Page 113 of No Way Home
In a private room down the hall, Abilene looped an arm around my waist and yawned. “You can put your shirt back on, you know,” she said to Bowen, whose legs were stretched out on the bed as he cuddled Willow skin to skin—the same way he had since he found her in the operating room. He only gave her up for a few minutes at a time when another family member demanded it. I suspected that holding Willow was the only thing keeping Bowen together.
“I know.” He sniffed and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “But I’m helping her body temp, her heartbeat, and her breathing regulate.” His eyes were red; his nose even redder. “Plus, I look and sound the most like James—so when he’s out of surgery, she’ll already feel bonded to him.” He glanced up at me. “Right?”
“Right.” My heart had already anchored itself to this man, who’d been mine for less than a day.
“Well, if that isn’t the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is,” Abilene whispered so only I could hear. “And if you’d told me he looked like that with his shirt off, I would’ve implored you to lock him down a long time ago.”
“No, you wouldn’t have,” I said.
“Okay, you’re right. A great set of abs does not negate years of douchebag behavior. But dang, those are definitely trying.”
I pressed my lips together. “Not the time.”
“Tell that to your eyes. They’re binge-watching his six-pack like it’s Netflix.” She was trying to make me laugh—to make things lighter—and I loved her for it.
I pulled in a breath and gave her what she wanted. “Try again, queen. That’s an eight-pack, periodt—and stop eyeing my man like he’s McSteamy stepping out of the shower.”
Her brow lifted. “Yourman? Did somebody hit the fast-forward button while I was asleep?”
Out of respect to Sage and James, the tell-all she wanted would have to wait till another day. So I gave her a simple nod and proudly whispered, “My man.”
She grinned, and I knew it was killing her not to squeal or ask for more ‘deets’.
“I can hear every word y’all are saying,” Bowen teased. But it couldn’t overpower the worry and the ache he was carrying. Pushing through the fear, his gaze smoldered. “Careful—keep talking like that and I’ll never bother with shirts again.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile. “I’d be okay with that.”
He winked. “Guess I’ll have to give you the extended version later. No audience.”
My face burst into flame. “Staaahp.”
Abilene hooted. “What does that mean?”
Bowen's stomach answered for him, growling so loudly itmade Willow flailed in his arms. She inhaled and held it, gearing up, before screaming at the top of her lungs.
The three of us laughed.
“I’m sorry,” Bowen soothed as he rocked her. “It’s okay. Bellies growl. It’s just what they do.” He tickled her stomach. “If Granny hears your belly growl, she will fill it up with cookies. You know, once you have teeth.” Willow stopped crying and looked up at him. “And Gramps will buy you a candy bar every single day, hungry or not. ButI’mgoing to be your favorite person. We made a deal, remember? I will get you all the treats.”
“I think my ovaries just had a seizure,” Abilene said.
I smacked her on the butt and she laughed.
Ithadbeen a long time since we’d eaten anything of substance. We hadn’t gotten to enjoy our tub of popcorn before the rain turned it soggy. And we’d split the box of Goobers a couple of hours ago. It occurred to me that there was probably a waiting room full of Duprees with growling stomachs.
I walked over, bent down, and pecked Bowen on the lips. He hooked his free arm around my back, keeping me in place, turning it into more than a peck.
I tipped my forehead to his, hoping I was making things better for him like he said I always did. Then I stood and ran my thumb over his jaw. “I’m going to get you some food and see if anyone else is hungry.”
His face fell at the thought of me leaving. “We can just grab something from the cafeteria.”
“You don’t want to do that,” Abilene said. “UVA Medical Center is known for many things, but a good cafeteria is not one of them. There’s a reason I head out to Bodo’s, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, pretty much anywhere else when I get a break.”
“We can’t have you scaring poor Willow anymore,” I said. “You stay here in case…James…”
“Yeah. Okay. Hurry back,” he said.
“I will.”
