Page 137 of Brassy Bigwig

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHLOE

When I wake up the next morning, Shelby is sitting in her chair across the room, scrolling through her phone. Shortly after our talk last night, I fell asleep. But my dreams were vicious and kept me up half the night, trying to sob quietly into my pillow so I wouldn’t wake her up. Eventually, I turned my body in D’s direction as much as I could, and I watched him as he lay there, fighting for his life. I begged him to wake up. I prayed harder than I’ve ever prayed for anything in my entire life.

“Good morning,” Shelby breaks my concentration, and my eyes shift from D to her.

“Morning,” I respond.

“I was thinking about running home and taking a shower, but I’ll come back after that. Do you need me to bring you anything when I do?”

I shake my head gently. The only thing I need is D. And she can’t bring him back to me. He has to be the one to do that.

“Can I grab you a coffee before I leave?”

I nod my head, just because I know she wants to do something to feel useful right now.

When she’s gone, I try my hardest to get out of bed so I can sit in the chair at D’s bedside. But I can’t. I can barely get the top half of my body off of the mattress, even though I’m already mostly upright. The strain to my shoulder is too painful.

I lay back down and close my eyes until Shelby returns. I’ve already lost what strength I gained through the night. A few minutes later, I hear someone walk into the room. When I open my eyes, I see Shelby approaching the bed with two cups of coffee in hand.

“Here you go,” she offers.

“Thank you.”

“Can I do anything else for you before I leave?” she asks.

“Actually, yes. Can you help me up? I want to sit in the chair.”

I point to the chair beside D’s bed.

“Yes, of course.”

Once I’m situated, she brings me a pillow and a blanket before leaving.

I don’t know how long I sit there, watching the shallow rise and fall of D’s chest, before my nurse comes in to check on me, but my coffee is ice cold.

“Good morning, Chloe,” she practically sings as she walks to the monitors next to my bed and starts pressing buttons. “How are you feeling today?”

Empty.

I don’t speak, nor do I look at her.

She’s smart. Other than asking me if she can get me anything, she keeps quiet as she checks my blood pressure and monitors my concussion. I don’t mean to be so standoffish, but I can’t bear the thought of making small talk while desperately trying to told myself together at the same time. As soon as she’s done redressing my wound, she leaves, and I’m finally alone with D once again.

That’s when the tears come back. They form so quickly I can barely see in front of me as I pull myself to the edge of my seat with my good arm. I place my coffee cup on the floor, and on shaky legs, I stand and take one step before I collapse onto the side of his bed.

I can’t remember the last time I cried this hard. My sobs are painful, causing my body to shake and my bad shoulder to throb. But that pain will never match the pain I hold in my heart.

“I’m so sorry D,” I cry in a strangled whisper. I grab his hand in mine before I place my forehead on his chest. “I’m begging you, if you can hear me, please wake up. I promise I’ll never leave your side, ever again. I’ll do anything if you just come back to me.”

I wipe away the tears with the back of my hand, but my eyes are full of them again in a second.

“Do you remember that night, at your penthouse, when we danced for hours? I finally got to wear that red dress for you.” I sniffle, trying to control my runny nose in between whimpers. “You put on a fancy suit and romantic jazz blared throughout the entire house. When we get out of here, I want to do that again.”

I pick my head up and look at his handsome face. Exchanging hands, I grip his hand tightly with my left while I run my right hand through his hair, gently.

“And don’t forget you promised to sail me around the world on your yacht. You wanted to fuck me on every continent, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do when we get out of here, and you’re all better.”

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