Page 113 of Saving Grace

The hospital bed is too hard and there is no way in hell I’m stayin’ here. She shoulders her bag, running a hand through her messy bun. What I wouldn’t give to let that gorgeous hair down and pull her onto my lap. Who cares if there’s other people in the emergency department.

Maybe I’ve had too much green whistle . . .

Soft lips brush over my forehead before planting there. Lifting my head, I look up with moony eyes. The grin on my face is too wide and absolutely automatic. I breathe her in.

She stands back up, a smile warring on her face with something sadder until she schools it back and the smile wins out. “You’re high, Mackinlay.” She releases a strangled, small chuckle, and her smile slips again. “Better than in pain, though.” The last few words are no more than a whisper.

Why is she whispering?

“Why’re you?—”

The curtain explodes.

No, it shifts sideways. A white glowing figure floats toward the bed. I shake my head. The white glowing figure sharpens to a doctor in a lab coat. I clear my throat. That could’ve been awkward. I huff a laugh. He cocks a brow before flipping the paper in the chart. “I see the pain meds have kicked in. Good.”

“What did the X-ray say?” Grace’s voice sounds funny.

Not ha-ha funny either.

Just wobbly or something.

“It’s not the best news. However, it could have been worse.” He sounds mean.

Grace sits on the side of the bed. I feel like I’m going to slide right into her any second now. Like down a slippery slide. I wonder if they have one?

“How so?” she asks, softly.

“The old damage from the incident on tour has been agitated. Nothing major. I predict it will take a month or so before he regains full mobility. The lower back is, unfortunately, unforgiving when it comes to repeated injury. He will need a cane, for lateral support. A brace to help with the two hairline fractures in the lumbar area. Something like his previous recovery process will see him right.”

“Who are you talkin’ about, doc?” I say with a slow drawl.

Grace smiles at me sadly.

No, please don’t be sad, my gorgeous Gracie girl.She drags her gaze from me, back up to the doctor.

Look at him! Lookin’ at my girl. I push up off the pillow. I think I can take him...

“Mackinlay, it’s okay. We will get through this. You did it once, with way worse odds. Baby, you can do it again. I won’t let you fall, I promise.” Her face is so close.

I love her so much.

“I love you, Gracie,” I mumble.

She dots a kiss on my cheek. “I know you do.”

The buzzing fades a little. I scrunch my face up. Something stabs my side. “Ugh, ouch.” My hands curl to fists. But I can’t feel the skin over my knuckles. That’s odd.

I try to shift away from it.

“Try not to move until we have your brace on, Mackinlay,” the white man says and disappears through the wavy green thing.

Arms wind around my head, the bed dips. Her vanilla and peaches surround me. I slam my eyes shut.

Her breathing gets faster, and something wet hits my shoulder as she starts to shake. I don’t want to move. I want to keep her wrapped around me forever.

The fuzziness swallows me whole.

Chapter Thirty-One

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