Page 40 of Unsteady in Love

“Oh, it’s so nice to see you with a visitor. Is this your wife?” the nurse asked.

He grunted, not even answering as he took the cup, threw back the meds, and then the water. His hands laid at his sides, no longer around me. I missed their warmth and the way they made me feel hope for the first time in weeks.

Once the nurse left, I sat up to look at him, only to find Holden looking out the window with his mouth turned down, his face tight.

I’d lost him again.

But this time, I wasn’t giving up.

I wished he’d realize his life wouldn’t be like this forever.

“Hey,” I called, placing my hand on his stubbled cheek, “come back.”

Endlessly dark brown eyes met mine with a frown.

“Prue…”

“No,” I stopped him, “don’t you dare say it. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re fucking stubborn,” he grumbled.

“And so are you. A nurse walks in, and you’re ready to give me up?”

“I’m never going to want this life for you. I can’t help that.”

“And I can’t help that I’ll always want to be in your life. So, accept that and stop being an ass.”

“Easier said than done.”

I shifted around so that I was facing him on the bed. “Tell me something. What were your plans once you finally got out in a few months? Don’t hold back.”

“Why are you asking me that now? It doesn’t matter.” He scowled and tried to look away, but I turned his face back to me.

“Tell me,” I demanded.

“Fine. I was going to come straight to Fairlane. Happy?”

“And then what?” Because I knew there was more.

“You don’t want to know.” He laughed bitterly.

“Stop that shit. If I didn’t want to know, then I wouldn’t ask. Now tell me.”

“Fine,” he growled out. “I planned to not let you out of bed for at least a week, then I was going to take you on a honeymoon to wherever you wanted to go.”

“And then?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Prue. I’m a guy. I was planning lots and lots of sex.”

“Okay, let’s start with that then. Anywhere I want to go on a honeymoon?”

“That’s what I said I was planning,” His jaw ticked.

I hummed to myself. “Well, after listening to Alex, I want to go to Hawaii. It sounds perfect. If we left from here, it wouldn’t be that long of a flight.”

“I said I was…”

“What? You don’t want to anymore?” I knew my eyes were big and probably looked as if they might pop out of my head.