Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Claire
I lie back on the gurney, trying to relax as a doctor injects something into my forehead. Pain sears through me and I groan, clenching my fists.
“I’ve got you,” Bryce says. “I’m here.”
He’s here. The pain in my head decreases as quickly as it came. I relax, squeezing his hand, my heart full with the knowledge that he came back for me.
“That’s the worst part over with.” The doctor treating me pats my arm. She pokes at my forehead with something. “Can you feel that?”
“No.” I remember not to shake my head. “I can’t feel anything.”
“Perfect conditions to stitch you up, then.” The doctor smiles and gets to work.
“Will it… Will I have a scar?”
“I’ll do my best to keep you beautiful. There might be a faint line once it heals, but that’s all.”
I don’t care. I’m just so happy to be alive, and to have Bryce with me. He squeezes my hand, and I just want to lean into him.
The doctor finishes suturing the cut on my head. “You can go home soon. But you’ll need to have someone with you overnight, just to check on you.”
“I’ll be with her.” Bryce’s thumb rubs the back of my hand.
“It’s going to sting when the anaesthetic wears off, and you’ll most likely have a headache as well. Ibuprofen for the pain, and plenty of rest. You were lucky.”
She pats me on the shoulder then leaves. And it’s just me and Bryce in the curtained cubicle.
“I’m sorry.”
We both say it at the same time, then laugh.
I feel a bit dizzy, but I don’t know whether it’s from the accident or the effects of Bryce being so close to me.
He gets up from the chair and sits on the edge of the gurney, gazing down at me, his green eyes soft.
He brushes the hair back from my forehead, a line forming between his brows.
“How bad is it?” Maybe I do care a little bit about not having a Frankenstein scar.
“She’s done a pretty good job. Should heal cleanly.” His fingers glide down my face, his hand cupping my chin.
I swallow.
He leans in, pressing his lips against mine. I kiss him back, my hands in his hair. Tears roll down my cheeks.
He lifts his head but stays close, staring into my eyes. “I thought I’d lost you.” His voice is a low rumble.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I’m breathless.
“Good.” Another soft brush of his lips against mine, then he kisses the tears from my cheeks. “Neither am I. You okay with that?”
“I’m okay with that.”
He doesn’t mention what he said to me when he found me in the car with Simon. I love you, Claire, so much. Maybe it was just something said in the heat of the moment. I’m not going to press him on it. It doesn’t matter. I love him too, and he’s here with me.
That’s all I need.
Bryce
This has been one of the longest days of my life. I’m wrecked.
But I have Claire. And she’s safe.
I can’t bear to think of what might have happened if I’d decided not to come to her today. Or if I’d been even ten minutes later than I was. Or not glanced out the window of the pub when I did.
At least it looks as though Simon is going to be out of her life for good.
There’s enough evidence for the police to throw the book at him, despite the expensive lawyers his wealthy family will no doubt hire.
I know some pretty good lawyers myself. And I’m going to make sure he pays for what he did.
I just want to take Claire home and fall into her comfortable bed with her. Wake to the sound of the ocean, eat breakfast with her on her balcony, bury myself in her soft curves. I don’t know if she wants that, of course. But I’m pretty sure she might.
I also don’t know if she heard what I said to her when I found her in the car with Simon. She hasn’t mentioned it. But she’s been through a lot; I’m not going to press her.
A nurse is taking her blood pressure and checking her over. Claire is pale, the gash on her forehead livid, but she smiles as I blow her a kiss.
“Just need to call Mum,” I say, stepping outside for a moment. In the hallway I lean against the door. I’m not leaving her alone, not for a moment.
Not until I know everything is all right.
Mum’s phone rings a couple of times, then she picks up. “Bryce? Are you all right? How’s the party?”
“I’m not at the party.”
“You’re not?”
I explain what happened. Mum is silent for a moment.
“You love this girl, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Mum gasps, sounding as though she’s about to cry. “Oh, Bryce. I just never thought it would happen for you,” she cries. “Bring her to see me as soon as you can, will you? I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Yeah. I’ll bring her down as soon as she’s recovered. How’s Mil?”
“She’s going back to rehab. Marco has been detained for dealing. He was selling from her apartment, if you can believe it?”
I can believe it.
“What are you going to do?”
“I think maybe it’s time to sell the flat,” she says. “Millie can stay at home until she’s back on track, and then I don’t know. Maybe you can both have a share of the money to get your own places.”
“I don’t need the money, Mum. Give it to Millie.”
“Are you sure? It’s there, if you need it.”
“I already have everything I need.” As I say the words a feeling of rightness spreads through me, a warmth that starts at my heart. I do have everything I need, finally.
“I have to go, Mum. Claire needs me.”
“All right, love. I’ll see you soon.”
“Love you, Mum.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up and head back into Claire’s room. She has a bit more colour in her cheeks, and is sitting on the side of the gurney, her legs dangling, the nurse supporting her.
“She’s fine to go home,” the nurse says. “But she might need a bit of help walking. I can get you a chair if you like?”
“No need.” I head over to Claire and pick her up, one arm under her legs, the other around her, cradling her to my chest. “I can take it from here.”
Claire’s arms come around my neck, her head resting on my shoulder.
“Let’s go home.”