God, she loved Libby. “Thank you. But wait, Liam—” She started, but Liam was already out the door.
“I’m fine, B. Get some rest,” he said shortly over his shoulder.
Becks frowned, not liking how he wouldn’t even look at her. Libby and her mom both hugged and kissed her quickly before chasing after him.
“Does he blame me?” she asked Ghost as he got back onto the bed with her. Now that she was awake, he maneuvered them so they were more evenly on the bed.
“He blames himself,” Ghost told her. “No one blames you.”
“I do,” she confessed. “It was because of me that Liam injected himself. Did he tell you that? If I hadn’t been there or if I hadn’t made myself a target to Cameron, he never would have injected himself, never would have made himself so vulnerable.”
Ghost touched her face. “He’s your big brother. I wasn’t there, so I can’t judge his decisions. But I trust him and his choices. If he believed that was the only way to save you, then who am I to say otherwise? Cameron had a gun to your head, remember?”
Becks nodded, her chin trembling. “I thought she was going to shoot him, and I came out from behind the island, even though he told me to stay. I did everythingwrong, Ghost. I didn’t even try to save him.”
“With your super ninja skills you spontaneously developed?” he threw back at her. “Baby, you both were put into an impossible situation. And I’ll tell you one thing,” he said, stopping her rebuttal. “Movies and books often have it wrong. They make fighting glamorous because there’s an audience. Rarely is combat so neat and organized. Ranger did what he felt he needed to do to save your life, baby.” He kissed her forehead. “I would have done the same.”
Becks put her hand on his chest, and for the first time realized that her ring was back on her finger. “Hey, my ring! You found it!”
He nodded, “And I put it back where it belongs.” The note of danger in his voice sent shivers up her spine. “When you’re feeling better, remind me to punish you for taking it off.”
“I needed to warn you somehow. I knew if you saw my ring that it would clue you in that something was wrong.”
He gripped her chin between his thumb and pointer finger. “Never. Take. It. Off. Again.”
Becks swallowed hard, and nodded into his grip. “I promise.”
He loosened his hold, running his fingers gently over her face. “Thank you. Now, we both need rest, but there’s a lot we both need to tell the other. Are you up for it now?”
“Can I pee first?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “You couldn’t have asked to do that before I laid back down?”
She gave him an innocent shrug. “I didn’t realize I had to go then.”
Becks watched how stiffly he moved, lacking his normal fluid grace. He helped her to her feet, telling her how she’d had acatheter in until that morning. Some people come out of the sedation immediately while others took a bit. Per Ghost, Becks had taken her sweet time coming back to reality.
“Didn’t even wake up when I gave you true love’s kiss,” he scoffed at her as he guided her over to the toilet.
Becks sat down. “Surprised you didn’t turn into a frog.”
“Nah,” he said, walking back over to close the door. Her hospital room door was closed, but she still appreciated him closing the bathroom door in case anyone wandered in. “Although when I started quoting various ‘I love you’ lines from cheesy rom-coms, I at least expected a giggle from you, but alas, nothing!”
Becks groaned. “Seriously, Ghost? Did you just tell me you love me for the first time in the most roundabout way possible while I’m on thetoilet?”
He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at her. “I don’t give a damn where you are or what you’re doing. I’ll always tell you that I love you.”
Becks stared up at him, her hospital gown gathered up on her hips by her hands so she didn’t accidentally pee on it. Sure, there were a lot more romantic ways they could have done this, but this wasthem. Nothing about their relationship was conventional, and Becks honestly wouldn’t have had it any other way. “What the hell,” she laughed. “I love you too, Ghost.”
He approached her, taking her chin back in his grip and tilting her head up to him. “I know.”
Becks glared at him. “Really? That’s the best line you’ve got?”
But he shook his head. “Not a line. I knew before you were taken, but I hadn’t thought it mattered. They’re just words, right? It wasn’t until you were gone that I realized just how important those words are, Becks. So I’ll tell them to you every hour of every day for the rest of our lives, because Ineverwant you to doubt them or their sincerity.”
Her chest felt heavy and light all at once, and she sniffled, feeling her eyes water. “Ditto.”
It was his turn to snort, shaking his head at her spunk. “Are you finished pissing? I really want to go lay back down with you in my arms.”
