Page 130 of Caught in the Axe
“Come here,” I said, gingerly lifting my right arm.
With a hiccup, she darted for me, and when she was at my side, she cupped my cheek and pressed her lips together, as if holding back tears. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t care.” I grasped her arm, snagging the IV in the process, and tugged, urging her closer.
“We were so worried,” Mom said, pulling up a chair on my other side.
“Finn was here,” Gus explained. “But then Adele’s water broke.”
“What?” I asked, immediately wincing at the pain in my head. “The baby’s here?”
“Not yet. They’re upstairs right now. Finn’s sending nonstop texts and photos. I think Adele may kill him if he doesn’t stop.”
I laughed, but the sound was cut off by a stabbing sensation in my chest. Shit, that hurt.
“Take it easy.” Mom patted my leg. “There’s no rush. The baby won’t be here for hours. She’s only four centimeters.”
“Mom. Gross.” Jude hissed.
“It’s the miracle of life,” she quipped. “Get over it.”
I closed my eyes and soaked in the chatter of my family. It was strange to be surrounded like this. I’d been on my own for so long that I’d forgotten what this felt like, having everyone together, talking over each other while my mom tried to keep order.
“He needs rest.” A nurse had appeared in the doorway and was scanning each person in the room with narrowed eyes. She was probably right. I’d been hit with a wave of excitement when I saw my family, but I was already drained.
Mom bent down and kissed me again. “We’ll be out waiting, and we’ll update you about the baby.”
“Lila,” I croaked. “Can you stay?”
With a sweet smile, she nodded.
My mom was beaming as she herded my brothers out of the room.
“So I guess my mom knows,” I said, patting the side of my bed.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” She wrung her hands and frowned.
“There’s room. I just want you close.”
With a soft sigh, she scooted next to me on my good side and squeezed my hand. “She knows because I told her.”
My eyes widened in surprise, making my head pound.
“When I heard you’d been hurt, the hiding seemed so silly. So I burst into the hospital, demanding to see you. The nurse wouldn’t let me in because I wasn’t family, so I just ignored her and ran around the ICU looking for you.”
My head was already so foggy. Rule-following good-girl Lila had a nurse chasing her through the ICU?
“Someone called security, but then I burst into the waiting room by accident and your whole family was there. So I freaked out and started shouting about how much I love you.”
Those words had my lungs seizing. I couldn’t get enough air, but it didn’t matter.She loved me?The elation that came with that admission was short lived as I coughed and gasped, trying to fill my lungs, then was hit with a searing pain along my left side.
“Jesus, Owen. Do you need me to get the nurse?”
I shook my head and wiped at my eyes with my good hand. Despite the excruciating pain, this was the greatest moment of my life.
“I’m sorry I told your family I was in love with you first.” She cupped my face. “I’m such a mess.”
I kissed her palm. “It’s okay. As long as you love me.”
