us in those woods because I knew you wouldn’t leave me.”
“I told you—”
“I know what you told me and you were right. We’re a team. You had my back and when I couldn’t you got us out of that cabin and kept us safe. Thank you.”
I’d process him admitting he was scared later. Right then I was too happy he was awake.
“I missed you.”
“I was dreaming about you.” He smiled then frowned. “You were arguing with Cooper about eating.”
Oh, no.
“You heard that?”
“Yeah, honey, I did. I was in and out and caught bits and pieces of conversations. Did you eat?”
I clamped my lips closed so I didn’t have to lie.
“Coop,” Gabe grunted. “Please get my woman something to eat. And since I doubt I can get out of this bed you have my permission to cuff her and force-feed her.”
“Permission?” I snapped. “Force-feed?”
And there we were in a stare-down, arguing about food not even three minutes after he woke up.
Thank God.
Thank, thank, thank God.
Gabe was back.
“Fine, I’ll eat,” I said with mock irritation.
Secretly I was elated he was complaining about me skipping meals.
“I’ll eat,” I repeated. “When the doctor comes in to check you out.”
“Deal,” he agreed.
“Deal.”
A throat cleared from somewhere behind me and Gabe wiped away some more tears before he said, “Take your mom and Anaya and go get something to eat. I need a few minutes with your dad and Zane.”
“I think the doctor should check you first.”
“After I talk to your dad.”
“Gabe! You’ve been out two days. Two. You have a severe concussion. Your doctor needs to check you out.”
“Then on your way out tell the doctor I’m awake.”
We went into another stare down. This one because I knew Gabe would turn the doctor away, and with Zane in the room to act as a guard dog, the doctor would tuck tail and run away.
I also knew I wasn’t going to win this argument and I was proven right when Gabe’s hand slid down and around and he cupped the back of my neck, then sweetly murmured, “It’s important I talk to your dad. He’s rightfully worried.”
It was safe to say I was having serious reservations about leaving Gabe. Panic started to rise. What if he went back to sleep and didn’t wake up for another two days? What if my dad upset him and it triggered a relapse? What if the swelling wasn’t gone and too much commotion in the room made him sick? There were so many what-ifs.
“Hey. Hey, baby, breathe.” Gabe shook me. “I’m okay. You’re okay. We’re both good. You did it, you got us here. You can relax now, it’s over. You’re safe.”
I nodded even though I didn’t believe him. I didn’t think I was okay. I felt like I could come out of my skin at any moment.
“Okay,” I agreed, albeit reluctantly.
“Okay,” he whispered then finished with, “I love you, Evette. We’ll get through this.”
That I did believe because Gabe would see to that part.
I leaned forward and touched my lips to Gabe’s like I’d done a lot over the last two days. But when he kissed me back fresh tears fell.
He was awake.
Thank God.
I didn’t look at anyone when I straightened from the bed. I kept my eyes diverted as I walked to the door. I kept distance between me and my mom when I walked to the nurses’ station to tell them Gabe was awake. And it wasn’t until we were at the elevators when my mother had enough of me pulling away did she take charge the way only a mother could and she pulled me into a hug. The feel of her arms around me felt like home.
“Give it to me, my sweet girl. Let your mama have it.” Her words were muttered against the top of my head and my body bucked in her arms. “That’s it, beautiful girl. Everything’s gonna be okay,” she cooed.
I wanted everything to be okay. But guilt and fear swirled and mixed together until I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t remember what exactly I was scared of.
Everything.
I was scared of everything.
And I didn’t think I’d ever be okay again.
Chapter 30
I was unsure if I wanted to laugh at my current situation or roar with frustration.
My head was pounding with a blinding headache. I was in a hospital bed wearing a goddamn gown. I had an IV stuck in my arm and a blood pressure cuff that was irritating the shit out of me on the other.