Page 99 of After You

Son of a bitch.

* * *

After workingat the scene of the accident, accompanying the two teenage boys Kyle had known all their lives to the hospital, consulting with the families, and waiting for news from the surgeon who was operating to stop the internal bleeding in one of the boys, Kyle felt like he’d put days in instead of just hours.

He’d texted Hannah a couple of times, telling her what was going on and that he’d wanted to see her, but he didn’t know when he’d be back to Sapphire Falls.

She’d assured him it was fine and that she and Alice were going to bed early because Alice had to be at the hospital at six a.m. the next morning for her hip surgery.

Alice’s hip surgery.

Kyle shoved a hand through his hair as he read Hannah’s last message on his way to the bathroom for a much-needed shower. Damn. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten, but in the flurry of the day, he hadn’t been thinking about it. He’d intended to see Alice tonight and reassure her about any last-minute jitters. But it was now ten p.m. and Alice should be fast asleep.

He’d just have to see them in the morning at the hospital. Because, of course, he’d be there prior to, during, and following the surgery. It was going to go fine. He knew that. But he wanted to be there for Alice. And now for Hannah. It just felt like sitting and holding her hand during the waiting period was the right thing todo.

He hadn’t always been there for her. He was still a little stunned—probably stupidly—by that realization, but it was true. He’d always counted on Hannah to be the other half of their very solid whole. She’d been part of the foundation for their families and the other people who had gotten used to counting on them. It was strange—and that really was stupid—to think of her as one of the people who might needhim.

But he wanted her to need him. And he wanted to need her. This was what they were going to have to figure out to be together, but he knew they could do it. Just like she’d asked for his help with scrubbing Alice’s cabinets and then showed him how to work on the knots in her neck and shoulders, she could show him what else she needed and how he could help. And he could do the same. Because he needed to be falling asleep with her in his arms after a day like today. He hadn’t seen her, hadn’t been around, but he needed to hold her at the end of a day of them both taking care of other people.

Kyle showered and fell into bed, hardly able to keep his eyesopen.

But his last thought before he drifted off was that he was going to see her tomorrow, and as soon as it was even slightly appropriate, he was going to ask her to stay in Sapphire Falls. Withhim.

Kyle got to the hospital at five. He wanted to check on the two boys from the car accident and get his other rounds done before Alice came in. The boys were both stable and awake when Kyle got to their room, and he was able to take a deep breath, knowing they’d both befine.

By the time he got to the pre-op area, he was feeling good. It had been a big weekend, but Butch had gotten to fish, the rest of Sapphire Falls had been tended to, the tree stump was mostly out, the McIntires’ windows were mostly clean, and…he’d fallen inlove.

It was interesting to think that he’d fallen in love with Hannah, but that was exactly what had happened. Maybe he’d fallen in love again, but this felt different than before. He’d loved her, but he wasn’t sure he’d been in love withher.

There was no questionnow.

When he stepped around the curtain to the area where Alice was supposed to be, he felt his smile die almost immediately.

Alice was there. She was ready to go. But sitting in the chair beside her bed was Ben. Not Hannah.

“Hi, guys,” Kyle greeted with a forced smile. Maybe Hannah was just getting coffee in the cafeteria.

But he knew in his gut that wasn’t it. Ben wasn’t supposed to be here. He’d only be here if Hannah wasn’t.

“Hi, Kyle.” Alice gave him an almost relieved smile. “I’m glad to seeyou.”

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop over last night,” he told her, sitting down on the edge of her bed and taking her hand. “There was a car accident.”

“I heard,” she said. “Trevor Graves and Zach Turner. Are theyokay?”

Of course she’d heard. He nodded. “Yep, they’ll both be fine. It was a little scary there for abit.”

“Zach’s grandmother was beside herself,” Alice said with a nod. “I’m so glad they’re alright.”

“They are. Now how about you? I wanted to talk everything through one more time to be sure you’re ready,” hesaid.

“I’m fine,” she told him with a wave. “You’re here now. I’mokay.”

“Where’s Hannah?” he finally asked.

Alice frowned. “She’s not feeling well. She’d been dealing with pain and headaches since Saturday, and she was apparently up all night with a horrible migraine. She was throwing up and everything.”

Kyle felt his own frown. “Really? She didn’t tell me.” Her neck was still bothering her? And how could he not feel responsible since he was the reason she’d slept on the floor without her regular pillow? And there had been…some pounding. He’d tried to be gentle, but when you were buried in a hot woman you were in love with and she said, “Harder, oh my God, harder”, you went harder.

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