Chapter Twenty-Nine Ruby #2
I stood quickly, striding around the bed to get the Styrofoam cup with a lid and straw, easing the straw to his mouth.
He let out a small grunt when he was done, resting his head back on the pillow.
I kept the water with me and returned to my seat.
Instantly, his hand sought out mine again, sighing when our fingers twined together.
“Do you need me to get a nurse?” I asked.
“No. Stay.” He tightened his hand in mine, finally prying his eyes open enough that I could see they were glossed over with unshed tears. “I just need you.”
I lost it, dropping my head to the bed, unleashing a torrent of shoulder-racking sobs. Griffin made small shushing noises, his hand pulling from mine so he could cup the back of my head while I cried.
“I’m okay, baby,” he whispered. “Look at me.”
Sluggishly, I lifted my head, and when he smiled his crooked smile, I felt my heart tear clean from my chest in the most perfect, miraculous way.
It was his.
Every inch of my body, every ounce of blood running through my veins, whatever I was made of, was his.
“I’m okay,” he repeated, cupping my face tenderly.
“My arm hurts like a bitch, and I broke a rib, and I might forget who the president is for a couple days, but I’m going to be fine.
” Then he deepened his smile, the dimple popping in his cheek.
“Now, will you get into this bed with me so I can hug my girl?”
I let out a choked sob, climbing carefully against his good side. He winced when I shifted too close but wouldn’t hear of anything other than a full-body hug. I placed my arm gingerly across his midsection and sighed when he curled his good arm around my back.
Griffin kissed the top of my head and exhaled heavily. “That’s fucking better.”
I smiled into his chest, then raised my head, setting my chin down so I could look up into his face. “I got your voicemail.”
His eyes searched mine. “Yeah? I didn’t really stop to think about what I was saying. I just . . . I wanted to see you. I’ve missed you.”
Absently, I skimmed my thumb along his bottom lip. “I missed you too.”
“Can I ask you something?”
I nodded.
Griffin pulled in a slow breath. “If it were me in this hospital bed for a long time, for something serious,” he said, refusing to drop my gaze, “would it make a difference in how you felt? If that car accident took my legs or my arm, or I was in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Would you choose to walk away because it made things easier?”
My throat was impossibly tight as I shook my head. “No,” I said, voice trembling.
He slid his hand up my back, cupping my neck in a firm grip.
“I don’t care if I have one year or five years or ten, Ruby.
I want all of your days. Every single one, because they’re so fucking precious.
I will love you through every sunrise and every sunset because we’ve already missed too many.
Do you understand me? I’m not going anywhere. ”
I could hardly see him through the tears, but I surged up to kiss him, and he groaned into my mouth, his tongue teasing mine just before I pulled back to rest my forehead against his.
“I love you,” I said against his mouth. “I love you, and I’m in love with you, and nothing can change that, Griffin King. No more missing anything,” I promised.
He exhaled shakily, stealing another deep kiss while his arm curved around my waist, hitching me tighter against his body. I sighed into this perfect, sweet kiss, until the beep of the heart monitor had me pulling away.
I laughed. “I think someone’s getting too excited.”
He stared into my face, the adoration in his eyes making my world expand at every seam. “Your fault.”
A nurse popped her head into the room, frowning when she saw us on the bed. “Oh, come on now, have some sympathy for those of us who have to walk in here.”
“Sorry,” he said with an unrepentant grin.
“Mm-hmm.” She winked at me while she checked his vitals and the IV bag on the hook. My face flamed hot, and I pressed my cheek into his chest while she maneuvered around me. “Need anything for the pain, Griffin? Doctor should be in shortly to talk to you about surgery on your arm.”
He frowned. “Will I be able to play at the beginning of the season?”
She gave him an incredulous look. “You fractured your humerus and you think you’ll be playing next month?”
“Maybe? Can’t I just . . . play in a cast?”
I rolled my eyes.
She shook her head. “Bless you, honey. I admire your optimism. He always like this?” she asked me.
“Yes.”
“What about sex?” he asked. “Can I resume normal activities soon?”
I slammed my eyes shut while the nurse laughed. “We get you cleared of that concussion, and yes. No funny business with the arm, but as long as your rib can handle it, you two can do . . . whatever you want.” She patted my arm. “Good luck with him, by the way. I think you’ll have your hands full.”
Griffin patted my backside. “Oh, she loves it. That’s why she’s my consensual monogamous-sex-and-cuddle partner.”
The nurse’s eyebrows popped up, and she lifted both hands in the air. “On that note, I’ll come back when the doctor’s done.”
When I pinched him in the side with a hissed warning, he laughed.
“I can’t believe you said that.” I eased up onto my hip, shaking my head as I looked down at him. My fingers whispered over the butterfly bandages, and he sighed, catching my hand and pressing my fingertips to his mouth.
“I’ve had a head injury. Go easy on me.”
I hummed, leaning down to kiss him again. Griffin tried to tilt his head and deepen the kiss, but the oxygen tube got in the way. He ripped it off his head and nudged me closer, teasing my tongue with his.
“You’re going to be the worst patient in the world, aren’t you?” I whispered against his lips.
“Oooh, can you wear one of those nurse outfits and spank me if I’m bad?”
I tipped my head back and laughed. “We’ll see,” I said. “We’ve got time to figure it out.”
Griffin’s eyes warmed. “Yeah, we fucking do.”