Her praise means a lot. “Thanks.”
“When are you going to pop the question?” she asks. “Her birthday is only six weeks away. You could do it then.”
I shake my head as I repocket my phone. “It’s too soon. I’d have popped the question the day she told me she was mine, but I don’t want to freak her out. Besides, her birthday is only two weeks after the accident and Nana’s birthday, and she’s probably going to be sad. I don’t want our engagement to be associated with a sad time.”
“You’re right, of course. I’m just excited to see my best friend get engaged.”
“If she says yes.”
Hadley rolls her eyes. “You’re so ridiculous. Of course, she’ll say yes. She is head over heels, tits over ass, crazy in love with you.”
The door to the hallway opens, crashing noisily against the wall and we both jump.
Law stands in the doorway wearing a troubled expression. “You need to come quick. Stevie needs you.”
We race out of the hallway back toward our table. Stevie is pale and shaking, and her eyes are glassy.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” I crouch beside the table, and my eyes inspect every inch of her for damage, but she’s physically unhurt. “Stevie, baby, talk to me.” I take her trembling hands and rub them, hoping to get some warmth back into her skin because she feels ice cold.
“It’s Garrick,” she chokes out, pinning me with shell-shocked eyes. “He’s awake. He has come out of his coma.”
ChapterSeventy-Four
Stevie
It’s been six days since Hudson called me with the news Garrick woke from his coma, and I have barely slept. I got a doctor’s note and called in sick to work because there’s no way I can function right now. All manner of emotions is tormenting me. I’m trying to contain them, because it’s not fair to Beck, but this is a complete shock, and I’m all over the place.
I don’t know how to feel.
What to think or what to do.
Everyone else has visited him, but I’m still banned.
I need to see Garrick with my own eyes. I won’t believe he’s awake until I see him in the flesh. Then, I need to find a way to explain I’m in love with another man and no longer his girlfriend. I am dreading that conversation, but I can’t shy away from it. It would be unfair to Garrick to mislead him, and we both deserve closure.
I was tempted to show up in Medina and try to barge my way in, but I don’t want to make a scene and risk a commotion that might harm Garrick’s recovery, so I have to wait and trust that Hugh and Hudson will come through for me.
From what Hudson has said, Garrick is confused and sleeping a lot, and when he’s awake, he’s nonverbal and agitated.
“I made lunch,” Beck says, holding on to the top of the archway between the living room and the interconnecting space that links the rest of the rooms in his apartment. His shirt rides up a little, showcasing a tempting glimpse of toned olive skin.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Honey, you need to eat.” Beck strides toward me, lifting me up and sitting down on the couch with me in his lap. His reassuring arms band around my waist as I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m sorry. I know this is hard for you.”
“It’s no picnic, but you’re my priority, and you need to eat, Stevie. You’ll make yourself ill. I made that vegetable soup you like, and I have some of that bread you love from the bakery. At least try a little bit.”
“You are so good to me.” Tears stab my retinas as I lift my head and brush my lips against my boyfriend’s. “I hate that you’re worrying about me, and I hate that I’m turning into a basket case again. I don’t want to feel like this, if it helps.”
“You can’t control how you feel, and it’s only natural. It’s a big shock, and I’m sure it’s dredged a lot of emotions to the surface.”
I’ve been talking with Hadley, trying to make sense of the jumble of emotions in my head, because I cannot torture Beck any more than I am. “It has.” I clasp his face in my hands. “But I love you, and that’s not going to change.”
“I’m scared I’m going to lose you,” he admits.
“You won’t.”
