Page 84 of Investigate Away
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Every single time Jag shifted, his entire chest felt like he ripped it open. But he couldn’t get comfortable.
“You can have more pain meds,” the nurse said as she fiddled with the IV drip.
“No. I’m groggy enough,” he said. “I want to be alert so I can talk with my family. Aren’t they coming?”
“The doctor went to go get them.” She rested the call button on the side of his bed. “Use this if you need me and use this one”—she held up another wire with a button on the end of it—“when you want pain meds. If I were you, I’d give yourself a few pumps now. I’ll make sure we weaken the dosage for you. Just do one or two now. Trust me, you won’t be sleeping from it, and you might be able to get comfortable.”
He took it and tapped it once. “Thanks.”
An immediate tingle filtered through his bloodstream. She was right; it didn’t make him groggy, but he wasn’t going to risk a second shot. Not until after he got to see Callie.
The nurse pulled back the fabric, and his breath hitched.
“Hey,” Callie whispered.
“Hey, yourself.” His pulse increased, and it showed on the monitor as it beeped a little faster. “You look like shit.”
She chuckled. “You look a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw you.” She inched closer.
He patted the side of the gurney.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It will hurt me if I don’t at least get to hold your hand.”
She smiled, easing herself to the side of the bed, barely resting her ass against the mattress. “I hope I did the right thing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I thought you wanted me to tackle her, but now I’m not so sure.”
He chuckled, but it was cut short by the pain. He clutched his chest. “You did exactly what I wanted. I just didn’t expect the gun to discharge, and I thought Jenna was closer.”
“You knew she was there?”
“I could see the patrol car through the trees behind you. Kara couldn’t see it. My calculations were a little off though.” He took in a slow breath, trying not to breathe too deep because it fucking hurt. He took her hand and gasped. “Have I been asleep for three months?” He ran his finger over the diamond shining bright on her hand.
“Oh. Well, that’s the only way the hospital would let me in to see you. Immediate family only.”
The corners of his mouth tugged into a smile. “But you put it on, and you told me you wanted more than three months. You said you wanted a lifetime.” He lifted her hand and kissed her ring finger. “When I saw Kara holding that gun to your head, I thought my heart stopped.”
“It almost did,” she said.
He arched a brow. “That’s really not funny.”
“I know. Sorry, but you know how I get when you get all mushy and shit.”
“I love you, Callie. I never stopped, and I want you in my life always. I’m not asking for you to say yes right now, but I am asking—”
“Yes,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I want to marry you.”
“You do?” He tilted his head. “You’re not going to make me grovel and beg?”
She leaned over and pressed her warm lips against his. “No. But I do have a condition.”
“Oh shit. Here it comes,” he said, lifting the pain med controls. “Do I need to fill myself full of drugs for this?”
