Page 159 of Sweet Hate
“I love you, you stupid big idiot.” My voice cracks, heart aching.
“I dare you to wake up so I can tell you that to your freakin’ face.”
The door creeps open, and Beckett walks in holding two coffees.
“I come bearing coffee” He looks at me apprehensively. “Can I come in?” All I can do is nod as he holds up the cup. “Sorry if it isn’t the type you like.” Sighing, he collapses in the chair beside me.
Nodding gratefully, I reach out with my free hand to take it, not wanting to let Axel go.
“Why don’t you head home for a couple of hours, Haven? You’ve been here for days already. You should go get some rest. I’ll stay with him till you get back.”
“No, I won’t leave him.” I meet Beckett’s concerned gaze with a steely one of my own. “The only way I’m leaving this hospital is with Axel by my side. I won’t entertain anything else.”
A small smile flits across Beckett’s face. “You love him, don’t you?”
Fresh tears flood my eyes at his question, his face blurring as I nod in confirmation. I hate that I’m telling someone else before him, but I’m not going to lie. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize I was in love with my best friend, but I’m done hiding it.
Beckett stands up with a grin splitting his face as he walks over to clasp Axel's free hand.
“Fucking finally. Axeman, your stupid ass better wake up. You have everything to live for now.”
With that, he walks back out, leaving me alone to study the heart rate monitor wishing I knew what these numbers mean.
Why didn’t I ask Beckett just to make sure they’re normal?
I take a sip of the coffee and almost spit it back out.Jesus, it tastes like motor oil.
Reluctantly I release Axel’s hand to dump it down the sink when a hand closes around my wrist, followed by Axel’s low, raspy voice.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Spinning around so fast I drop the offending coffee, spilling it all over the floor but I don’t give a shit.
“Axel!”
He’s pulled the mask off but that’s about all I can make out through the tears now streaming down my face. His grip tightening in silent comfort.
He’s back. He’s really back.
“Hi, Sprinks.”
I silently thank the universe—and every God I’ve prayed to these past few days—for bringing him back to me. “I thought I lost you.” I choke back a sob. “You scared the hell outta me.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry,” he says with a wince as he tries to shuffle up in bed.
I need to get the doctors in here to check him over, but first things first. “Don’t talk, babe. I’m going to call the doctors. But first…”
I stroke his stubbled jaw, his eyes closing for a second at the contact. “I broke rule six. I’m in love with you. I love you so fucking much. I probably have all along. I’m so sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
The biggest grin breaks out on my man’s beautiful, bruised face, his brilliant blue eyes light up.
“Fuck, Sprinks, that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard. I’ve loved you since we were eighteen years old. Maybe even before then. I never stopped. You’ve been it for me since the first day I met you.” He coughs, and his words turn raspy, forcing them past his tight, raw throat taking a toll on him.
My heart soars, even as my eyes swim with more tears.
I left him.
Just the thought I’d lost him in this fire almost killed me, and yet I left him for eleven freakin’ years. Was that how he felt without me all that time?
