“No, but I know you. Trust me.” She gives me a small smile. “I have my own secrets.”
Even though I want to, I don’t question her. Whatever her secrets are, they’ll still be there when Levi gets out of surgery, and we’ve verified he’s going to be okay.
Time passes in a strange way. Minutes feel like hours, and hours feel like minutes. People come and go as we wait, cops checking in, bringing coffee, offering support to one another. Someone pushes a cup of something hot into my hands, and I drink it without tasting it.
Across the waiting room, Mason looks completely wrecked. I hear through the grapevine, that he’s the one who shot Cody. Someone came out to get me about an hour ago to tell me that he’s okay and to ask if I wanted to see him, since I’m his next of kin. I told them no, and a few minutes ago I saw his parents be escorted through the waiting area.
Finally—after what feels like an eternity but is probably only an hour or two—a doctor comes out. He’s still in scrubs, and he looks tired but not concerned, which I take as a good sign.
“Family of Levi Harrison?”
We all stand. Every single person in that waiting room.
The doctor’s eyebrows go up, and I would laugh under different circumstances. But right now, all I care about is what he’s going to say next.
“He’s going to be fine,” the doctor says, and I feel my knees go weak with relief. Ruby and Molly both grab me to keep me upright. “The bullet went through his shoulder, missed all major arteries and bones. We removed the fragments, cleaned and stitched the wound. He’ll need physical therapy, and he’ll be on restricted duty for a while, but he’s going to make a full recovery.”
A sob escapes my throat, and suddenly I’m crying again, but this time it’s relief, pure and overwhelming.
“Can we see him?” Mason asks.
“He’s in recovery now, but he should be moved to a room soon. He’s been asking for...” The doctor checks his notes. “Someone named Magnolia?”
Every eye in the waiting room turns to me again, and although my face warms, I don’t even care.
“That’s me,” I manage.
The doctor smiles. “He’s been very insistent. As soon as he wakes up, you can go in. Room 304 on the third floor.”
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
We wait a little longer, and then a nurse comes out to tell us he’s awake and asking for me. Everyone insists I go first since that’s what he’s asking for, and I’m too desperate to see him to argue.
“Be prepared to give us a full update,” Ruby says as she pushes me toward the nurse.
The third floor feels miles away, even though it’s just two floors up. When I find room 304, I pause at the door, suddenly nervous. What if seeing him in a hospital bed, bandaged and hurt, is too much? What if I break down completely?
But then I hear his voice from inside. “Is she here yet?”
And I’m pushing through the door before I can second-guess myself.
He’s sitting up in the hospital bed, his shoulder heavily bandaged, his face pale but his eyes bright and alive and fixed on me.
“Magnolia Grace.”
His voice is reverent as he says those words, like he can’t believe I’m here.
I cross the room in three steps, and he reaches out with his good arm. I take his hand, and then I’m leaning over him, kissing him like I’ll never get the chance to again. Kissing him like he didn’t just get shot. Kissing him like I’m not currently still married to another man.
Kissing him like I love him, because I do. Because this is every single thing I’ve wanted since Dakota came to my door.
When I finally pull back, we’re both crying, and I don’t care that I’m showing this much emotion.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his thumb brushing away my tears. “I’m so sorry.”
“You said my name.”
