“Pull it together, Landon. Poppy needs you,” I whisper into the blanket, taking a deep breath in through my nose, then as I sit up again, I exhale a long slow breath.
Taking my phone from my pocket, I quickly message both Adrian and Felix, updating them, with a promise to call in the morning when I can. I ask Felix to send me a photo of the boys in the morning to show Poppy, which I know will make her smile. Shooting off a message to Rosco with an update, he replies straight away and asks me to keep him in the loop. Also, when she wakes, he wants me to call him so he can talk to her if she’s up to it. I figure if that phone call saves her from a horde of visitors in here, then it’s worth it, so I agree and then lay my phone on the bed next to me.
I can’t sit here and just stare at her, I’ll go stir crazy.
Dr. Warren said she could hear me, and my girl confirmed it, although barely, but it was enough. So, I don’t care if she gets sick of my voice, I’m going to keep her company.
“I’ve missed you, Poppy. You never called me or even messaged. I thought we agreed we were friends.” A small chuckle slips from me. “I know I didn’t reach out either. I wanted to. Hell, I almost did numerous times, but I couldn’t. It was too hard.” My emotions are too close to the surface, I can’t continue with this, so it’s time to change the topic of conversation.
Time to talk about the one thing that has both of us smiling every time.
Nash and Kade.
“The boys miss you terribly, but I’ve got so much to share with you about them. Man, where do I even start? Oh, I know, Felix, their manny. Yes, you heard right, I have a male nanny, and it’s all your fault. Your mom’s probably already told you about him, but she won’t know why I hired him. It’s simple, nowoman was ever going to replace you in my home. Felix thinks it’s because I don’t trust myself with another woman, but the real reason is I still see you in every room in my house, laughing and playing with the boys. Bringing the light into my darkness. I never wanted to replace those images.” I reach up and stroke my thumb softly across her cheek as I continue. “I know you want to ask the question, so yes, he is ugly, and I’m not attracted to him one bit. But you’ll like him. He’s great with the kids, and I don’t have to worry about leaving them with him.” Talking about Kade and Nash, it’s like my brain catches up with me and I realize it’s the first time I’ve been away from them since they lost their mother.
“I mean, I jumped on a plane and left my precious sons with Felix without even thinking twice. So that should tell you how comfortable I am with him taking good care of them.” In my head, I finish the sentence with‘and how important you are to me too.’I can’t say it out loud, it’s just not the right time. We have a long road of recovery for her in front of us first.
The reality is hanging over me that nothing has changed in our situation either.
Except perhaps the fact that both our hearts have let the secret out. It might have taken something awful for us to acknowledge our feelings, but we can’t ignore them now either. Well, I know I can’t, and Poppy, it remains to be seen.
POPPY
“My head hurts…” I get out before the coughing starts.
“Sip some water,” a deep tired-sounding voice says from beside me, but I would know that voice anywhere.
I push as hard as I can to open my sleepy eyes. “Landon,” I croak and then slowly sip the cool water from the cup he holds out for me. It feels amazing on my irritated throat.
“Shhh. Don’t try and talk too much.” He takes the cup of water and places it beside him on a table.
“You’re here.” There’s no way I can’t talk to him.
“Yeah, sweetheart. I told you I was coming. Nothing was going to keep me from getting to you. After hearing you so scared on that phone call, I was on the first plane out of Boston.” He leans over and kisses me on the forehead, and I wish it was on my lips instead.
“I called you?” I ask, confused.
“Yeah, you don’t remember?” he asks. I shake my head softly, and pain shoots through my head, so I stop immediately. Glancing around the room at my surroundings, I’m in a hospital room with the curtains drawn, and the lights are low.
A random thought jumps into my head. Landon’s here, but where are Nash and Kade?
“The boys?” I question, starting to feel a bit panicked at how scared they’ll be that he isn’t there.
“They’re fine, don’t worry. I talked to them a little while ago.” He moves from standing beside me to sitting on the edge of my bed so he’s closer. I like that, and I can see him better now that my eyesare able to focus.
I can’t stop staring at him. I’m not sure if he’s real or if I’m still in some drugged sleep. My arms are heavy, but I use as much strength as I can muster and lift my left hand up and cup his face. It’s warm, and I slide my hand down a little and run my fingers through his beard.
“I love your beard,” I whisper.
“I remember.” He smiles a little, and the worry lines on his forehead don’t look quite so deep.
“Are you real?” I ask cautiously, because I’m scared the answer will be no.
“As real as the stink coming off my clothes that I’m still wearing from yesterday.” He laughs at me, but then his face turns more serious.
“You scared me,” he whispers with an emotional quaver in his voice.
“Sorry.” It’s all I can say when I think about what seeing me like this must be doing to him. I don’t even know why he’s here, but all I do know is that I don’t want to let go of his face. My arm is getting tired and starting to feel so heavy, and I reluctantly let it drop back onto the bed again, my eyes moving down as I look him over.
