I need him to still be mine even though he’s been battling a bleed on the brain, probably since Greece, the severity of his injury having the ability to alter his decision-making.
“He’s a tough cookie,” she continues. “How long ago did you say he sustained the initial impact to his head?”
I hesitate, unsure what I told her earlier. “A few weeks, I guess.”
When Sebastian dropped us off outside the ER, he told me to keep my mouth shut. And I have, to an extent. As far as the hospital staff are concerned, we had a car accident. The only complication came when their scans outlined evidence of a brain injury sustained prior to tonight.
“As far as subdural hematomas go, his is relatively minor.”
“But the doctor said it could have caused personality changes, right? His decisions over the past few weeks might not have been his own.”
She shrugs. “It’s possible. Why? Had he been acting irrational or unlike himself?”
That’s the thing—I don’t know.
I’d barely spent a few moments with him before he risked his life to gain the initial head injury. Everything we shared after could’ve been a side effect.
“I’m not sure.” I wrap my arms around my middle, holding myself tight. “Maybe.”
She steps into the room, her eyes kind as they trek over me. “And how are you feeling? I’d still like to take a look at your injuries whenever you’re willing.”
“I’m fine.” I drag my jacket sleeves farther down my hands, not wanting her prying eyes to notice the blood or rope burns. “The impact with the airbag was the worst of it.”
“Those can be a bitch.” She smiles, the building silence uncomfortable for long moments before she inches back toward the hall. “Please trust me when I say there’s no need to worry about him. He’s a lucky man.”
“She doesn’t know the half of it.” The graveled murmur from the bed stops my heart.
I keep staring at the nurse, as those words repeat in my ears. I don’t drag my attention from her until she glances at the bed, her smile widening.
“I think your man is awake.” She grins at me then turns her attention to Luca. “I’m going to quickly page the doctor. You’ve got two minutes of privacy before I come back to check your vitals.”
I nod, my vision blurring.
I’m not going to cry.
I am not going to cry.
The nurse walks away, leaving me to rein in the rampant beat of my heart and the building shake in my fingers.
“You’re not talking to me anymore, shorty?” he whispers.
That voice. Oh, God, that voice.
I drag my gaze from the door and meet the gorgeous eyes of the man laid out before me. With one glance he warms me. Makes me whole.
But he’s still pale. Entirely fragile beneath the muscle-man persona.
“They didn’t know when you’d wake up…” I grab his hand. “I wasn’t sure if you would.”
“Pessimism?” He grins. “From you? No way.”
I squeeze his fingers, both loving and hating his sarcasm. “It wasn’t pessimism. It was fear. I could barely breathe through the thought of losing you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
My heart pounds. Squeezes. Wrenches so tight. “Do you promise?”
“You know I’m a sucker for giving you anything you want.”
Yes, I know.
But his face sobers and for a moment there’s only silence and contemplation before he says, “I can’t remember everything. You need to bring me up to speed. What happened? What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” My lips lift in an apologetic smile. “I wish I had answers, but I haven’t heard from anyone. When you collapsed, Sebastian wouldn’t let me call an ambulance. Instead, we dragged you into his truck and drove you here. I haven’t seen or heard from anyone since. Not my brother. Or Cole. There’s been no police to question what happened either.”
He sits, wincing as he repositions himself against the pillows. “What did you tell hospital staff?”
“Not much.” I reach for my chair, dragging it closer to the bed, not once releasing his hand. “I told them we had a car accident.”
“Good.” He nods. Cringes. Groans. “My head is fucking killing me.”
“You’ve got a bleed on the brain. They think you’ve had it since Greece.”
He raises a brow. “That would explain the headaches.”
“It could explain a lot of things.”
“Meaning?” He frowns. “What’s wrong? You look upset.”
I am upset. So damn upset at the thought of our future uncertainty. “The doctor asked if you’ve been acting differently because it’s common an injury like yours could cause a change in behavior.”