Not You It's Me (Boston Love #1) - Julie Johnson Page 0,141
In fact, listening to him talk about the siblings I’ll hopefully get to know one day…
It’s actually kind of nice.
***
By the time everyone goes home, it’s well into the evening and I’m so exhausted, my eyes are drooping shut. Chrissy’s been officially discharged — she and Mark were eager to get the newest addition to their family home as soon as possible — and Shelby has gone to make dinner for Paul, who’s expected back from a business trip any hour now.
They both assured me they’d visit first thing in the morning.
My parents left a few hours before my friends — Mom, with a crushing hug that made my sore ribs ache, and Milo, with a stiff nod and an awkward hand-squeeze — with promises to check in on me soon.
Considering the fact that yesterday I wasn’t speaking to either of them, I’m going to say there’s at least one silver lining to almost dying.
My phone has been ringing off the hook all day as everyone from Estelle (who cursed rapidly in French for several long minutes) to Katy (the Crumble bakery owner) to Phoebe (who I didn’t even know had my number) calls to check in on me. I want to talk to them but Chase won’t let me, insisting I need my rest – which he may or may not be right about. Sitting by my bedside, he takes message after message and never complains, his free hand wrapped tight around mine.
At the end of visiting hours, I find myself looking forward to some much-needed rest… Until another knock sounds at the door.
“Who is it now?” Chase mutters, his voice low.
My bleary eyes lift to the entryway and, to my great surprise, land on a frail old woman in a floor-length blue pea coat, toting a massive black bag over one shoulder.
“Gemma, dear!”
“Mrs. Hendrickson?” My voice is laced with surprise as I sit up straighter in bed. “Is that you?”
“No, it’s Sophia Loren – of course it’s me, dear.” She clucks as she walks further inside the room. She stops when she catches sight of Chase, who’s still hovering at my bedside. “And you must be the billionaire everyone’s been going on about. I’m Gemma’s neighbor, downstairs in 1C. I’m sure she’s told you about me.”
“I’m Chase.” A slow grin stretches across his lips as he extends a hand in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
She stares at his hand for a moment without shaking it, her eyes narrowing. “You know, those reporters trampled all over the flower beds outside our building because of you.”
Chase makes an effort to bury his grin, but it’s not very successful. His voice is thick with mirth and his lips are twitching when he responds. “I’ll be sure to have them replaced, ma’am.”
“Well, then.” She nods in satisfaction, slides her hand into his, and shakes firmly before her eyes swivel to meet mine. “You picked a good one, Gemma dear.”
I look at Chase. “I know.”
“But I must say, you look positively a fright.” Mrs. Hendrickson shakes her head in disapproval as her eyes move over my battered features. “We heard what happened from the landlord – everyone in the building is simply buzzing about it – and we just had to pop by and make sure you were okay!”
“We?” I ask, somewhat alarmed by her use of the plural. “What do you mean, we?”
“Me and Bigelow – who else?” Her soft blue eyes crinkle up in a smile as she lowers her large purse onto the end of my bed. I nearly jump out of my skin when a furry orange head pops out the top of the bag, triangular ears pointed sharply toward the ceiling and slanted feline eyes narrowed on me.
“I don’t think cats are allowed in the ICU,” I murmur, my eyes wide as they move from Bigelow to Chase – who’s looking extremely amused, by the way.
Mrs. Hendrickson clucks. “Well, of course not, dear. Why do you think he stowed away inside my purse?”
“I…well…”
I trail off, at a loss for words.
A muffled chuckle erupts from Chase’s direction. A second later, I feel one of his hands lace through mine and squeeze tightly. His other reaches out to stroke Bigelow’s fur, eliciting a loud purr as soon as his fingers make contact.
“I just knew he’d be a cat person,” Mrs. Hendrickson murmurs happily, staring up at Chase in adoration.
I feel a smile twitching at my lips as I reach out to scratch the cat behind one ear.