He places a finger on my lips. “Shhh. Don’t talk about dying when I just got you back.”
A smile forms on my lips. “I love you,” I say.
Ezra’s eyes widen in surprise as he searches mine. “You do?”
I roll my eyes at him. “Of course, you fool. I love you.” Telling him how I really feel is like aweight off my chest, a weight that has been eating at me for hiding my feelings.
He releases a sigh of relief, his head falling forward. I pat my bed and beckon him beside me.
“Are you sure I won’t hurt you?” He asks, hesitant to get in with me.
“You’d never hurt me.”
A bashful smile stretches across his lips.
I shift to the side and wince when I think I pull on a stitch. Ezra sees that and starts panicking. “Nurse. Nurse, where are you?” He starts shouting.
“Oh shut up! It’s fine. I’m fine. But I won’t be if you don’t come here.” His eyes say he doesn’t believe me, but he gives in to my pouty face.
Climbing in beside me, he wraps his arms around me as I bury my face in his chest, soaking up the warmth that he exudes.
For some time, I truly believed I wouldn’t get to hold him ever again. That I’ll never see love directed from those beautiful eyes at me, or get to bask in his warmth that he hides from the world.
He presses a kiss on my head. “I love you,” he mumbles.
“I love you, too,” I say, my voice muffled in his chest.
“Thank God for that miracle.”
* * *
After a quick nap, which I didn’t realize I slipped into, I find my hospital room filled with the people who love me. My parents Cricinfo their hearts out, and Roman and Ezra trying to formulate a plan to beat up John, even when he was locked up.
I gave my statement when the cops came, and that sent both John and Jodi into the lock-up for a long time.
I still couldn’t believe that Jodi was hiding so much of how she really felt about me, when all I ever wanted was to befriend her.
When Seb found out that Jodi aided John because of how she perceived Seb as hers and didn’t like our interaction, Seb was so traumatized and apologized profusely when he couldn’t do a damn thing.
What came as a surprise to me, and like a warm hug, was the fact that the entire team helped Ezra find me and came to my aid; they risked theirlives for their captain and me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
These people, and a set of friends, were the ones I had been missing all my life. And to know that yes, there are people who love me and care about me is humbling and overwhelming in all the best ways.
As always, Stacy was a Godsend with the way she handled everything for the Boston Bandits in my absence. It’s because of her that I could take a week off and go home after being discharged from the hospital.
Thankfully, the bullet that John fired didn’t hit any vital organs or arteries.
So, after a couple of days in the hospital, I enter my home again with Ezra supporting me all the way.
When I go to sit on the couch, he picks me up. Startled, I gasp. “What are you doing?”
He looks down at me in his hold and explains, “Taking you to your bedroom. You need to lie down and rest.”
“I can walk,” I protest, my arms wrapping around his neck nonetheless.
“You don’t need to.”
I just smile at the love he showers me with andaccept his care. Gently placing me on the bed and covering me with the duvet, he stands to leave. “Where are you going?” I ask.
