Page 61 of To the Moon and Back
“So . . .” His eyes searched hers as he blinked a sweat drop from his lashes. A single laugh slipped from between his lips. “How am I supposed to think about standing . . . when all I want to do is kiss you.”
She felt the heat in her cheeks even before he finished his sentence. “I was sort of thinking the same thing.”
For the next ten seconds she was sure he was going to kiss her. But his strength was giving out. “Jenna . . .” He was breathing harder, the strain pushing him to the edge. “I have to believe . . . there will be a better time.”
She laughed and lost her balance. He dropped back to the bed and she narrowly avoided falling on top of him. Instead she landed beside him. Despite his exhaustion they were both laughing now. Laughing so hard that they fell back onto the bed, side by side.
Kyrie walked in then. “The goal is to be standing.” She gave them a stern look, but her tone told them she was teasing. “Let him rest for ten minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jenna scrambled to sit up. She wondered if Brady’s heart was beating as hard as hers. Whatever was happening between them, she couldn’t stop it.
“You’re right about one thing, Kyrie.” Brady was still lying on the bed. He grabbed the towel and wiped his arms and chest and face again. Then he shot a teasing look at the therapist. “She kept me on my feet longer than you did.”
“I figured.” Kyrie shook her head and left the room. “Ten minutes. That’s it.”
And so it continued. Every ten minutes for an hour, Jenna would act as support for Brady as he practiced standing. And every time he seemed to do all he could to keep from looking at her. They weren’t going to kiss. Brady was right, of course. This wasn’t the time.
But Jenna made a note to bring him a few new T-shirts tomorrow. She could only take so much.
• • •
AS JUNE PLAYED out Brady proved everyone wrong, even himself. Two weeks after checking into the rehab facility, with Jenna at his side, Brady took his first steps. After that there was no stopping him.
Kyrie explained it best. The body remembers. Once Brady started working the muscles in his legs, his memory took over. That, and the fact that Brady had been in top physical condition at the time of the accident, meant he would get stronger every day.
The third week of June, Brady was discharged. Jenna was there when it happened.
His doctor told him the good news. Brady’s legs were strong, his lungs were fully functioning and the swelling in his brain had completely subsided. “You’re healed, Brady. Someone must’ve been praying for you.”
The doctor’s mention of prayer was the only moment that day when Brady looked indifferent, irritated almost. Before they left, Kyrie scheduled outpatient therapy a few times a week. “It’ll be a year before you feel like you did prior to the accident.” She smiled at him. “Keep working, Brady. Every day.” Then to Jenna, “You stay on him. He’ll get there.”
There was nothing but joy between them as Jenna pulled up the car and loaded his things. Brady made it to her passenger door without any problem. Fifteen minutes later, she walked with him into his apartment and suddenly his eyes lit up. “The letters!” He motioned to her. “I’ll be back.”
He returned with a manila envelope and then he nodded to the living room. “Sit with me.” He took her hand and they sat side by side on his sofa. “I want you to read them.”
Jenna took the envelope and opened it. Inside were the letters he’d written to her. One every year since they met. “I wish . . .” She looked at him, deep into his eyes. “I wish we could go back and live those years again.”
“Me, too.”
She read one of the letters while he watched her. The sound of their heartbeats filled the inches between them. “Thank you. For these.” She stood. “I have to go, but I’ll read them later.”
“Okay.” He looked relieved. “I’m just glad you finally have them.”
They walked to the door and before she left he took her in his arms. This time he didn’t need any help keeping his balance. He ran his thumb along her cheekbone and seemed to get lost in her eyes. “Jenna.” His voice fell to a whisper. “Will you . . . go out with me tonight?”
She wanted to tell him yes, of course. Being out with him was something she’d dreamed about ever since that day in rehab, when they had almost kissed. She was about to respond when he moved closer.
“Before you answer . . .” He ran his hands down her arms. Jenna could smell the mint on his breath, feel the heat from his body. He framed her face with both hands. “I need to thank you. For helping me.” He searched her eyes. “You’re the reason I’m here.”
Jenna had never felt more attracted to any guy in all her life. She grinned at him. “I loved it.” This was intoxicating, standing here in his embrace. The way his strength had returned. Her voice was barely audible. “The first day on your feet was the best.”
“What a mess I was.” He chuckled under his breath and his eyes found a place in her heart that was his alone. He eased back some and his laughter faded. For a long time he only looked at her. Straight to her heart. “Even so . . . I’ll remember it forever.”
She felt her breathing pick up. “You told me we needed . . . a better time to kiss.”
“Exactly.” His voice fell to a whisper, his fingertips soft against her cheeks, a mix of strength and tenderness. “Like now.”
And in slow motion the moment she’d longed for was happening. His lips found hers and the kiss was more wonderful than anything she could’ve imagined. Despite the time they’d spent together at the hospital and rehab center, Jenna was almost certain she was dreaming.
