Officer Shen closes his notebook. “Of course. Thank you for your time.”
Piper waits for the officers to leave before saying, “I love you all, but can I talk to Rex? In private.”
My stomach knots. Cooper rests his hand on my shoulder as he walks by. He’s got this I'm-sorry-man look on his face that confirms my fears. We’re breaking up. My stomach jumps into my throat, threatening to do something embarrassing like throw up the rice and beans I had for lunch. I force my feet to move once the room’s empty, to carry me to the chair beside her bed. I make myself sit down.
Piper reaches out, touching my shaking hands. “Are you okay?”
No. I’m not even close to okay, but the girl’s just woken from a coma, been interrogated by the police and found out one of her friends is in the hospital. All things considered; she shouldn’t be worrying about me. “I’m not the one who just got out of a coma, Babe. How are you?”
She shrugs. “I’m okay. My head has some pressure, but nothing hurts right now.” She glances at the IV drip. “I’m sure once they take this away that won’t be the case though.” She laughs but the sound is forced. An awkward silence fills the room for a minute before she says, “Rex?”
I love the way my name rolls off her lips. I should record our breakup, simply so I can hear her voice beyond today. I don’t know how I’m going to do this, survive without Piper in my life. Thinking she was about to die was one thing but knowing the girl I love will someday be with someone else…it’s brutal. What else is brutal? Realizing you’re in love the moment it ends. “Yeah, Piper?”
“What’s wrong?”
I take slow breath, willing the burn in my eyes to stay put. Stupid liquid pain isn’t listening. I run my hand over my face before she can see I’m crying and clear my throat. “Just worried about you.”
“Baby,” she whispers. “I’m fine.” She flicks her wrist, pointing between both her and I. “We are fine.” A shadow of fear crosses her face. “Aren’t we?”
I clear my throat again, masking the sound with a cough. I cover my mouth with my fist for pretend etiquette, wiping my nose on my way to shove my hands in my pockets. I crush the fabric between my fingers, feeling my nails drag against my thighs. I’ve never known love to be kind. In my life, it’s caused nothing but pain. I’ve avoided it like the plague because no one was worth the suffering. But with Piper, if given the option to start over, knowing she’d kill me, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
“I…I guess.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, willing my voice not to break. “I think I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole shooting thing.” I pause for a second, needing that time to keep myself in check. “And the whole letter thing.”
Piper sucks in a breath. “Oh, Rex! I’m so sorry. I forgot.”
She scoots to the edge of the bed and holds her hand out to me. I cave, dying a little more inside from her touch. Her hand is so soft, so tiny. I’d give anything to put a ring on her finger. I’ve lived my life with rose colored glasses, thinking I was invincible, that we had forever together. Nearly losing someone you love does something to you. It puts how fragile life is into perspective.
“Rex?” Piper’s vice breaks. “Will you look at me?”
I nod and do what she says. Soft pink flushes Piper’s cheeks. The whites of her eyes are red and glassy. I grit my teeth, waiting to hear the words she obviously doesn’t want to say. Again. “So. That letter. I…” she wipes a tear from her cheek with her free hand. “Do you still want to be with me?”
“What?”
“I… um….”
I run my hand across
my face again. There’s no hiding them this time. A stupid tear gets halfway down my cheek before I catch it. “Of course I still want to be with you, Piper. You’re the one who left me.”
“Oh thank God,” She laugh s past the tears in her eyes. “Rex, I don’t want to break up. I love you. I just didn’t want you to get hurt. But now this mess is over, we can be together. Say you’ll be with me again, Rex. Please.”
I shake my head, not believing the words she’s saying. Piper’s an idiot. She never should have tried to leave. I would have taken care of her, kept her safe, if only she’d let me know what was going on. “I can’t be your boyfriend.”
“What?”
Boyfriend isn’t enough. The thought of Piper leaving me again is too painful. I slide out of the chair and get down on one knee. I don’t care that this is selfish. I don’t care that I don’t have a ring. I just need her to be mine. “Marry me.”
“What?”
“I know it’s crazy, Piper. And we haven’t been together that long but I almost lost you twice in one day. My heart broke in ways I didn’t know were possible. But you’re here now. You’re alive and still want to be with me. I know that should be enough, but it’s not. You are so much more than just a girlfriend. You’re my best friend. My soulmate. And I know I’m doing this all wrong, but will you marry me?”
Piper doesn’t hesitate. “Yes!”
Yes? She said yes? Fuck yeah! I jump into her bed to hug her. She winces from the pressure on her shoulder and I instantly let go. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She says with a devilish grin. “Since we’re talking crazy….”
“Oh boy.” I chuckle. I am crazy, crazy about her. This girl could ask for a zebracorn and I’d do my best to make it happen. Whatever she wants, it’s hers.