Page 60 of Don’t Look Back

“Don’t be. I can see how much you care for him. It’s sweet. We could all use a little bit of happiness around here.” She packed the clutter into a red bag and tied it up. “I’ll call his mom and give you two some time. It could still be a while before he wakes up—don’t be worried.”

Don’t be worried? Ha. All I’d done since the day I met that man was worry. Ever since the day he’d walked into my dad’s shop, I’d had him on my mind in some form or another. I found it hard to believe that my life had changed so much in such a short amount of time.

Forgoing the chair, I perched on the edge of Ryan’s bed, taking his hand in mine again. Now that the breathing tube was gone, it looked like he was simply sleeping. Those gorgeous eyelashes swept over his bruised cheeks. Instead of the jerking movements from the ventilator, his chest rose and fell gently. I became mesmerized watching him.

“I am so in love with you…” I whispered, shocking even myself. I wanted him awake the first time I said them to him, but they were out of my mouth before I knew what was happening.

It wasn’t long before the door pushed open and Marisol rushed into the room. “I’m so sorry. I slept more than I thought I would. He’s breathing on his own?”

I nodded. “It happened not that long ago,” I said, looking down at our hands clasped together. “She said they’re coming soon to do another scan on his brain, but I don’t want to let go of him.”

Then, Ryan’s hand tightened around mine. I gasped and shot out of the seat.

“He… He squeezed my hand.” Marisol grabbed the other, hoping he’d do the same. “Please tell me you can feel it too.”

Both of us broke down into sobs when he did it again. Charlie’s voice broke through the commotion, and I looked up to see two new people standing in the room. “Genie, they have to take him for his scan now,” she said, clearing the door so they could get past.

Once the room was empty, I let out a breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Charlie nervously shoved her hands in her pockets. “Genie, will you let me take you to get some food? You have to be starving. Did you drink any of that?” she asked, indicating the coffee that Shannon brought me earlier that afternoon.

I shook my head.

“Have you had anything to drink?” she asked.

“I had some of that water you gave me?”

“That was over twelve hours ago,” Charlie said. “Jesus, just let me take care of you. Stop being stubborn.”

Marisol rubbed my arm. “She’s right cariño. You need to eat. You need some sleep. I’ll wait here for our boy.”

Our boy.

I had a brief urge to protest, but it faded quickly. The adrenaline that had kept me going was dwindling. Ryan could wake up at any second, but my body was catching up with me.

“Fine.” I agreed, not entirely sure that my feet would carry me out of the hospital.

Charlie led me out of the room and to the elevators, my feet dragging like cinder blocks the whole way. They grew heavier with each step. The noises around me muffled and all of a sudden, I couldn’t make myself move anymore. The room spun and I felt sick. I fumbled for one of the moving walls.

To this day I’m not sure how she did it, but Charlie managed to gently lower me to sitting.

“Why am I on the floor?” I asked.

Charlie forced out a nervous laugh. “We’re going to figure that out. I’ve got you. You’ll be okay.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The next thing I remembered was a splitting headache, I pried my eyes open, finding myself… in my bedroom? I groaned and tried to sit up, only succeeding in tangling myself in my blanket. Perched on my elbows, I took in the room. Charlie was dozing in a dining chair by the door.

“Charlie?” I whispered, the quiet noise enough to wake her.

“Mornin’ sunshine.” She sat forward, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes.

“What the hell happened?” The pounding in my head subsided and slowly, I was able to sit up and open my eyes entirely.

“You tried to be Superman and you failed miserably.”

“Fuck you,” I said, forcing a laugh. I felt like every ounce of energy I possessed had been drained from my body. “How in the hell did I get home? How did I get in my bed?”