Page 192 of Push

And I did.

I told Toby the whole story—from the start of my ridiculous plan until it all came undone. I only stopped talking when the door rattled with frantic knocks seven excruciating minutes later. Wobbly legs got me to the door. Trembling fingers unsnapped the lock. Toby stood on the other side, his hair a wild mess and his chest heaving because he’d run all the way, but his big, strong arms were waiting to catch me when I collapsed against him.

Toby had failed me once when I needed him.

This time, he was there.

58

She Apologized for Running

Gwen

The cup of teaon the nightstand was cold.

Cat’s efforts to make me comfortable in her guest room had been wasted. I’d left the tea untouched. Dinner, too. She’d hovered, desperate to be useful, but Toby had nudged her out the door time and time again with an apologetic smile.

I’d sat on the bed, hollow and still. The morning had spun on constant repeat in my mind until Toby had laid Noah against my chest. Now, hours later, my baby’s breath came in soft, snuffling sounds, and I cradled him closer. I was grateful he was too little to understand what had happened to his mum in the big, ugly world he was growing up in.

My heart twisted.If something had happened to me…

“Gwen,” Toby whispered. “Let me take him.”

I shook my head and gave my chubby baby another protective squeeze. Now that he was safely in my arms, I was never putting him down.Never.

Toby shifted behind me on the bed with a pained groan. His back must have been killing him. He’d been sitting against the headboard for hours with me stuck in the crook of his legs. He bent forward and kissed my shoulder. “Now, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think we need to get you—”

I cut Toby off with a huff. Not this again. “You better not be about to launch into your speech about going to the hospital—”

“Gwen.”

“—or the police.”

“You’re being stubborn.”

“Yes.”

“At the risk of pissing you off, can I be honest and saystupidlystubborn?”

“No.” I twisted my head to peck a kiss on his chin. “You may not.”

He grunted. “Don’t distract me with your sneaky kiss attacks.”

“Tobes, I’m fine.”

“I didn’t realize you were a doctoranda lawyer, doll.” He smiled against my temple. “I’ve cut you some slack because you’ve been through hell today, but you need to cut me some, too, okay? Please let me be Daddy Worrywart and at least have the after-hours doctor come give you a look-over.”

“I don’t need a doctor. It’s just a few grazes.”Sort of.The raw bits of skin stung like an absolute bitch. Toby had kept the jokes rolling, but I’d gritted my teeth through every gentle dab of the washer as he’d patched me up. I’d never admit it, though. I was a giant pain in his ass like that.

“You’ve also got one heck of an egg on your head,” Toby said. “Humor me, okay?”

It was barely a bump, but whatever. “Fine.” I heaved a sigh.

“And if the doctor says you need scans?”

“We’ll go to the hospital,” I grumbled. “Satisfied, Daddy Worrywart?”

“Nope, but it’s a start.” He dropped a kiss on my head. “I can’t help worrying about you. You two in this room—you’re my universe. When you called…” His arms hugged tighter around my waist. “Shit, Gwen, I panicked. It was like listening to your voicemails all over again.”

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