Fall Into You (Morally Gray, #2)(95)
“Baloney!”
He sighs. “Not even two minutes in, and you’re already hollering at me.”
I decide I’ll be mad later. Right now, I’m too overwhelmed to do anything but cup his face in my hands and kiss him.
Against my mouth, he murmurs, “I’m fucked up, baby. I’m really fucked up.”
“Don’t care. Stop talking and kiss me.”
“It’s not gonna be easy. I’ve got a long road ahead. I won’t ever be the same as I was.”
“You’re alive, Cole. You’re alive, and I love you. Everything else is details.”
I kiss him all over his face, not caring that people are probably staring or that our lives will be complicated or that I might never get to feel him inside me again.
The only thing I care about is him.
After a moment, I stop kissing him and frown. “Cole?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Did you by any chance forget to take anything out of your pockets?”
“No. Why?”
“It’s just that something’s poking me in the butt.”
When he smiles a knowing smile, I lose my breath.
“But I thought…you said…”
“The only other time it happened is when this nurse was giving me a sponge bath in the hospital. It was pretty embarrassing, but he told me not to worry about it.” His smile grows wider. “I mean, he was pretty cute, though. Way cuter than a hairless Chihuahua.”
I’m crying again. Crying and laughing at the same time. Then he’s crying too, and kissing me, and telling me over and over that he loves me.
And that I don’t look like a hairless Chihuahua, not even a little bit.
Epilogue
Cole
Two months later
It’s the little things that get me. The intimate little things nobody else sees but me.
How she looks when she wakes up first thing in the morning. The way she combs her hair, puts on her makeup, yawns late at night when she’s sleepy, closes her eyes when she takes the first sip of coffee in the morning.
How she smiles when I touch her.
How she sighs when I kiss her.
How she cries after she comes.
Most of the time it’s with my fingers or tongue, but those little blue pills sure do come in handy. God bless big pharma.
Now if only they could manufacture a drug that would make me walk like I used to, I’d be all set.
“Honey, be careful.”
“I’m fine.”
“I know you’re fine, but the doctor said to take it slow.”
“Turtles move faster than I am.”
“But you’re not using your walker!”
Leaning heavily on my cane, I look up at her. “Love.”
“Yes?”
“Please be quiet and let me do this.”
She takes a deep breath, then nods. Then, practically vibrating with anxiety, she bites her lower lip and watches me creep slowly across the living room carpet toward my wheelchair.
My legs feel like fucking lead.
By the time I reach the chair, I’m panting and sweating like a pig. I drop the cane, grip both arms, and catch my breath.
“Okay, I’m not saying anything, but if you need help sitting down, I’m right here.”
I close my eyes and chuckle, shaking my head. “Good to know you’re not saying anything.” I manage to get myself into the wheelchair with only a few grunts and curses, then I look up at Shay and beam.
“See? Nothing to worry about. Now come sit on my lap.”
That’s one command she always obeys without a fight. Smiling and obviously relieved I didn’t break anything in my six-foot walk, she comes over to me and carefully sits on my lap. Then she drapes her arms around my shoulders and kisses me.
“Hi.”
“Hi yourself.”
“Do you need some water?”
“Aren’t you going to tell me how amazing that was?”
“Oh yes. Pardon me. That’s was very amazing. Now do you need some water?”
“No, baby. My hydration level is adequate.”
She furrows her brow. “Only adequate?”
“Stop worrying about me.”
She snorts. “Sure. Tell me to stop eating too, that’s about as likely.”
“Speaking of eating, that reminds me. My parents want us to come over to their place for Thanksgiving.”
“I promised my mom I’d spend Thanksgiving with her.”
“So invite her.”
“Really? You don’t think they’d mind?”
“No, they won’t mind. They love you. Invite your dad and his wife too. I’ll invite Axel and Kiyoko. Let’s get everyone together.”
I can tell she’s pleased by that. Pleased and surprised, because me wanting to have people around is still a new thing for both of us.
“Have you spoken to Kiyoko lately?”
“Last week.”
“How’s she doing?”
“She sounded good. She moved to a new place in Vancouver, some high-rise apartment building with a view of the water. She and Axel are trying to find someone to take my place in the business. In the meantime, she’s glad I’ve got you to look after me.”