Page 96 of Worth Risking It

Chapter 40

Chastity Pampinella

Lying on the hospital bed, turned somewhat to my side, I stared at Milo sitting in the chair, petting our conjoined hands. He was focusing on the wedding rings, a half-smile curling the corner of his mouth.

I had been in this stupid hospital for two hours. When were they just going to give up trying to find something wrong with me, take my excuse of the virus, and let me go home? I was exhausted and uncomfortable.

“Why did you come back home?”

“Hm?”

“You’ve never come home after you went to work. Was something wrong?”

He tore his attention from my hand, wrinkled his nose, and shook his head. “No, I just decided I wanted to be with my bride today, and not deal with work.”

My heart skipped, emotions welling behind my eyes. “Really?”

“Yup.” He laid his arm across the railing and set his chin on his wrist. “Was going to steal you away for the day. I don’t know what we were going to do, but I just wanted an entire day with my gorgeous baby girl. No work, no Wanderlust Masseuse, just you and me, laughing, holding hands…”

I smiled, loving this man more and more. “Well, you kinda got your wish.”

He chuckled, dragging his fingertips through my hair. “Yeah, I guess I did.” The smile faded. “How are you feeling?”

Taking a jagged breath through my nose, I held it for a moment before pushing it out with my response. “I’m just really tired right now. I wanna go home and lay in our bed.”

“We will soon. I promise.”

“Milo?”

“What baby?” he whispered just as faintly.

“I just…I-I…just wanted to tell you…how much you mean to me.”

His lids rounded and his eyes glossed. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. You changed me and I’m so thankful to have met you. I love you very much.”

He exhaled loudly, his hand moving to my bicep to give it a tender squeeze. “I love you very much, too. You changed me, as well, you know.”

All humor vanishing, he suddenly wouldn’t make eye contact, instead focusing on the sleeve of the hospital gown. “Chazzy, I know I’m a shit husband.”

My insides jolted, my breath catching my throat. Wide eyed with disbelief, I stared silently.

He huffed, moving so his forehead was on his wrist and I couldn’t see his face anymore. “You’ve put up with so much shit from me. I know I don’t deserve you. I just want you to know that I appreciate you and your patience. I’m trying to be the man you deserve.”

Someone knocked on the door and a doctor waltzed in with a metal clipboard holding my records. Milo sat up, hooking his arm over my waist to rub my back, both of us facing the lanky, older man.

“How are you feeling, Mrs. Pampinella?”

“Better. Just tired.”

I was watching my husband’s profile, my pulse erratic. What was he getting ready to say? I know he was about to tell me something. Was he getting ready to admit he still had lovers, as if I needed that verification? Was he getting ready to promise, again, he would get rid of them? He was building up to something, but what?

The doctor went to the round stool in the corner and sat down, rolling toward us a bit. Propping the clipboard on a knee, his wrists crossed over the top and twirled a pen between his fingers, his light brown eyes watching intently.

“Any more nauseousness?”

My lips pursed and I shook my head. “No, not since the nurse gave me something to settle my stomach.”