“About an eight.”
Macey nodded and checked the pain pump next to me. She pressed a button on the unit and then handed me a wire and smiled. “Press the red button when it wears off. It’ll let you dose yourself every four hours.”
“Thanks.”
The nurse took my pulse and notated a few things in my chart, before smiling and focusing on me again. “All told, Dani, you were really lucky. I’ll let the doc know you’re awake and he’ll be in shortly.”
“Thanks, Macey.”
“My pleasure, hon.”
She left the room and my entire family flooded inside, along with Kim. Austin stepped back and sat on the bench by the window as my niece and nephew hugged me gently, Amelia talking a hundred miles a minute, a clear indication she’d been concerned about me.
The doctor arrived and ordered everyone out.
“Can Austin stay?” I asked.
“Sure.”
My dad shared some secret badass man chin lift with Austin and then my family filed out of the room and Austin stood beside my bed again.
“I’m Dr. Stone,” the handsome doctor said.
“Related to Macey?”
“She married my brother,” Dr. Stone said. “Lucky bastard.”
I smiled.
“Let’s have a look at you.”
The doctor looked me over and decided that I could go home the next day. They’d keep me overnight for observation, but since my eye-socket was bruised, not broken as they initially had worried, and the ribs would heal on their own, there was no point in keeping me any longer.
He left and my family descended again, staying for close to an hour before Emily forced hers to leave and my mother convinced my dad and Elliot to go as well.
Kim leaned over the bed and kissed my cheek. “Love you, hon. Please no more kidnapping, okay? You totally freaked me out.”
I chuckled. “That’s a promise.”
She smiled, hugged Austin, and then headed out and Austin took his place beside the bed again.
Late that night, Austin and I were finally alone and I scooted over and patted the mattress. “I need you to sleep with me.”
He smiled as he climbed beside me. “This is probably against hospital policy.”
“Where’s my big badass motorcycle man?” I demanded. “Are you telling me you’re afraid of hospital security?”
He chuckled and gently settled me on his chest. “I’m more afraid of Macey.”
“Ooh, I know, right? She’s kind of scary.”
“I love you, beautiful.”
“Mmm, I love you too.” I raised my chin for a gentle kiss and then snuggled close.
“Marrying you in a month, babe.”
“What?” I squeaked and looked up at him again.
