Page 57 of Rekindle My Heart

“Honey, I can’t. You know I would, but I have to babysit Allie and Andy in the morning. Your sister has an early appointment. Your father can do it.”

“Sure can. We just need to swing by the house so I can grab some clothes and my meds.”

“Don’t forget your CPAP machine and the distilled water. You know you don’t sleep well without it.” Doris leaned toward Erica and whispered loud enough for the whole room to hear, “We don’t want him to stop breathing. Not to mention, he could wake the dead with his snoring.”

Ryan pinched his nose. “Maybe, I should come stay at your house for the night?”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. But you would need to sleep on the couch. Your mother has been going through all the old photos. They’re spread all across the spare bed.”

“You should see. I came upon some of the cutest pictures of you two when you were in elementary school. Remember the time you two filled your shirts with sand?” She shook her head, a grin beaming. “You looked like little Buddhas.”

Erica bit back a chuckle. Doris and Dave hadn’t changed one bit. And from the way Ryan was pulling the ends of his hair with both hands, she’d say they still drove him crazy.

“You can stay at my house.” Where they hell did that come from?

Ryan must have thought that, too, because his eyes widened.

Well, shit. The offer was out there now. She shrugged. “I have a spare bedroom. No pictures.”

Ryan’s head tipped. “Fine. Can I go now, Doc?”

“I’ll start the paperwork. A nurse will come get you when it’s ready.” He shook Dave and Ryan’s hands, then left.

“Well, Doris.” Dave patted his belly. “Time to go get some food. Ryan’s in good hands.”

After a quick kiss on Ryan’s cheek, Doris hugged Erica. “Come to dinner on Sunday. I’ll make lasagna. Is it still your favorite?”

Damn, the woman knew her weakness. She nodded.

The room fell eerily quiet when Ryan’s parents left. Erica’s gaze bounced from the monitors to the door to the floor. Anywhere but at Ryan.

Finally, her gaze found it’s way to his face. He looked tired. Fresh scrapes marred his cheeks, but if anything, they made him look even more handsome. Damn him.

“I can’t believe you offered your spare room.”

“I can’t believe you accepted.”

“Hell, I’d sleep with Karma if it meant I didn’t have to move half of my father’s stuff to my house. You know how he is. I’d be lucky if he didn’t want to bring his sleep number bed.”

Her cheek pulled up as she remembered one of their camping trips as a kid. “The man does like to be prepared.”

Ryan groaned.

The nurse came in, and Ryan refused the ride to the door, opting to walk himself. The first few steps were wobbly, but by the time they exited the hospital, he was walking normally. Either the pain meds had kicked in, or he was a better actor than she thought.

Once they were in the car, he placed a hand on her arm. “Thank you. Really.”

She started the engine, then smiled. “Don’t thank me yet. The spare bed is Karma’s bed. And I’ll warn you, he’s a bed hog.”