“No. I’m way too tough to die. I’ll just look like a piece of warmed-over meat when I get out of these bandages. Misty may not even want me anymore.”
“Hey. Don’t talk like that,” Misty said.
“Yeah,” Parker echoed. “One thing my sister is, is loyal. She’ll probably stick with you even when you’re an ugly fuck.”
“Thanks, dude.”
“I’m just kidding. You know that. At first, I was pretty surprised about what happened—the pregnancy, I mean. More like shocked out of my boots. But I figure my little sister has to grow up at some point and marry somebody. I’m actually glad it’s you. I don’t have to get used to another brother.”
“Yeah. There’s that,” Gabe said. “Remember how I said I was sorry I got her pregnant? Well, I’m not sorry. I’d probably never get married at all if this didn’t happen. I’m kind of glad it did.”
Parker was quiet for a little bit. Maybe he was trying to decide if that was an insult or not. But Misty knew it was just the truth.
Finally, Misty said, “I wish I could do this differently too, but I might not have any kids at all if this didn’t happen before the MS diagnosis was made.”
“Are you worried about taking care of a kid, Misty?” Gabe asked. “Because you don’t have to. If we need to hire a nanny to help out, so be it.”
“You can’t afford that,” Parker said.
“How would you know?” Gabe fired back.
“Well, can you? You might think it’s none of my business, but if she needs help, I want her to get it. I can chip in.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
After a poignant silence, she rose. “I need some air.” She began walking out of the room, then remembered Gabe couldn’t hear or see her leaving. “I’ll be back in a few.”
Her balance had been slightly better in recent days. She figured it must be due to the sneakers with better traction. She could probably get away with those at work, since most customers didn’t see her feet, but she’d certainly miss her sexy shoes.
She took off her protective gown and mask and stuffed them in the trash next to the cart outside his room. Padding down the hall, as she passed the nurses’ station, one of the nurses spoke up. “Hey. You’re Gabe’s friend, right?”
Misty looked at the pretty nurse and decided to define the relationship, quickly. “He’s my fiancé.”
“Congrats. I was just curious about something. There are more good-looking guys visiting him than I’ve seen in one place for a long time.”
Misty giggled. “He has several brothers, but the one who is in there now ismybrother.”
“Oh,” the nurse said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“No, please. Take him off my hands. Let me introduce him to you. He’s been a pain in the ass for the last few days. You would do me a big favor by distracting him.”
The nurse laughed. “Maybe I’ll see him on his way out.”
Misty waved and stepped onto the elevator. She still needed some time to think, so she pushed the button for the lower level where the cafeteria was.
She bought a cup of coffee and stared out the window. Thinking about her future brought up so many mixed emotions.
Parker was right. She would be proud to be Mrs. Gabriel Fierro, regardless of what he looked like when the bandages came off. But what if Gabe couldn’t work as a firefighter again? That’s all he’d ever wanted to do. She realized his parents would be more than happy to lend a hand, but Gabe would hate that. Would he be depressed? Would that carry over to their home life? What if he started drinking?
They’d have to figure something out.
As she was staring out the window, deep in thought, someone set a hand on her shoulder. She spun around and was shocked to see her boss, Adam. “What are you doing here?”
“I was wondering how you were. I heard some strange things were going on. And you haven’t been yourself.”
“You didn’t answer my question. What areyoudoing here?”
He was silent for a moment, then he said, “Look, I could make up something, like that I was visiting a friend, but I saw you on your way into the hospital, so I followed you.”
