Chapter 24—Emmy

I don’t want to move.  I keep my eyes closed long after I heard him whisper those three words, their meaning filling my body, effortlessly picking up the pieces of my heart, which I thought would be forever broken.

Turning my head and ignoring the soreness in my neck, I open my eyes.  The lighting in the hospital room causes me to blink a few times, the tint on the windows keeping the sunlight from being to harsh, but my dry eyes take a few moments to adjust.  My body hurts, but the majority of my pain is coming from my arm and my leg.  I know from before the doctor brought me in here that I broke both my left arm and leg.  Other than some other minor injuries, I’m fine—all things considered.

Having Maddox here is just the medicine I need.  Well, that and the high dose of pain meds they pushed through my IV thirty minutes before.  I’m sure my pain level would be quite different had I not gotten those.

Moving my eyes down to where I feel him against my side, I take in his hunched over form.  His large frame is folded in the plastic chair, both tan hands wrapped around my much paler one, his head lying against the mattress so that his mouth is resting next to my fingers.  His eyes are closed, and if it weren’t for the wet tear streaks falling down his cheeks, I wouldn’t even think he was awake.  Even though he’s hurting, he’s more at peace in this moment that I’ve ever seen him.

“Hey,” I mumble.  My voice is deeper and rougher than normal.

When he hears me speak, he jerks up in his seat—eyes wide and hopeful. “God…”

He doesn’t say anything else, so I give him a small smile, trying to let him know that I’m okay.

“Do you need the nurse?”

I shake my head.

“Water?”  His brow crinkles, and if he weren’t still holding my hand in a death grip, I would run my fingers over them.

Again, I shake my head, causing his frown to deepen.

“Bathroom?”

“Stop, Mad.  I’m good.  I have everything I need right here next to me,” I sigh.  It takes me a little while to get the words out—my throat rawer than I thought.  “I just need you.”

His expression changes—his face going soft as his eyes heat.  It’s an expression I’ve never seen from him but always dreamt of.

“I was coming back to you, Em.”

“I know.”  I smile and pull my hand from his grip.

His eyes go wide until he notices that my intent isn’t to pull away.

I reach out weakly and run my fingertips along his stubbled cheek.  “I like this.”

“Do you?”  His lips twitch, and I feel the mood lighten.

“I do.”  I run my fingers along his jaw a few more times before I cup his cheek in my palm, looking deep into his eyes before speaking.  “I love you too,” I whisper.

He jumps in his seat.  Not much though, and if I hadn’t been studying his reaction, I would have missed it.  His eyes search mine for a few beats, the uncertainty clear as day.  I give him the time he needs, preparing myself for if he rejects me.  This is, in a sense, our moment of truth.  His jaw ticks and his deep breathing fills the silence.

I watch his emotions fighting for control, each one playing out in a fascinating display.  The fear.  Struggle to believe.  And the hope that he can.  Them, finally, I see them all clear and the acceptance and love take over.

“My sweet angel,” he finally says on a sob.

I watch his face as he crumbles and the tears start to slowly fall.  “Come here,” I beg.

He looks at me, lying in a bed that is too narrow for him to join, and appears confused, those tears still falling.  I silently signal for him to move forward and he scoots a few inches towards me on his chair.  I motion for him to lean over and he does, his face hovering just over the bed.  I run my hand from his arm, up his shoulder, then around his neck.  His eyes close when my skin makes contact with his, and I pull him towards me until his face is just inches from my own.  Two of his hot tears fall and land on my cheeks.   His eyes instantly drop to them and watch them fall to the bed.

“Kiss me.”  My request brings his eyes—and their heat—back to mine.

When his lips touch mine, I sigh and he takes that in.  There isn’t anything sexual about this kiss.  This is us becoming one—and it’s every bit as beautiful as I knew it would be.

Two officers come by and take my statement.   The whole time, Maddox fumes and growls, and by the time they leave, I’m exhausted.  I sleep through our friends checking on me.  Then I sleep through lunch and dinner.  The doctor comes back early in the evening and takes me to have my casts put on.  At this point, I’ve had enough pain meds flowing through my system that, even though it hurts like a bitch to just move from room to room, I am able to take it.