Page 163 of Bad Run

I kiss her forehead, hugging her again, afraid she’s a mirage from my sleep-deprived brain. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Really?”

I tuck that stray curl that always falls loose from her ponytail behind her ear. “Really. I want you with me wherever I go. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you to come sooner.”

“It’s okay. You needed time with just your family. Is everything”—she glances at them sitting on the bed talking—“better?”

Gwen is the only person, aside from Cam, who knows about my family, my strained relationship with my father, and losing my brother. From the start, she understood. Got me better than anyone I had ever met.

“Yeah. It is. Everything’s going to be alright.” I smile, lacing my fingers through Gwen’s.

On the verge of crying, her eyes shine. “That makes me so happy.”

For the first time in a very long time, I feel at peace with everything. Hearing my dad apologize healed a lot of the damage our rift caused. Hopefully, in time, the wounds will heal completely.

“Ready to meet the parents?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Besides, it can’t go worse than my dad yelling at you in front of the entire team,” she jokes.

I drop my head back and laugh. “Definitely can’t get worse than that.”

Hand in hand, I lead her toward my parents. My mom sits on the bed with my father, their hands intertwined, heads together in conversation.

“Mom. Pop,” I interrupt. They turn to me with grins on their faces. “This is Gwen. Gwen, this is my mom, Holly, and my dad, Kenneth.”

My wife blushes as she raises her hand and waves. “Hi. It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Lance has told me so much about you.”

“Welcome to the family, Gwen.” My mom slips off the bed and wraps my wife in a warm hug. “We’re so happy to meet you, sweetheart.”

“Nice to meet you, Gwen.” My dad turns to me and whistles. “You’re right, Son, she’s a looker. You better take care of her.”

A gruff laugh bubbles out of me at Dad’s joke.

“Kenneth,” my mom chides.

“Sorry, Holly Berry.” He flashes her a lopsided grin and a wink I hope never to see again.

“What am I going to do with you?” she asks, shaking her head.

“You can start by bringing me a burger, then getting me the hell out of this damn hospital,” Dad retorts, making us all laugh.

“Only when the doctor clears you. And as long as you promise never to get on the roof again.”

“Guess I’ll be starving.” Dad grunts, then turns to Gwen. “What say you, Daughter-in-law? Care to help an old man out?”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Gwen giggles at my father’s charm. It’s been years since I’ve seen this side of my dad.

“Looker and a keeper. You really scored with this one, Lancelot,” my dad teases.

Gwen locks eyes with me, and a jolt of energy rushes through me at the sight of her aqua gemstones.

“I did.”

And I’m never letting her go.

I take a seat in the chair beside my father’s bed, pulling Gwen into my lap, kissing the crown of her head as we chat with my parents, giving them the abridged version of our story.

The doctor enters a short time later to check on my dad’s vitals. After a little prodding, the doctor sounds hopeful that my father will be able to return home the next day, pending no complications arise.