Page 93 of Away We Go

Oh! Nicky is high on his pain meds. Thiswillbe fun.

“Right.” I bit my lip to hide my smile and get down to business. “We’re getting you out of here.”

His eyes go wide as saucers. “We’re breaking out of here?” he whispers, his head swivelling from left to right.

As if he couldn’t get any cuter; of course he’s a delightful high person!

“Yes,” I whisper back with a straight face. “We’re breaking you out of here.”

James passes me a sweatshirt for Nicky and I guide it down over his body, taking care to avoid his bruises as much as possible. Pretty tricky, given the sheer volume of bruises all over his torso.

“You’re pretty,” Nicky whispers, once I have him dressed, and he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into him.

“Oh, Nicky. You need to be quiet,” I advise, resting gently against him. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

He pouts (he actually pouts!) and calls over to his bodyguard. “She’s so pretty, isn’t she?”

“Don’t answer that,” I tell a grinning James. “And you, shhh.”

“I’m going to bring the car around to the side entrance,” James says with a wink. “Try not to cause too much trouble while I’m gone.”

Nicky waves to his friend. “No promises!”

I giggle and marvel at the turn of events. An hour ago, I was sobbing by Nicky’s bedside, and now I’m pinned to his chest with his muscular arms locked around me.

“We need to get moving.” I lean back and look up into his face. “Let’s get you into the wheelchair.”

An orderly had dropped it off a little while ago, informing us it’s hospital policy that patients aren’t allowed to walk out. They have to be wheeled. So that’s our next step.

“Just stay here for one more moment,” Nicky breathes into my ear and I melt into him. It’s not like I’m in a massive rush to leave his arms. “I’ve missed youso much, Cherie.”

He nuzzles his nose into my hair, and even though I suspect it’s the painkillers doing the talking, I let myself believe in his words.

“I missed you, too.”My gosh, how I’ve missed him.

“Hmmm,” he mumbles as he pulls me even closer. “Let’s go home.”

We hold each other as tightly as his injured body allows us before I force myself to take a step back. Taking his hand in mine, I walk with him to the wheelchair, laughing at the put-out expression on his face as I push him to sit in it. When he’s secured in place, I wheel him out of his hospital room to where James is waiting for us.

I’m taking him home and I’m going to take care of him. After all these years of him looking after me, I’m finally able to return the favour. And if it means I get to spend more one-on-one time with the man I’m falling in love with, then who am I to argue?

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to nurse Nicky back to health and perhaps during that time, I can break down the walls he’s so determined to put up around his heart as well.

MID-SEASON BREAK

CHAPTER 19

Nicky

It’s no use. Sleep will not come; my ribs are throbbing too much.

I shift under my sheets and groan, running a hand through my messy hair, frustrated. It’s been just over twenty-four hours since I left the hospital and between my bruised ribs and memories of the crash playing on a continuous loop in my head, sleep has evaded me.

“Nicky?”

My stomach flips at the sound of her soft voice through the door and, gritting my teeth, I force myself to sit up.

“Cherry?”

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