Page 123 of Swan

“She is, Ma.”

“You know she’ll always hold another in her world too?”

“I do, and I’d still pick her out of anyone else. I may not have all her heart, but I know what she’ll give me will be enough, because I see no one else but her.”

Mum made a sound, and I knew she was holding back her tears. “Love you, my boy.”

“Love you, Ma. Now I gotta get cookin’.”

“All right. Call if you two need anything.”

“You got it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

SWAN

Stretching, I swallowed and relaxed when the action didn’t hurt my throat. However, my mouth was dry. I licked over my lips to wet them. Opening my eyes, I froze as I realised where I was.

Drake.

He’d been the one to take care of me. The one who made sure I drank, took medicine. He’d given me food, placed a washcloth over my forehead when I was hot, hugged me when I was cold.

My heart galloped wildly under my ribs.

He wasn’t beside me in bed now.

How long had I been out of it? There were only flashes of moments that stayed with me. Still, I would forever hold those sweet moments, actions from him, in my heart and mind.

My sinuses no longer hurt, either, and my body only slightly ached.

I glanced to the bedside table where there were some meds and a bottle of water. Sitting, I snatched up the bottle and took a long drink. Once finished, I sniffed, immediately screwing up my nose. I needed a shower desperately. I also wanted to change Drake’s bedcovers.

With my bladder yelling at me for release, I quickly got out of bed and went to my bag that I saw on the chair in the corner of the room. I grabbed out some fresh clothes and slipped into his bathroom.

After the toilet break, I had a shower, smiling at the fact that I would smell like Drake’s body wash. He always had a yummy scent to him. Maybe it was that or cologne or just him.

It was probably all three.

There was my toothbrush on a folded towel on the sink, so I used both and then dressed in leggings and a sweater. I took my dirty clothes to my bag and placed them in an area away from the clean ones.

Feeling much more human, I headed back to the bed and removed all the covers. I didn’t see a hamper in the room, and I hadn’t in the bathroom, either, so I took them with me while I searched for the laundry room.

Drake wasn’t in the open living area, so I went down the back of the apartment and found what I was looking for. I placed on a load of washing and grabbed some new covers for his room from the big linen cupboard.

Just as I’d finished making the bed, two things happened: my stomach growled, and Drake appeared in the doorway, making me jolt and scream.

He grinned. “You’re lookin’ refreshed.”

My belly fluttered at the sight of him. “I am.” Even when my nerves made an appearance, I needed to remember we were dating. He was mine. So I walked over to him, saying, “Thank you for taking care of me.” I wound my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. He wrapped me up just as quickly, and I felt him kiss the top of my head.

“I always will, Birdy.”

“How long was I out of it?”

“Just a few days.”

“A few days?” I squawked. I went to push away, ranting, “I have to call work and my parents and?—”

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