I grab both of my parent’s hands. “I love you all too. I’m sorry I scared you.”
My mom shakes her head. “I just don’t understand why Reece would do this to you. You two used to be such good friends. It breaks my heart that he did something so malicious to you.”
“One day I’ll sit down with you and explain everything but right now isn’t the time, and I’m sure if there is a trial, you’ll get to hear all of the details anyway.”
The last part of that sentence slurs slightly. “Okay.” My dad releases my hand. “We’re going to let you sleep.” He points to the chairs in the corner. “We’ll just be back here watching you.”
My mom tries to release my hand but I hold onto it tightly. “Mom, I have a favor.”
Leaning in, she kisses my cheek. “Anything for you. Just name it.”
My eyes flutter open at the sound of a chair scraping across the floor.
“I’m sorry, Casen.” She stops, hovering just above it like she might change her mind.
“Why are you sorry?” The vision before me is stunning. Embyr must have gone home because she looks freshly showered. Her long, dark hair is straightened, and she’s wearing a dark red long sleeved shirt and my absolute most favorite pair of jeans. They hug her in all the right places and if I wasn’t so exhausted – and just had major surgery – I might try to convince her to give me a quickie before someone comes in and stops us.
“Because I woke you up.” She finally sits all the way down. “And stop looking at me like that.”
I shrug. “Like what?”
One leg crosses over the other, and she rests her hand over mine. “Like you want to fuck me.”
Hearing her say the word fuck isn’t helping. “I do want to fuck you.”
Her head shakes in disbelief. “Only you would want to have sex the day after you’ve been shot. What if someone walks in or if your IV gets ripped out?”
“It would be worth it.”
Changing the subject, she says, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up earlier. The police came and then your parents wanted to see you so I took a cab home, showered, grabbed fresh pajamas and clothes, and drove back over.”
“It’s fine. Are you staying over tonight?”
“I am.”
“Good.” I hesitate before continuing. “I told the police about the emailthat was sent to everyone you work with.”
“That’s okay.” She pushes a stray hair behind her ear. “I told them I’d come in tomorrow to speak to them. I would have told them anyway.”
My hand pats the side of my bed that doesn’t have any wires and Embyr wordlessly stands and walks to that side. “Lay with me.” I attempt to move over so she has some room.
One foot steps back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You owe me.” I shift to get comfortable and lift my blanket.
Her head turns as she side eyes me. “For what?”
I shake the blanket. “For not being here when I woke up like you promised.”
“You’re going to use that against me?” she asks, her hands going to her hips.
I sigh. “If it’s going to work, then yes.”
She concedes, carefully sliding in next to me and laying her head in the crevice of my neck. “If someone comes in here and yells at us for doing this then I’m telling them it was you.”
“No one will believe you.” I murmur, feeling the weight of everything that has happened lift up off me. “I’m the patient. You said you wanted to ride my cock, and I compromised by allowing you to lay with me.”
Embyr bursts out a laugh. “You would say that too, wouldn’t you?”
