Page 93 of Give Me Forever Love

K woke up during the middle of the night, and when I did, she was curled up next to me, sleeping on her left side.

In a shit-ton of pain, I woke up the next morning groggy. K had already gotten up and was sitting in her bed with none other than our Rylee girl.

I didn’t make a sound. I wanted to witness the love pouring out of K into our baby for just a moment. It was such an honest thing to observe. The way she smiled down at her, the way she softly touched Rylee’s lips, and the quiet promise she whispered.

“I’ll never leave you. I’ll never, ever leave you. As long as you want me, you’ll have me. For all the big stuff and every little thing in between.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Kathrine

The next few days are spent with family coming in and out as Bryce and I heal and take care of one another and Rylee. Of course, the nurses have assisted with that, and I’m beyond grateful. I’m in a lot of pain. My body feels like it’s been beaten repeatedly with an iron rod.

Lou brought soup, and Mary brought movies. Claire brought me some books, and while Lee lead Bryce out for a cigar, she and I talk about everything.

“Did he tell you what happened?” she asks, sitting in a chair near the window.

“No. We haven’t talked about it.” My defenses go up as I hold Rylee. I don’t want to get into an argument with my best friend right now, but it’s going to happen if she starts her shit about Bryce.

“This is what I was afraid of. You know that, right?”

I don’t say anything, I look down at Rylee, frustrated that I can’t get her to feed.

“He got shot, K. Someone intentionally hit y’all and then shot him.”

I exhale. “Claire, I’m aware of that.”

“Then why aren’t you asking him questions? You and Rylee almost died for heaven’s sake.”

“I will ask him questions. Just not while we’re in here.”

“I think this is the perfect time. You’re stuck in one place. Might as well get it all out.”

I groan, “Can you take her for me? She won’t eat and I’m getting a headache.”

Claire stands up and grabs Rylee. “Should we call the nurse?”

“Yeah. She’s got to eat.”

“Okay,” she says, placing Rylee into her bassinet.

“Look, I will talk to my husband about what happened. You don’t need to worry about it, okay?”

“Yeah,” she says as she hits the button for the nurse. “I’ll just not worry about it.” She rolls her eyes, and I shake my head. I love my best friend, but sometimes she drives me insane.

After Claire leaves for the day, we get more visitors. Austin stops by to say hello to Rylee and to talk cars with Bryce. They both mourn the loss of the Mustang and I can’t help but snicker at how really sad they are. Boys and their toys.

It’s a day later and the doctor has cleared us both to go home… well, he’s finally cleared me.

Bryce should have already gone home. He was good, but I needed to stay because my blood pressure was out of whack. They said it was because of shock, but they wanted me to be monitored just in case. And Bryce refused to leave if I wasn’t.

He also wasn’t a great patient and constantly fussed. He got mad when a male nurse tried to help me feed Rylee, and it was ridiculous and funny.

Still sore, but better than I was a few days ago, I grab a bag and haul it over my shoulder. I fix my joggers from being twisted around my waist and enjoy the feel of not being in a hospital gown.

If I never have to come back here, it’ll be too soon. “You ready?” Bryce asks. I look around one last time, making sure we didn’t forget anything. It had become a hotel room, even though we were only here four days. Our family brought us too much shit, and then all of Rylee’s things we had to leave with.

I’m not at all used to carrying an extra load of crap. Hell, my purse isn’t even that big, but I feel like it will grow twice the size in a short matter of time.

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