Page 114 of Make or Break

“I’ve been sleeping ever since they got me stitched up. I’m starving and I can’t get back to sleep until I eat something.”

He stood, leaned over me, and reached for something on the bed. It took a beat before I realized he wanted the call button.

I grabbed his hand. “Honey, stop. Leave it be. I don’t want to bug the nurse and we’re probably waking my roommate.”

“You’re in a private room. I pulled some strings, and if you’re hungry, you’re getting fed. It’s the fuckin’ least they can do.”

I gave his hand a squeeze. “Seriously, Tundra. I don’t want to be a nuisance. How did you pull strings to get me a private room?”

“Don’t worry about it—”

“Tundra—”

“Punc’s woman, Savannah, knew someone - not sure if she’s a board member or something, but I made a donation, and got you into this room.”

“A donation? Why? I don’t need special treatment.”

He propped a hip on the bed and leaned closer. “Don’t consider it special treatment, woman. I told you I got money. I don’t think about it because I don’t give a damn about the money, I’d rather have Dad back. So, if spending it to get you a private room means you’re more comfortable, that’s the best use for it. I’m buying peace of mind, not special treatment.”

“Did your dad refuse special treatment or something? Because of money?” I asked.

“No. He went quick and unexpectedly, but I’d have rather had more time with him growing up than him doing his damnedest to have the top dealership in all of Georgia. He spent so much fuckin’ time at the dealership it wasn’t funny. I’ll be damned if I treat my family the same way.”

I reached up to cup his cheek, the dark room made it easier to hide my wince of pain at the movement. “I love you.”

“Love you, too. Now I’m gonna find someone to get you a sandwich or something.”

I pulled his face closer and gave him a lip brush. “Let me know what time it is first. If it’s almost morning, I promise I can wait.”

He pulled back and grabbed his cell. “It’s five-thirty.”

I grinned. “I can wait until breakfast. If you snuggle with me, I can probably get some sleep.”

“No way. You got over a dozen stitches and I’m not doin’ shit to fuck them up.”

“You won’t, Tundra. It’s important I get my rest. I’m a snuggler, so give your woman what she wants and come lay down with me.”

The light of his phone hadn’t dimmed yet, so I caught sight of him pointing a finger at me. “You’re only getting away with this because you’re in the hospital.”

The next time I woke up, it was because the light came on when Dad and Mom barged into the room.

Mom stopped short. “Oh dear, we should come back.”

Tundra sat up. “No, no. I’m goin’ to get her some food. She was hungry at five-thirty but she talked me out of getting a nurse. You two visit with her.”

Before Tundra got out of the bed, I grabbed his hand. “Wait…he knows…is everything okay?”

Tundra squeezed my hand and looked down at me. “It is. We’ll talk about it later, baby. Visit with your parents.”

Tundra nodded at Mom and Dad. Dad returned his nod, but still looked unhappy.

Mom scurried over to the right side of my bed, propped a hip on it, and grabbed my hand. “How are you feeling, sweetie?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Okay, I guess. Tired. Drained. Hungry.”

She pressed her lips together hard, slid her eyes to the side like she didn’t want to ask this in front of Dad. “Did he—”

I understood where she was going, and I didn’t want her to ask this in front of Dad either. “No. He didn’t get that far.”