“Mel, are you okay?” My friend asks, but she sounds far away.
A barista passes by us, dropping something onto the floor. I try to shake myself out of my haze by bending down to pick the abandoned napkin up, but that’s a mistake.
Everything goes dark as I slide out of the chair and hit the coffee shop’s tiles.
Waking up in a hospital is invasive and embarrassing. You’re peppered with questions as nurses rush around you, your best friend stands awkwardly in the corner of the room, her phone lifted to her ear as she speaks quickly to your husband, and you’re naked.
So very naked.
With only a poor, tattered gown wrapped around you to block out the sterile chill of the hospital. The IV in my arm sends liquid cold into my veins, making me scratch at the sight.
Kodi slaps my hand away with a scowl. “They literally told you not to do that.”
I mock her under my breath.
“I heard that!” She calls out as she grabs me some more water from the beige pitcher on the counter.
“Stop making me drink water,” I groan as I rest my head back on the bed. “I have an IV.”
She cuts me a glare before shoving the cup into my hands and lifting my elbow. “Shut up.”
I would prefer for her to waterboard me at this point.
I take a small, unhappy sip before heavy boots echo through the hallway. I pick up the sound of Kaden’s frantic voice as he interrogates the nurses. A moment later, he rounds right into my room, his chest heaving with his breath as if he ran here.
I lift my fingers in a wave. “Hi.”
He sinks down to a crouch, pressing the heel of his palms into his eyes. “You scared the shit out of me, Melody. I shoved Ivan to the ground before leaving his office because he was in my way.”
I snort, lifting a hand to my mouth to muffle it. “He deserved it.”
Kaden finally looks up at me, the corners of his lips twitching. “Oh, yeah. Pretty sure I did it just because I wanted to.”
Kodi chuckles as she pats my shoulder. “Okay, I’m going to leave you in his hands. Blink twice if Kaden is holding you at gunpoint.” I deadpan at her, and she holds her hands up before kissing my temple and grabbing her things. Before she leaves, she pulls Kaden to the side as she whispers loud enough for me to hear. “She was dehydrated and hadn’t eaten anything all day.”
His head snaps to me, and my heart sinks at the disapproval swirling in his eyes. I sink lower in my bed, sipping my water as I avoid his gaze.
Kodi leaves us alone, and I feel like I’ve been trapped with the Grim Reaper himself as my husband stalks closer to me, pulls up a chair, and plops down.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I sigh.
“I have plenty to say,” he grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers. “But I’m just glad you’re okay.”
I squeeze his digits in mine. “I’m waiting on the nurse to get back with my urine sample.”
He scrubs a hand across his mouth, relief flooding him. “What happened? And don’t downplay it, Sunny.”
I set my cup aside on the stand near my bed as I shrug. “I have been feeling lightheaded since I woke up this morning.”
“And you didn’t say anything to me?” He reprimands softly. “You have to tell me these things, baby.”
“I know,” I roll the hem of my gown between my fingers before he places his free hand over mine, drawing my attention back to him. “You had your meeting, and I didn’t want to interfere—”
He cuts me off sharply. “You aren’tinterferingwith anything, do you understand? We’re a team. If something is wrong, then I need you to communicate that with me so we can think of a solution. Your health and happiness come first, Melody. I don’t give a fuck about meetings when my wife is having a health scare.”
My chest warms at his words. He’s just so understanding and kind when it comes to me. He always has been. It’s what makes our love so effortless.
I feel like I’m finally on top of the world. I have a loving husband, an amazing home, and a career that I enjoy. It’s like Kaden made all of the pieces fall right into place, even if they weren’t perfect, and still chipped. He jammed them in anyway, making sure I had everything I ever wanted.
