in his bed.
“Thank you for coming,” Charlotte says, giving both me and Wren hugs.
“I’ll come by tomorrow to check on him,” Wren says.
“We both will,” I say, squeezing her hand.
“That would mean a lot,” Paul says. “To him and to us.”
Wren walks over to Cody’s bed and messes up his hair. “I love you. Don’t scare me like that again, you hear.”
He nods and signs “I love you.”
“We will see you tomorrow,” I say, squeezing his shoulder. “Get some rest.”
He signs “I love you” to me as well. And I swallow down the tears that threaten to break free. “I love you too, man.” My eyes find Wren and her eyes are a little glossy.
We walk out of the hospital room and back to my car.
“I’m spent,” she says. “Can we go home and cuddle?”
Home.
“Home?”
“Yeah, I’m so ready to go home.” We open the doors of the car and slide in.
“I think that’s the first time you’ve called it home.”
