Chapter 38
Milow
Stanley was hunched over in a chair in the hallway, elbows resting on his knees, and his face buried in his hands. His body was trembling, and my heart squeezed at the sight. When we reached him, I gently placed a hand on his back, careful not to startle him.
“Hey, buddy,” Ashby said quietly. He was holding a bouquet of colorful flowers and a box of chocolates in his arms, the ones we’d bought at the gift shop on the ground floor.
Stan looked up and let out a heavy sigh. “Hey. Thanks for coming,” he said as he sat up straighter and wrapped an arm around my waist.
I let him pull me in, knowing he needed this now. I slipped my arms around his shoulders and leaned in to press a kiss to the top of his head.
“How is she doing?” Ashby asked next, setting the flowers and chocolates down on one of the empty chairs. “Have you seen her yet?”
Stan shook his head. “No. Scarlett’s in there right now, talking to the doctor.” His voice cracked. “I just want to know if she’s okay. My heart keeps aching in my chest, and it hurts like hell.”
I rubbed his back before sitting down beside him, waiting until he looked at me. [Scottie’s strong. Whatever it is, she’ll get through it. And we’re all here for each other. Always.]
He tried to smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know. I can’t stand not knowing what’s wrong. They could at least tell me if she’s okay.”
Ashby stood in front of us and reached out to squeeze Stan’s shoulder. “I’m sure they’ll come out any minute. Do you need anything? A drink? Something to eat?”
“No, thanks,” Stan said quietly. “I’d probably just throw it back up if I tried to eat.”
I pressed my lips together and reached for his hand, holding it gently between mine.
Stan squeezed my hand and took a deep breath as he leaned back against the chair. “It was horrible,” he whispered. “I’ve never… seen anyone faint before. It was so fucking scary.”
“I know,” Ashby said as he sat down in the chair on Stan’s other side, his body turned toward us. “I can’t imagine how that must’ve felt. But you did great. You called the ambulance right away, and you let Scarlett know.”
Stan stayed quiet for a moment, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened if she’d been alone. Scarlett was working this afternoon. Scottie would’ve been home by herself if it weren’t for the date.”
I gently caressed his fingers, trying to steady him. His grip tightened around my hand, like he was afraid to let go. I didn’t pull away, wanting to give him all the support he needed, even though I was hurting inside, too.
We sat in silence a while longer before the door across from us finally opened. All of us straightened at once. When Scarlett stepped out, Stanley was on his feet immediately, moving straight toward her.
“How is she? Can I see her?” He tried to look past Scarlett, but the doctor who had followed her out had already closed the door.
Scarlett smiled gently. Her face was so much like Scottie’s. Or maybe it was the other way around. They looked so much alike, with the same dirty-blonde hair and brown eyes.
Both of them were beautiful, inside and out.
“You can go in in just a minute, Stanley,” she said softly, rubbing his arms. “The nurse is just finishing up a routine check. She’s awake and doing okay. She’s just a little dizzy.”
I watched Stan’s shoulders sag with relief as he dropped his face into his hands. When he looked up again, his voice was quiet. “Okay. Good. That’s good.”
Scarlett gave him a tight smile, then turned her attention to us. “Milow, Ashby… hey, you two.”
I gave a small wave and stood to hug her.
“Hey, Scarlett,” Ashby said as he came up behind me. “You look great.”
“Oh, you’re a charmer,” Scarlett said with a soft laugh as she rubbed my back. When I stepped away, she hugged Ashby, too. As she pulled back, she smiled and added, “Scottie told me you watched her soccer game today.”
“We did,” Ashby said proudly. “She was amazing. Scored a hat trick in true Scottie fashion.”
Scarlett’s smile widened. “I wish I could’ve been there. I asked my boss if I could get Saturday afternoons off so I can come watch her. At least for the home games.” She let out a quiet sigh, exhaustion etched clearly across her face.
Scarlett had always been incredibly hard-working.
It had only ever been her and Scottie since her father had died from a heart attack at only thirty-six years old.
Scarlett worked as a restaurant manager at a high-end hotel in Vancouver, and even though the job was demanding and stressful, she pushed through.
She made sure they had a good life, and she never let Scottie miss out on anything.
“Come on, let’s sit,” she told us, leading us back to the chairs.
We sat down again and waited in mostly silence until the nurse finally came out.
“You can go in now,” she said with a gentle smile. “Just try to keep the volume down so she doesn’t get overwhelmed.”
“Okay, thank you,” Scarlett said, already on her feet.
We followed her, Ashby picking up the flowers and chocolates from the chair. “Do you want to give this to her?” he asked, tipping the bouquet toward me.
I smiled and nodded, taking it from him.
When we entered the room, Stanley went straight to Scottie’s bedside. She looked tired but happy, propped up against the pillows, and smiling up at him.
“Hi,” she said softly, reaching for his hand. “Why are you crying?”
My gaze flicked to Stan. I could only see the side of his face, but his cheek was flushed red, with tears sliding down.
That alone almost made me cry. I had never seen Stan like this. He was so worried about her that his usual humor had completely disappeared.
“I hate seeing you like this,” he choked out, his shoulders shaking.
Scottie laughed quietly and squeezed his hand. “I’m okay,” she promised. Then she looked past him and smiled at me. “Those are so pretty.”
I smiled back and stepped closer, placing the flowers at the foot of her bed. [How are you feeling, Scottie?]
“Good. Just a bit dizzy, and my head hurts a little.” Her smile faded slightly as she glanced at Ashby, who set the chocolates beside the flowers.
“Glad you’re okay, Scott,” he said, gently squeezing her foot over the covers.
“Thank you, Ash. But I’m truly fine,” she said, looking around the room again. “I really don’t understand why you’re all acting like I’m dying.”
“Because you randomly fainted, Scottie. I was scared shitless,” Stan cried, rubbing at his eyes. “I was so fucking scared.”
Scottie’s eyes softened, but for a split second her expression went sharp, like she might snap back at him. She didn’t. Instead, her face brightened again, and her voice turned light and amused. “I think I was just so overwhelmed by what my boyfriend did for me that I fainted.”
Stan frowned hard. “It’s not funny, Scottie.”
“It’s a little funny,” she said, still holding his hand.
Even now, Scottie was trying to lighten the mood. She hated seeing people worry about her. And it worked on everyone except Stan.
“It’s not funny. Not even a little.”
Scarlett stepped in before he could spiral again. “You did everything right, Stanley. I’m glad you were there. She’s okay. She’s stable. And she told me what you did for her. The picnic? That was very sweet.”
“He’s the best boyfriend ever,” Scottie added, using that word again, clear as day.
Everyone heard it except Stan.
He just kept frowning, and I scrunched my nose because it was honestly getting ridiculous. He had been trying to earn that title for years, and now that Scottie had handed it to him, he completely missed it.
I gently smacked his arm. [Are you even listening to her? She’s called you her boyfriend twice now, and you haven’t reacted at all.]
“Yeah, dude, you’re fucking it up again,” Ashby said, clearly enjoying this.
It took a second. Then Stan’s eyes widened. “Shit…” He rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, the other still locked with Scottie’s. “Wait. Are you serious? You actually want to be my girlfriend? You’re not just messing with me because I’m crying at your hospital bed like a baby?”
Scottie grinned and shook her head. “I’m dead serious.”
“Fuck… I mean—motherfucker—”
“Stanley,” Scarlett warned, though she was smiling. “Language.”
“Right. Sorry. Uh.” He looked back at Scottie, gently cupping the side of her head. “Yes. I mean. Okay. Yes.”
“Pull yourself together,” Ashby said, laughing.
“Shhh,” Stan snapped, shooting him a glare. “I’m trying. All of you watching is making this worse.”
Scottie laughed softly, and I watched them with a smile and watery eyes. They were painfully sweet.
Stan cleared his throat, clearly bracing himself. “I should’ve asked you out a long time ago. Like, when we were ten or something.”
“That would’ve been way too early,” Scarlett said calmly.
“Right. Okay. Fifteen.”
“Sixteen.”
Stan groaned and looked at her like he was begging for mercy. “Come on, Scar. You’re just messing with me now.”
“Maybe a little,” she said with a shrug.
Scottie looked delighted.
Stan turned back to her, serious again. “I should’ve asked you out a long time ago. I hated that I didn’t. But I was always there. I always loved you the same.”
“You’ve been in love with me since kindergarten,” Scottie said proudly.
“No way—”
“You absolutely were,” she said.
“Can confirm,” Ashby added.
Stan sighed. “Fine. Since kindergarten. All I’m trying to say is… I love you. And I want to be with you.”
Scottie’s grin softened into a smile that I had always admired so much. “I love you too, Stan.”
That was it for me. I clasped my hands to my chest, biting my cheeks, and emotions everywhere. This was always supposed to happen. Everyone knew it.
Stan leaned down to kiss her, then paused and glanced back at us. “Can you, like… give us some space?”
Ashby laughed and laced his fingers through mine. “Yeah. We’re happy for you.”
I nodded to agree with Ashby’s words before letting him pull me toward the door.
Scarlett followed, but before she left, she turned back. “Take it easy, Stan. She still needs to rest.”
“Don’t worry,” he said quickly. “Our first time won’t be in a hospital bed.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth, eyes wide.
“Oh, man,” Ashby muttered, laughing.
“That’s not what I meant,” Scarlett said flatly, raising a brow before she closed the door.
When we were out in the hall, she shook her head with an amused smile. “I always wanted a son. But that one’s exhausting.”
She was joking, and I knew she was delighted to have Stan as her unofficial son-in-law. But I agreed with her. Stanley was chaos in human form. But underneath it all, he was loyal, protective, and deeply in love.
Scottie would always be safe with him.