Pioneer checks my eyes, ears, and throat before looking over the scrapes that the nurse already put a salve on, then says, “Everything looks good to me. I’ll have the nurse bring in your discharge papers.”
“Thank you,” Slade says before I can get out my thanks. Instead, I nod. The doctor takes one last look at the both of us before making his exit.
“Growl much?” I raise my eyebrows at Slade.
“He was doing more than looking with his eyes, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes at that comment alone. “How’s Leo? Can we go upstairs and see how everyone is doing?” I slide my legs over the edge of the bed, standing. I’m tired of sitting on my ass.
“Last I heard, he’s out of surgery. The first thing he asked was how you were doing. Fucker, he scared the shit out of us all. I think I may need to put him on desk duty for the time being, though—something he’ll fight us all on tooth and nail.” Slade fists his hair at the base of his neck. I stand and step right into his arms, snaking my arms around his middle. This time it’s me giving him the comfort he so clearly needs.
“Hey, we’re all okay. Everyone’s quick thinking helped everyone. We’ll go check on them all, and then I’m sure I’ll have to answer to the police still too. After that though, I really want a shower and our bed.” I look into his eyes. This time he gives me what I want, and his mouth meets mine. The chaste kiss earlier barely held me over. Slade gives in, not backing down. Instead his mouth is owning mine, much like his body, heart, and soul already owns me.
When we pull apart, we’re both breathless, and some of the spark has returned to his eyes. It makes me fall in love with him all over again.
“I love you, Slade.” I’ll probably tell him this every hour of every day until I can get over the thought of not hearing it back when I wasn’t sure what was going on.
“I love you, Taylor. Get those thoughts out of your mind. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. We have the rest of our lives to plan out—marriage, babies, growing old together. I want it all with you by my side.”
“You’re going to make me cry, then I’ll really look like a mess. I want that Slade, and I can’t wait to see what else comes our way in this life together,” I reply. The nurse coming in halts our conversation. I sign all the documents; she hands me a prescription for the salve they put on my cuts and scrapes, then leaves as fast as she came.
“Ready to go see the gang?” Slade asks.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll get to see Travis while we’re up there. I hate that he only gets to be here for a day,” I say with hopefulness.
“He’ll be back home before you know it.” He guides me out of the room toward the elevator that will lead us to Leo’s floor. When the elevator door opens, Travis steps out. He sees the hold Slade has on my waist and his eyes narrow.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” I blow out. “If you two are going to fight, go somewhere else. I’ve had enough violence for one day.” I disentangle from Slade, letting them both know I won’t stand for it.
“Taylor,” Travis grunts out.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t want to hear it. If you hurt him, I’ll never forgive you. Slade, I love you. Please remember you two were friends at one point in time. Travis, you’re my brother, but I’m a woman, not a child that you need to shield everything from anymore.” With that final statement, I punch the elevator button and the doors close, leaving them standing there with their mouths hanging wide open.
Nineteen
Slade
“Did that just fucking happen?” I ask out loud, not to Travis in particular, for my ears mainly. We start walking to the exit so as not to cause a scene inside the hospital.
“Yep, I should kick your ass. Hell, I still may. You could have at least told me what was going on before I got home and had to see that shit for myself or hear about it from that dipshit, Bridger.” Travis is pissed. If I’m being honest, he has every right to be.
“You’re right. As much as it pains me to say it, we should have.” I push