“All right. We’ll check it out. Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.” He walks out and swishes the curtain closed behind him.
“You realize we’re going to be here all fucking night now?” I sigh, taking the seat next to her. “Back in a minute is probably nurse talk for three hours.”
Her lips pucker as she looks at me, defiance glittering in her eyes. “Reed, you’re hurt. I’d stay here all week if I had to.”
I reach over, entwining my fingers with hers in her lap. “Fine,” I huff.
I stroke my thumb back and forth across her skin. She shivers and her breath stalls, making her voice wobble. “Are you… okay, Reed?”
The worry has returned to her eyes. That same torment she’s held in them ever since I was elected. The night I now know as being the first time she received a text message.
And the video.
She’s suffering. But not for much longer.
I bring our hands to my lips and kiss the back of hers. “I’m with you. So yes, I’m okay. The only scenario on this earth where I wouldn’t be okay is if you leave me again. Come back with me tonight. Promise me.”
She can’t say no. I won’t let her. If she tries to argue, then I have it all planned out in my head. I’ve rehearsed every single thing I will use to convince her that she needs to come back.
“Promise me, Angel. I want to hear you say it. I need you to say it.”
She stares at me in silence and then slowly nods. “Okay.”
Tension drains away as my lungs deflate.
Thank fuck.
Chapter thirty-eight
Harley
Reedholdsthedooropen for me, and I use my crutches to maneuver into the hallway. The doctor said I should only need to use them for a day or two, and then just a thick dressing and taking it easy should be sufficient for my foot to heal. Luckily, the glass didn’t cause any permanent damage. It’s just sore if I put my weight on it.
I balance, using my crutch for support as I take in the space. It’s exactly the same as when I left. Except now, Bruce has a new expensive looking shiny pot and is sitting proudly on the hall table with Beryl. She even looks pleased to see him. Her leaves are unfurled, open, and bursting with excitement.
They’re like two lovers, reunited after time apart. I tilt my head to one side and stare at them.
“Here.” Reed closes the door and steps around me, sinking to his knees in front of me.
I look down and smile. “You hate these. You could have said they got lost when Suze moved my stuff back.”
“I don’thatethem.” Reed’s brow furrows as he gently slides one pink fluffy slipper onto my injured foot and then takes my weight to help put the other on my good foot.
“You said they leave bits everywhere.”
“I missed having your bits everywhere.” He rises to his feet, his eyes holding mine.
I stare back at him, my stomach sinking. The hospital kept us busy. Nurse Michael was true to his word and really was only a minute. I had the glass removed from my foot and wrapped in a bandage, and they gave me clean dressings to use for the next couple of days. They wanted to check Reed’s shoulder at the same time, but he refused to leave my side. When he finally agreed, I went with him. Luckily, he didn’t do any permanent damage either. He has soft tissue bruising and was given some strong painkillers. But apart from that, he’s good.
Now it’s the two of us again. And all the reasons I had for staying away, all my guilt, the hopelessness… it’s all flooding back.
Nothing has changed.
I still let him down.
He still said he needed a fresh start.
“It was never going to last forever, Angel.”