Page 100 of Echoes of You

My eyes said everything I didn’t want to give voice to in front of all these people. Nash knew how much hospitals freaked me out.

I saw indecision warred within him. “We need to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m sure I’m fine,” I said hastily.

Nash pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed out a text, but he kept one arm around me as he did. “I can’t take chances. Not with you.”

The fear in Nash’s voice broke something in me. I turned into his hold. “I’m okay. I promise.”

Nash’s phone dinged. “Doc said she can take a look at you at the clinic.” He looked down at me. “If she says you need the hospital, we go. Okay?”

I nodded, instantly regretting the action when pain sliced through my skull. “Thank you.”

Nash’s lips ghosted over my head. “Scared the hell out of me, Mads.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I am. I should’ve been with you.”

* * *

Clyde’ssoft snores sounded from his dog bed as I settled against the pillows. I didn’t miss the assortment of shoes and other stolen items nestled around him. I would’ve smiled, but dread had been pooling in my stomach since we’d left Doc’s office.

Nash’s expression was carefully blank as he set a mug of tea on the nightstand. He’d been quiet all night—as he’d driven me to Doc’s office, as she’d examined me, on the way home, and as he’d helped me settle into bed.

The only flicker of a reaction had been when Doc told us that I had a mild concussion, and that Nash would have to wake me up every few hours tonight.

I looked up at him, searching. “Lay down with me?”

He opened his mouth as if he might protest but then nodded.

Nash kicked off his boots and rounded the bed to climb in on the other side. He scooted over, gently wrapping his arm around me. “How’s the head now?”

“The meds helped. It’s really not very bad.”

Nash didn’t say anything.

I rolled into him, my face resting on his chest. The steady beat of his heart was reassuring in a way I desperately needed. I swept my thumb back and forth across the ridges of his abdominals. “Are you okay?”

Nash stayed quiet for a moment. “You got hurt again.”

I rolled my lips between my teeth. “But I’m okay.”

“I knew going out with the girls alone was a bad idea. I should’ve been with you. I should’ve—”

I pressed my hand to his stomach, cutting off his words. “You can’t be with me twenty-four-seven. We both have jobs. Lives.”

“I would agree with you under normal circumstances, but things aren’t exactly normal right now. Adam’s still in town. Your dad’s out. We need to err on the side of caution.”

I slowly let out a long breath. Nash was right. I knew he was. “I missed my normal.”

Nash brushed the hair out of my face. “What do you mean?”

“A night out with girlfriends. I never had that in Atlanta. Just being with Wren and G felt so good. We laughed. We danced. I forgot about all the heavy stuff hanging over my head.”

Nash’s expression gentled. “And you’ll have more of that. I promise. We’ll find safe ways for you to have it now.”

I tipped my head back so I could meet his eyes. “Like you sitting in the corner playing bodyguard?”

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