Chapter 9
Garrett
Fuck, my head hurts. Am I hungover? I don't remember drinking this much, since my twenty-first birthday, and even then, I don't think my head hurt this badly.
I try to open my eyes, and even though there isn't much light in the room, it still hurts to open them. Before I close my eyes again, I get enough of a glimpse around to see I'm in a hospital room.
Then, it all comes back to me. The drive, the cow, and the car accident. Shit, no wonder I hurt pretty much everywhere. I crack my eyes open again and find Kaylee's dad, sitting on the couch across the room, reading a book.
If he's here, she has to be, right?
"Kaylee," I call out, my voice scratchy and not sounding like my own.
Her dad's head jerks up and looks at me before he stands, but I don't see what happens next, because Kaylee’s walking in the door, her eyes on me, and my world feels right. She's here.
She rushes to my side and takes my hand in hers with tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry." I croak out.
"No, I'm sorry." She has tears running down her face, as she hands me a cup of water.
My voice raspy, I say, "I knew as soon as I left Jasper that I was wrong, but I didn't know what to say. Then, I wanted to talk in person. After I figured out what to say, then I was coming after you."
"I came to the ranch to fight for you. I was the one that found you," she whispers.
"I love you, Kaylee," I say the words I have wanted to say, since the moment I left Jasper.
More tears fall, but her smile is blinding.
"I love you, too." She leans down to give me a gentle kiss.
The kiss doesn't last long, because a doctor and a nurse file into the room and start asking me all sorts of questions. If I know where I am, who I am, who the people in the room are, what day it is, and all that stuff to make sure I don't have any memory loss.
They conclude I'm fine, but want to run a few tests, before they send me home.
Once the doctor and nurse leave, I turn back to Kaylee. She hasn't let go of my hand the whole time they were here, and the nurse didn't seem surprised about it.
"You’ve been here the entire time?" I ask.
"She has and hasn't left your side. Your parents are here, Geo has been in and out, and Violet has sent people with food to check in as well." Her dad says.
"That sounds about right." I chuckle, just as my mom and dad walk into the room.
There’s more hugs, more questions about how I'm feeling, and what the doctor said. Mom goes on to tell me about all the food she made to restock my freezer, and my dad talks about the ranch. Through it all, I can't take my eyes off Kaylee.
She's here, and she's mine.
Last night, was the first night back in my own bed, and it felt wonderful. Being back in a space that’s mine, being able to have Kaylee in my arms, and not being woken up every few hours, is wonderful.
The only downside is waking up alone this morning. It’s slow going getting up and moving to the kitchen. My ribs hurt, and I have to make my movements slow and deliberate.
When I make it, I’m rewarded by the sight of my girl making coffee.
"Hey, I was going to bring you breakfast in bed," she pouts.
"I need to get out of bed."
"No, you need to rest."