61. Win
61
Win
B eeping.
It’s so annoying . The ache in my eyes syncs to the steady beat of the obnoxious machine, pulsing harmonies throughout my skull. It’s an orchestra of agony.
Damn, I’m hungover as fuck. What did Mason give me?
Wait.
I’m in Fort Manor.
I've been here for months.
Sober.
Was it all a hallucination?
No. It was too real.
As my brain buffers to get back online, new pains and aches make themselves known across my body. Groaning, I peel my hundred-pound, crusty eyelids open.
Jesus that’s bright.
“There’s my baby.”
Blinking rapidly, the blurry figure sitting beside my bed comes into focus. Morning light filtering through the window frames him in a golden glow, a crown of tousled golden brown waves falling over the most vibrant shade of hazel eyes I’ve ever seen. But the sunshine is nothing compared to the beam of his smile.
“Am I in heaven?”
That beautiful smile instantly morphs into a scowl as he slaps my blanket-clad thigh. “No, asshole, and you’re not going there any time soon. Got it?”
I love Remy Sullivan so fucking much it’s stupid.
My raspy chuckle hurts. “Ay-ay, captain.”
He squints. The corner of his lips twitches. “You feeling ok?”
Glancing at the IV in my arm, then back to him, I shrug. “If feeling like a Mack truck ran me over is ok, then yeah.”
Those stunning eyes roll. “Glad to know you’re still a smartass.”
“Unfortunately, it’ll take more than a bitch drugging me with a lethal dose of fentanyl to erase my incredible sense of humor.”
His eyes glaze. He bites the inside of his cheek. I sigh, stretching my pinky toward his, linking them. Tears well on his lower lashes.
“You saved me again.”
He sniffles. Nods. Shakes his head. “You saved yourself. You called me and I was able to three-way with Detective Montague. He recorded everything. They got her.”
Weights I’ve worn for over half a decade lift. A wave of peace settles over me.
“Good.”
He threads his fingers through mine. We don’t talk; we don’t have to. He’s speaking to me through the soft look on his face. The gentle, reassuring touch of his thumb smoothing over the back of my hand.
I’m safe. I’m loved. I’m his.
“Baby?”
“Yeah? ”
“Kiss me?”
Huffing a laugh under his breath, he leans over, his stubble scraping my chapped lips as his mouth molds to mine. It’s gentle at first, until I open for him, luring out his tongue. His palm cups my jaw, tilting my head back as he hovers over me.
“You don't have to be careful with me, you know. I’m not gonna break,” I whisper.
He grins. “I know.”
Warmth blooms in my chest. He means it. Weaving my fingers through his hair, I gaze into his eyes. Count the blonde tipped lashes framing them. A pink blush rises in his cheeks at my blatant perusal.
“What’re you looking at?”
“My knight in shining armor.”
His blush deepens.“I don’t think knights break explicit orders from law enforcement.”
My brows scrunch. “Orders?”
“Yeah, they told me not to go in, but there's no way I was just gonna sit in my car and wait.”
Now I’m really confused.
“How did you beat the police?”
"I might've…" He glances around nervously. “Followed you to make sure nothing bad happened— not because I didn’t trust you— I just had this bad feeling and I’m glad I did! She totally deserved that concussion.”
A disbelieving laugh gusts from me. “Wait, you stalked me and knocked Jessica out?”
He’s red as a tomato. “You're welcome.”
I snort. "Uh-huh."
“Shut up, creeper.”
“Oh no, I think you stole that title. ”
My chest shakes with giggles as he fights a smile. “If you weren’t in a fucking hospital bed right now, I’d totally spank you.”
I feign a gasp. “You wouldn’t.”
“Would you rather a headbutt like the bitch?”
I throw my head back on a howl. His reluctant chuckle turns into a wheezing laugh.
“Please tell me there’s video evidence.”
“Nope.”
I’m in full hysterics imagining it. He attempts to silence me with a kiss, but it’s infectious. Soon, we’re laughing into each other’s mouths, eyes dewy with hilarity… and relief.
Three knocks.
Remy springs up, eyes wide and hair sticking up at all angles from my fingers.
A smirking woman in scrubs checks her clipboard. “May I come in to speak with Win?”
Glancing at Remy, I bite my lip.
“Can my boyfriend stay?”
She smiles. “Of course, sweetheart. And we'll bring your parents in shortly too.”
As she walks me through what happened, Remy holds my hand at the side of my bed, never letting go.