“I’m afraid it’s hospital protocol if I’m to sign your discharge papers. I need absolute certainty that you won’t be alone and someone can wake you up every three hours overnight. It’s standard procedure with concussions.”
* * *
Boden pulled his police cruiser into my driveway, and I’d never been so thankful to be home. While he did his best to avoid rough bumps on the roads and took the corners with extra care, my body was taut and hyperaware of every movement his truck made over the twenty-minute journey.
He helped me out of the SUV, coincidentally the same model as my rental, and inside the house.
“Thank you for bringing me home, but you don’t need to babysit me. I’m fine.”
“Don’t even. You’re stuck with me. Are you hungry at all?”
There was no point in arguing; honestly, I didn’t even have the mental capacity to follow it through. “All I want is to curl up in bed with some Ben & Jerry’s and forget this night ever happened, but I can’t because all my groceries are God knows where in the trunk of my rental.”
“Why don’t you go change out of the hospital scrubs they gave you, and I’ll see what I can do to make your wish come true.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just make yourself comfortable.” I waved him off. “I’m going to go shower.”
“You sure that’s a smart idea?” he questioned.
“I’ll be fine. I know my limits.” I turned a bit too quickly and found myself reaching out for the wall as my axis tilted my center of gravity off-balance.
Boden was suddenly flush behind me. His hands anchored my hips in place as his breath ghosted across the shell of my ear. Goose bumps danced up my spine, causing an audible gasp to slip across my lips in response to his touch.
He gave me a minute to acclimatize my bearings.
“You good?”
No, no. I was far from good.
My mind was swirling all over the map without any sense of true direction and lacking any clear focus other than I was crumbling to pieces. The only saving grace this time was the paparazzi hadn’t captured my accident and spun it into a salacious story that was grossly out of context. The only witness to my worst fears coming to fruition was the sexy Adonis standing behind me in his work uniform, forging a cop fantasy I never knew I had to life.
“Lakelyn.” He breathed as my pulse soared to euphoric heights.
The adrenaline surge that had carried me until now was tapering off. I felt woozy as my head rolled backward on my shoulders and brushed across Boden’s chest. The brief contact was a jolt to the system and knocked the sense I’d momentarily lost back into place.
“I just need some space.” My words sounded winded as I stepped away from his grip and ran my hand along the wall for support until I was safely tucked away behind my bedroom door.
I’d been biting back the tears, pushing down the lump in my throat since I’d arrived home because I knew once the dam crested, my foundation would crack, and I couldn’t afford to keep falling apart when I was so desperately trying to build myself up again. The feeling of despair was a vicious cycle if one wasn’t careful. Anyone who suffered from panic, anxiety, or post-traumatic disorders knew all too well that it was too easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole when your heart rate was thumping in your throat, making you increasingly nauseous with every bated breath.
Pushing the growing unease aside, I collected a fresh pair of underwear and pajamas from the dresser before entering the private en suite. I turned the shower on, placed my clean clothes on the counter, and began undressing. The shock of seeing the bruising cracked open another seed of unease when I stood naked in front of the mirror and assessed the markings across my torso.
Deep purple bruising and angry red rope burn from the seat belt draped across my chest, almost symbolic of a decorative sash.
It was a badge of honor.
I’d survived.
I walked away with only bumps, scrapes, and bruising, knowing the reality of not being so fortunate was only off by a few mere inches. It was a sobering thought. The doctor had been right in the hospital; my built-in angel had me in her sights today.
But I’d rather you be here by my side in real life.
“God, I miss you, Belle,” I whispered, brushing my fingers over the bruising until my hand grew heavy over my heart. “But you’re never far, are you? You’re up there flexing your powers, and I love you for it.” I smiled, staring at my reflection in the mirror as if staring into her matching sapphire blue eyes. “Thank you, sis.”
* * *
Boden was sitting on the couch, looking lost in thought, when I eventually entered the main living space. It wasn’t until I rounded the couch and saw his face that my heartstrings pulled with concern.However, the look of sadness flanking his expression morphed into relief when he angled his head in my direction and slowly dragged his eyes over me.
His gaze had me feeling exposed.
