“They love you, Sebastian. We all do.” She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Also, Janine invited me to stay in your old bedroom at her place until you’re home.”
I stifled a laugh that turned into a grimace of pain. My ribs were definitely not ready for humor.
“I’m glad you didn’t take her up on her offer,” I managed.
“What would I find? YourPlayboycollection? Some porn cassettes?”
I looked scandalized. “You mean video cassettes? Jesus, how old do you think I am?”
“Well, you’re older than me. I don’t know much about that era and its technology. I did see one of those old phones once, with the round thingy that you need to turn. Did you have one as a kid?”
I gave her my most lethal look, and she burst into laughter. The joyful sound of it eased something in my chest that had been tight since the accident.
“Not. Funny,” I said. “But maybe your current boss would like one of those. That McFarlane dude is certainly old enough to remember them. When is he coming back, by the way? Do you still have a lot of work to do before you finish with him?”
Something flickered across her face, so quickly I almost missed it. Her smile stayed in place, but it lost some of its warmth.
“I’m almost done with him. Just a couple of loose ends left. Today, I’m going to the store to catch up with Lucy.”
I filed that away to ask about later, when I wasn’t drugged and exhausted. Something had happened with McFarlane, I was sure of it. But I didn’t have the energy to push right now.
“Oh, okay.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment that she was leaving. “You’d better go. Thanks so much for coming.”
She stroked my hand. “I’d be here 24/7 if they let me. I’ll see if I can sneak in another visit this afternoon. Maybe your admirers will help?”
“Don’t be silly, you have too much stuff to do. You can’t commute to the hospital twice a day. I’ll only be here a few days.”
She squeezed my hand, and our gazes locked in a visual embrace. In that moment, I wanted to tell her everything—how scared I’d been, how the accident had revealed everything I wanted from life, how I couldn’t wait to get out of this bed and start building a future with her. But the words felt too heavy, too raw, and I was so tired.
“I can’t wait for you to come home,” she said softly.
“I can’t wait to get home either. Jesse, I’m sorry for putting you through this.”
“Let’s not play the blame game again, okay? The important thing is that you’re going to recover, and you will not ride a motorcycle ever again.”
“No, ma’am. I love you.”
She stood and bent to kiss me carefully. “I love you too. Rest and listen to the nurses.”
I watched her walk away, feeling like a lost little boy watching his mother leave on the first day of school. Pathetic, really. But I couldn’t help it. The accident had cracked something open inside me, and now all my emotions were too close to the surface.
She paused at the door to look back at me, and I raised my hand in a small wave. Then she was gone, and the room felt emptier, colder, despite the warm sunshine streaming through the window.
I lay back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling. In a few days, I’d be home. In a few weeks, I’d be healed. And then I was going to do what I should have done the moment I realized I loved her—I was going to ask Jesse Nielsen to marryme. Properly, this time. With a ring and flowers and whatever romantic gesture she deserved.
I’d been given a second chance. I wasn’t going to waste it.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jesse
I left with a heavy heart, but also relieved knowing he was well taken care of. I stopped by the desk to chat a little with the nurses. They all assured me Sebastian was doing great and would be as good as new in no time. No vital parts had been damaged, one nurse assured me, winking. I swear, all the nurses and staff were smitten with him. I couldn’t blame them. And I couldn’t help feeling a little smug.
I was still smiling as I drove to the store, shocked to find a pile of boxes near the entrance.
“Hi, boss.” Lucy was busy with a customer, but waved at me from the power tools section. “Someone dropped those off for you ten minutes ago. I didn’t have a chance to call you.”
“It’s okay, Lucy. I’ll take care of it. Thank you.”
