Conception (The Wellingtons #4) - Tessa Teevan Page 0,104
of course. Still, try to keep it quiet as she needs all the rest she can get. I can bring you an extra pillow and blanket if you’d like.”
Eager to get inside the room, I shake my head. “I’m good, thanks.”
She nods, and I’m sure she’s not surprised. I’m practically bouncing on my toes.
“If you need anything,” she says, “just come to the desk. Have a good night. And congratulations.”
My brow furrows at her words. What the hell? I shrug it off and slowly open the door so I can slip inside the room. Then I close it shut. My ass hits the wood as I breathe a sigh of relief that I’m finally here. Finally with her.
But this isn’t the reunion I expected.
She’s lying there, not moving, nothing but the sound of the television’s muffled volume. The lights are low, and even though I don’t want to disturb her, I have to touch her. I have to feel her. I have to know she’s okay. Because all of this? It’s still a mystery to me and I have no idea what I’m facing.
What we’re facing.
I tiptoe across the room, cursing when I take hold of the chair and it scrapes noisily against the linoleum floor. Just as I’m settling into the chair next to her bedside, Amelia murmurs something in her sleep. She looks so tiny, nearly swallowed up in the hospital bed, with crisp, white blankets tucked all around her. I reach underneath the material, and once I find her hand, I hold it in both of mine, lowering my head to the bed, willing her to be okay. Hell, I don’t even know what’s wrong.
“Knox?” The surprise in her sleepy voice is nearly drowned out by a yawn. Her usually vibrant eyes are dull, exhaustion evident in them. I think she’s happy to see me until she opens her mouth again. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Okay, so I wasn’t expecting her to welcome me with arms wide open, but I didn’t think she’d be upset to see me.
“Amelia—”
She takes her hand from mine and pushes herself up, resting back against fluffed-up pillows. “You shouldn’t be here,” she says, darting her gaze to the door, then back to me.
“If I shouldn’t be here, then why would you put my name on the list? Why tell the hospital I could visit you anytime, day or night?” I retort, not even trying to mask my annoyance.
“Because. It was wishful thinking. I didn’t actually expect you to show up.”
Ouch.
“Yeah,” I say, “considering you never told me you were in the hospital in the first place, I can see why you wouldn’t expect me here. Good thing I came to town when I did.”
She sighs, running dainty fingers through messy hair. “Knox…” She trails off, her voice trembling.
When I try to take her hand, she moves it away. But I’m undeterred. I cup her chin and coax her gaze towards me.
“What is it?” I ask her. “What’s wrong? Why are you here? How long have you been here? Just tell me what you need, Amelia. I’ll do anything.” The words are rushed. Desperate. I need to know what the hell is going on.
“I’m fine. We don’t need anything from you.” She clamps her mouth shut, her eyes darting away from mine.
If I wasn’t so damn concerned about her condition, I’d take her over my knee until she gives me the truth. Eight excruciating months with an Amelia-shaped hole in my heart and this is all I get from her. A vague answer and not a hint of interest that I’m here. I don’t buy it. If I have to beg the truth out of her, I’ll go down on my knees.
“Bullshit, Amelia. I’ve missed you every goddamn second since I left this place. I dreamt of you night after fucking night only to wake up pissed at the world that you weren’t next to me. You can’t sit there and tell me you didn’t feel the same. That you don’t still feel the same.”
Sorrow fills her eyes. “I won’t lie and say I didn’t miss you. Of course I did. But things have changed, Knox. And I’m telling you right now: We don’t need anything from you.”
I missed it before, but when she repeats her words, I’m hung up on one.
We?
Before I can ask her what she means, there’s a knock on the door. I ignore it, not giving a damn who’s there.