I feel Forest’s hand on my back. “Nightmare?”
Nodding, I lie back down. “Yeah. Sorry, I woke you.”
“You didn’t,” he murmurs.
Turning my head to him, I ask, “Why are you awake then?”
“I can’t find a comfortable position,” he admits.
Knowing Mila suffered a similar injury, I scoot off the bed.
“Where are you going?” Forest asks.
“To check with Mila.” I slip out of the room and softly knock on Mila’s door. She doesn’t answer, and I hate waking her. Pushing the door open, I walk to the side of the bed and grin when I see Jase holding her.
“Jase,” I whisper, shaking his shoulder.
His eyes open instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“Forest’s ribs. How did Mila sleep?”
“Like she’s sleeping now, with her hurt side resting on top of me. Let Forest use you as a body pillow.”
“Thank you.” I smile down at him. “Sorry I woke you.”
“No worries,” he murmurs.
Leaving the room, I shut the door softly and then dart back to Forest. When I’ve closed our door, I climb on the bed and lie on my back. “Jase says you should use me as a body pillow. Mila’s draped over his side.”
“I like Jase’s advice,” Forest grins.
I pull one of the pillows out from under us and wait for Forest to position his left side over me, and then I place the pillow between his cast and my body.
He snuggles his face into my neck. “Mhh… so much better.”
A smile forms around my lips as I wrap my arms around his neck, and I place my hand behind his head. Pressing a kiss to his hair, I whisper, “Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
I lie awake as Forest’s breaths grow shallow. I want to hug him tightly to me, but I have to force myself to lie still.
We totally oversleep and don’t wake up until eleven. I have to hurry to dress myself and Forest. I watch him drink his coffee before I hand him his painkillers.
When we finally leave the suite, we take the stairs down to the lobby. I keep my pace slow because Forest still gets winded quickly.
Reaching my car, I open the door for him, and after he’s taken a seat, I carefully pull the seatbelt over his chest and clip it in. “How’s that?”
He smiles at me. “I’m good.”
I shut the passenger door and rush over to the driver’s side. Steering the car away from the campus and in the direction of Uncle Lake’s house, I say, “Using me as a body pillow seemed to work. Right?”
“Oh yeah. I slept like the dead,” Forest answers. “Thanks, babe.”
Reaching Uncle Lake’s house, I pull up the driveway and park behind Dad’s car.
Before I get to open the passenger door, Uncle Lake comes flying out of the house. I help Forest out and then turn to Uncle Lake for a big hug. He lifts me off my feet and murmurs, “God, I aged a million years.”
When he lets go of me, he’s careful while hugging Forest, then he stands back and smiles at us. “I’m glad my babies are back home.”
I take Uncle Lake’s hand, and leaning my cheek against his shoulder, I pull a cute face. “I’m hungry.”
And just like that, the emotional moment fades, and he drags me into the house with a chuckling Forest right behind us.
Aunt Lee has seriously prepared a feast. All my favorite Korean cuisine lies spread out over the dining room table.
Dad’s already stuffing an eggroll into his mouth. I go to hug him and say, “Missed you, Daddy.”
I’ve always been a daddy’s girl, and I’ll probably still be one in fifty years.
I load a plate with food for Forest and me, and while we catch up with our loved ones, I make sure he eats.
As mom and Aunt Layla come into the dining room, they pause, and then Mom croons, “Look at our babies, Layla.”
“God, we’re going to have gorgeous grandkids.”
“Whoa…” My eyes widen. “If you’re lucky, you’ll get grandchildren in ten years.”
“Fifteen,” Dad jumps in.
Mom scowls at him. “You had me pregnant at nineteen, so shush.”
A smile sneaks around my lips. Watching my parents, I hope that’s Forest and me in twenty years.
Chapter 27
FOREST
It’s been a week since the earthquake, and Aria and I have settled into a new routine. We orbit each other like the sun and the moon, her light filling every corner of my soul.
I watch as she cuts my steak into tiny pieces, and lifting my hand, I tuck some of her hair behind her ear. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
She grins at me. “I love it.”
“Hey, guys,” Kennedy suddenly says, and she takes a seat next to Aria. Apprehension pours through my body until she says, “Aria, I want to apologize. I wasn’t aware you and Forest were dating for real. I never would’ve come on to him had I known.”