Page 41 of Manhattan Heart

Even though my India laughs a little as she tentatively streaks her gaze over me in the bed connected to wires and machines, I still see the tears and there’s never an instant that I want to see her cry.

“Of course you are,” she says in a soft whisper.

“Come here to me.” I hold out the hand that isn’t attached to the drip, grogginess blurring my vision and trying to take me back to sleep, but this is more important.

My girl is more important.

Her hand comes into mine and she squeezes, leaning over me, it’s like she doesn’t know whether she can kiss me or not so I do it for her and touch her lips. “Baby,” she says. “Are you okay? How do you feel?”

Not gonna lie, my body feels like it’s been hit by two trains and then backed over me again. “Aching a little. How did it go, did I survive?”

“Yes, you have the best heart in this hospital, your doctor said so.”

“How’s my beautiful girl?”

India smiles. “Check you out, even hooked up to machines you’re still trying to get into my pants.” Then she touches her forehead to mine and exhales. “So much better now I see you. Don’t ever do this again, Grayson.”

I wind my hand around her nape, holding her as close as everything will allow. I’m dying to tell her to climb on the bed but I know she won’t, my girl is holding herself together. Even slow from the drugs, I recognize her every signal and it kills me that I can’t do anything yet. “I love you.”

“I love you more, even though you sicced Cal fucking Prince on me.”

Blinking slowly, sleep pulling me in, I grin and kiss her lips. “Didn’t want you alone.”

“My sweet boy. You’re tired, go back to sleep, I’ll be here with you.”

“No, go home, get rest. Food.”

“Not likely, sugar D.” her lips touch mine and I barely hear when she says, “so fucking happy, Grayson. Love you so much. Sleep now.”

I’m almost there, in that state of unconsciousness when I hear her talking low to the nurse who stayed in the room.

“I know you will, but please take good care of him, he’s my everything.”

I go into sleep smiling. That’s my baby-girl.

C H A P T E R 13

India

My brain is mush by the third day of Gray being in hospital.

It’s also the day he’s coming home and I haven’t slept a wink all night.

Have hardly slept at all these past days.

I don’t like being in the house without him, so I’ve spent most of the time in his private room until he forces me home to get rest.

Little does Gray know that I only rest when he’s near, but I know he needs healing sleep more. I’m a maniac about him getting enough sleep.

Not that I’m alone much at the house.

Lincoln and Cal drop by suddenly, their arms bulging with takeout food bags. They watch Netflix with me.

Sena and Noah stop in. They bring manicotti and garlic knots from Olive Garden and stay for hours with me.

Gray’s parents and my mom and Hank stop by at the same time as though it’s orchestrated and they all stay for dinner until way late.

On top of all that, like it’s not enough, we’re getting ready for the move in less than a week, so while Gray is sleeping I have to drive to the new place, do a walk through with our contractor to make sure everything is as we wanted.

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