Cici raised an eyebrow, looking at his hands, which held no cinnamon rolls."You found cinnamon rolls at this hospital?"
"No, Cam is a cinnamon roll-soft, sweet, and a little doughy around the middle!"Declan joked.
The room erupted in laughter, even Riley, who covered her mouth as she giggled, while Cam turned beet red.
"Okay, okay, you hooligans, out!"The nurse entered, hands on her hips, but the faint smile on her face betrayed her stern tone."This lovely young lady needs her rest.You can pester her tomorrow, but not all at once!Visitors are supposed to be two at a time."
Everyone filed out, giving Riley kisses and hugs, leaving only Gray behind.
"Thank goodness the nurse tossed the riffraff out," Riley whispered with a smile, she was so thankful for was everything.
Chapter 92
In the dark
WhenRileyawokethefirst night, she was screaming.
In her mind, she was underwater, drowning.She looked up and saw Gray, heard the dolphins' clicks growing louder, and then...nothing.No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the dream.It played over and over; drowning, Gray, dolphins, then silence.It was an endless loop.
When she finally woke up, the doctor explained that sometimes the brain couldn't separate reality from the coma state.She'd be okay, but it would take time.
She'd been in a coma for a week.A week!
Gray had filled her in on everything, and as he spoke, a part of her mind whispered, you've heard this before, you know this story.Yet she couldn't distinguish what had truly happened from the fragments that her brain had conjured while she was unconscious.
Her throat ached, her ribs throbbed, but the nurses had been incredible.They'd moved her every few hours to prevent bedsores, and Gray...she knew he had been by her side the entire time.Even though it was just beyond her grasp, she was sure he had whispered that he loved her.
She glanced at him, sleeping beside her.Her body was so tired, but her mind said she'd slept for years.Eventually, her eyes fluttered shut, and she nestled closer to Gray.He gently rested his hand on her leg, careful to avoid her sore ribs.
When everyone arrived the next day, her heart swelled with joy.They were all here!Her parents had just gone to get lunch, promising to bring her something.The IV fluids weren't enough; her body craved real sustenance.
"Grayley!"Declan's voice rang out, and Riley couldn't help but laugh internally.She watched the lively scene unfold, though she could only nod and croak out one word: Bear.Her beloved companion.She knew Marta and Gray had been taking care of him, though Marta had pretended she needed Gray's help to keep him occupied.She appreciated it, Gray needed to feel useful during this time.
Before long, they were gone, and it was just her and Gray again.
He brushed back the stubborn lock of hair that had fallen into her face.
"They're a lot, but they've missed you so much."He was sitting on the bed beside her, his eyes filled with relief.
"Riley, I thought I'd lost you."A tear slipped from the corner of his eye, and she reached up, catching it on her finger.
She motioned for him to come closer, and for a moment, his eyes widened.He thought she was going to kiss him!She shook her head with a wry smile, her lips tight.Gray laughed, "What do you need, my love?"
Then everything stopped.She held her breath, and so did he.
Gray gently cupped her face, resting his forehead against hers."Riley, I will not pretend I don't love you.You don't have to say it back."
She punched him in the arm before motioning for her notepad.
Jerk!she scribbled with a grin.
I can't say it right now—no fair!She wrote on the notepad.
"Okay, okay, speed writer!I'll wait until your voice comes back.No need for hostile writing!"He pulled her into a gentle hug."Now, what did you want to ask?"
Riley scrawled just one word on the paper:Shelley?
Gray sighed.He knew she'd ask eventually, but he'd hoped it wouldn't be so soon.
