Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“They don’t need to come. It’s just a broken arm,” Kyle said in a voice that sounded as groggy as his eyes looked.
“You don’t have to decide now. See how you’re feeling when you go home.” Fred tucked in his wrinkled shirt.
“Eve stayed at your place last night because Josh asked her to stay.” Anne glanced back at me and smiled. “Kyle, we’re so glad you decided to buy the place next to the Jacobsons. It’s like living next to family and having nieces to babysit for you and another brother and sister-in-law looking out for you and Josh.”
Kyle hummed, gaze finding me. “A niece. That’s …”
Disturbing.
I cleared my throat. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Kyle silently gazed at me.
Every. Single. Inch.
I was dying to touch him. “I slept in your bed. I hope that was okay. I’ll wash your sheets before you get home. Who wants their sheets smelling like their niece?”
Kyle’s lips twitched.
My nose wrinkled. “And I have a terrible habit of needing to hug something at night, so I hugged one of your pillows. Your whole bed probably smells like my floral perfume and shampoo. Sorry.”
He burned me to the ground with a look. I was so relieved that he would be okay, but I needed to get my greedy hands on him.
“So, no cast?” Anne asked.
“No,” Fred answered for Kyle. “It was an open humerus fracture. They repaired it with a plate and screws. It will stay wrapped and bandaged in the sling while it heals. No cast.”
“You look tired.” Anne said.
“It’s the pain meds,” again, Fred answered for Kyle.
“Have you had breakfast?” Anne narrowed her eyes at Fred.
He shook his head.
“I could use another cup of coffee if you want to go to the cafeteria,” she suggested.
“Okay.”
“Do you want to come with us?” Anne turned, eyeing me.
“I’m uh, good. Thanks.”
“Okay. We won’t be too long. I’m sure you don’t want to spend your day at the hospital.” She smiled while stepping past me to the door.
And then it was just the two of us. We didn’t say a word for a long moment. Maybe he was waiting to make sure they were out the door. I was waiting to find my voice past the lump in my throat.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said. “You can come closer. I won’t break any more than I already have.”
It wasn’t funny, but I smiled as I hesitantly stepped closer to the bed while quickly rubbing my teary eyes. “I was so scared,” I whispered, taking his good hand in mine. “You could have ended up in a wheelchair.”
“But I didn’t.” He pulled my hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to my wrist.
I rested my palm on his stubbly cheek. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me too,” he whispered against my wrist. “And don’t you dare wash my sheets.”
Again, I laughed despite the tears in my eyes.
“How did you fall out of the tree?”
“Your dad—” He paused. “You don’t know?”
I shook my head, running my fingers through his messy hair.
His eyes drifted shut. “It doesn’t matter,” he whispered.
“My dad, what?”
His head rolled side to side. “Nothing,” he mumbled.
“I want to tell everyone, and I want it to be okay.”
“Tell what?” His words slurred, and his hand relaxed.
“Kyle?”
He was asleep.
I slowly peppered kisses over his face and whispered, “I want to tell our families that I love you, and I want it to be okay with them. I want them to be happy for us.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
UB40, “RED RED WINE”
Eve
Tuesday after work, I raced home, nearly running two stop signs. Gabby was still in school, my dad’s car was gone, and my mom was nowhere in sight. So I ran to Kyle’s house, knowing Josh would get off the school bus in less than an hour, and my lover was supposed to be home.
I entered the house after two quick taps on the screen doorframe. “Hello?”
“In here,” Mom called from the living room as Clifford barked and barreled toward me.
I leaned down to pet him while poking my head around the corner. She was on the far end of the sofa with Anne in the middle and Fred on the opposite end. Kyle gazed at me from his recliner, feet up, covered in a blanket.
“Hey, um …” I tried not to stare at him too long. My emotions were hard to hide. “I was just seeing if you needed me to wait at the end of the drive for Josh in a bit?”
“That’s sweet of you,” Anne said. “We were just discussing who will help out while Kyle’s recovering. He’s being stubborn about it.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “I don’t need anyone’s help. My right arm is fine. I’m very capable of doing things.”
“As I was saying,” Anne frowned, “we want to stay or have his parents come be with him, but he’s being grumpy about it.”