Page 64 of Choosing Skyler

“I’m so proud of you, Sweets. I know this wasn’t easy,” he tells her.

She smiles at him. “I’m okay, I promise. I love you, Dev. Goodnight,” she says, barely speaking above a whisper.

I look to Julie. “She’s going to need some pain medication tonight too. She’s overworked her voice and she’s hurting.”

When she sees Skyler nod, Julie turns to head back out the door and runs into Timothy. He reaches out and grabs both of her arms to steady her before she can fall back on her ass. She beams up at him in thanks before straightening and running her hands down her scrub top to smooth the wrinkles.

“Thank you,” she says a little breathlessly. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s quite alright. We’ll get out of your way so you can take care of your patient,” he says before looking up at me over her head. “Goodnight, Brady. Skyler, get some rest. We’ll talk again soon. It was nice to finally meet you.”

“Goodnight, Timothy,” I tell him for both of us.

Chapter 24

Skyler

I know Devon doesn’t get along with his dad. He says that his dad has always avoided him, but when he called to ask for help—Timothy dropped everything and came. He was so nice and charming, doing his best to put me at ease with each difficult question he asked. He even mentioned that he was glad to be able to help Devon with something he was good at.

Maybe he just doesn’t know how to connect with Devon. They have very different personalities. Devon is wild and carefree, while Timothy is buttoned down and reserved. I hope that they can find a way to connect while Timothy is in town. It would be so good for Devon.

After they left last night and Julie came back with my medication, I was beyond ready for a good night’s sleep. The exhaustion and pain didn’t stop me from teasing Julie about her floundering around in front of Timothy, though. I even signed a joke about her getting some “daddy action.” She blushed and told me I was crazy, but I know that look she had in her eyes. I’ve seen in the mirror enough times since meeting Brady. So, I scoffed and rolled my eyes letting her know that I knew better. She just huffed and said goodnight before leaving my room.

I wake to fingertips on my cheek and Brady’s whisper in my ear. “Breakfast is here, Beautiful.”

I stretch my arms up to wrap them around his neck before sitting up in the bed. I glance around him to see Chelsea with my favorite coffee and a bag with what I’m hoping is a cinnamon roll. I’ve been released to eat whatever I want as long as I chew and swallow carefully, but I mainly stick to soft foods since they are easier to manage.

The breakfast tray from the cafeteria sits on the table and I know she won’t let me touch the bag in her hand until I eat the “healthy food” from my tray. So, I pull the table in front of me, lift the top from the plate and gasp. There is a gorgeous omelet sitting on the plate. My eyes snap to Brady’s, wondering if he left while I was still asleep. It would be a first. He’s been glued to me for the past week.

He throws his hands up. “Not me. Timothy had breakfast delivered for both of us from the hotel he’s staying in. Apparently, they have some fancy chef in the hotel restaurant. Devon thought it would be hilarious to make you think it came from the hospital kitchen since this is hopefully the last meal you’ll eat here.”

I roll my eyes.Devon.Of course, he’s pulling pranks already.Happy home going day,I think with a laugh. Brady and Chelsea both laugh with me. I dig into the omelet without waiting for Brady to open his own container. The cheese hits my tongue in a decadent gooey mess, and I groan.

Brady’s hands freeze and his eyes snap to mine. I can’t mistake the fire in them when he says, “Damn. Is itthatgood?”

I’ve missed that look.But I don’t draw attention to it. I just nod and take my coffee from Chelsea.

“I’m just here to deliver coffee and dessert. I have to get back to the shop to help Jenny with the morning rush. I’ll see you this afternoon at home,” she says, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “I love you, Hun.”

I smile and throw up the sign for “I love you.”

Brady and I finish eating breakfast and I share my cinnamon roll with him before heading to the bathroom to get dressed for the day. I pack up all of my bathroom stuff and head back into the room to see that Brady has already packed the rest of my things. He must be as ready to go home as I am. I hate that I’ve kept him trapped in this hospital for the past two weeks. That’s twice as long as we knew each other before my attack. Yet I can’t seem to remember being without him. It’s like my life really started when I met him.

Dr. Henley comes in a few minutes later. “How are you feeling, Skyler?” he asks me as Devon steps in behind him.

“I’m good. Ready to go home,” I say in my new raspy voice.I wish my real voice would come back. I sound like a barking seal.

“That’s wonderful. I got the release from your physical and occupational therapists yesterday. You’ll need to come in for speech therapy twice a week and Dr. Anderson also signed off for outpatient care provided you agree to appointments three times a week for the next couple of weeks. She’ll decrease those as your therapy progresses,” he tells me.

I smile and nod. I’d agree to come in everyday if it meant I could be home otherwise.

Brady looks at Dr. Henley. “Can her speech therapy and appointments with Dr. Anderson be scheduled together like they have been the past week?”

“Of course,” Dr. Henley replies, turning back to me. “You’re already scheduled for speech therapy at ten and with Dr. Anderson at eleven on Monday. That way you have today and the weekend to get settled in at home.

“You have a wonderful support system in place and none of us see any reason to keep you in the hospital if you prefer to be at home. You’ll heal much better where you’re most comfortable,” he says.

I’m so relieved.I’m really going home today,I think and feel the tears burning my eyes.

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