Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Dylan
Eden looks so small and fragile in the hospital bed.
Her bottom lip is twice the size it normally is. The area around her right eye is swollen and shaded purple and yellow.
Her left arm is in a sling.
She’s beautiful.
She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved.
“Try not to wake her.” Dr. Yelena raises a finger to her lips. “You’re both welcome to stay, but I’d advise you to get some rest. She’ll be here for the night. We will revaluate in the morning.”
She steps out of the room, leaving Noelle and me with a nurse.
The gray-haired woman pushes a black tote bag at Noelle. “This was brought in with her.”
Noelle reaches for it. “I’ll take care of it.”
“This is the content of her pockets.” The nurse passes a small, clear plastic bag to Noelle. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
“I think I’ll go to her place and get some rest.” Noelle fishes her hand in the tote bag. “Her condo keys must be in here.”
I can’t take my eyes off of Eden.
I have no intention of going anywhere.
Griffin is covering for me until I’m back in New York.
Gunner is his back up. I spoke to him ten minutes ago with an update.
Noelle did the same with her dad. I heard her tell him that she’ll be back in Manhattan tomorrow.
“I can’t believe she still has this,” Noelle whispers. “It’s beautiful.”
Whatever it is, it can’t compare to Eden.
The soft jingle of keys fills the air, but Eden doesn’t stir. The monitors hooked up to her beat on in a comforting rhythm.
“Will you text me if there’s any change?” Noelle takes a step closer to me. “Her condo isn’t far. I can be back here in a flash.”
I glance over at her. “I’ll text you if there’s a change.”
“Her dad died in a room two floors up.” Her gaze drops. “She held onto this. She told me it gave her strength to get through it.”
I look down at the piece of blue sea glass in her palm.
“Give it to her if she wakes up.” She pushes it into my hand. “It must still give her strength now. It was in the pocket of her pants tonight.”
I curl my fist around it. “I’ll see to it that she gets it.”
“She hasn’t had it easy.” She tilts her head. “She deserves to be happy.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.”
She glances over at Eden. “I can tell that you will.”
I roll the piece of sea glass in my hand.
It’s been hours since Noelle left.
Eden hasn’t moved. Her breathing is still calm. Her lip is more swollen than it was earlier.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I wanted to tell you the night we graduated.”
I take her right hand, cupping it in mine.
“I’m sorry that I let you down.” I choke back a sob. “I’m so sorry that I hurt you.”
I rest my lips against her open palm. A smudge of dried blood is there.
I reach for a tissue to rub it off, trying to ward off the mental image of the accident.
The nurse who is watching over Eden had only sparse details to share. She got those from the paramedics who were on scene.
The roads were wet and slick. Eden’s car careened down an embankment and came to rest against a tree.
The airbag deployed.
That likely saved her life.
“I should have been there to protect you from all of it.” I press her hand to my cheek. “From everything you’ve been through.”
One of her fingers brushes against the side of my nose.
My eyes pop open. “Eden? Wake up.”
Her fingers stir again, branching out across my cheek.
“It’s me,” I whisper against her cheek. “Open your beautiful eyes.”
She does.
Slow flutters of her eyelashes reveal those gorgeous blue irises.
“Eden,” I choke back a sob. “I’m here.”
She swallows, wincing in pain.
“I’ll get the doctor.” I start to pull away. “Let me get the nurse.”
“Dylan,” she whispers my name so softly that I can barely make it out over the beeping of the monitor. “Am I dreaming?”
I huff out a laugh. “You’re awake. Thank fuck you’re awake.”
Squinting, she studies my face. “Are you eighteen-year-old Dylan? You look just like him.”
I rub a hand over my jaw and the light five o’clock shadow that’s settled there. “You like him.”
Her grip on my face tightens. “Kiss me.”
I do it. Softly and tenderly, being mindful of the crack on her swollen lip.
Her eyes find mine. Panic washes over her expression. “Is he okay?”
From my understanding, she was alone in her car, and it was a single vehicle accident.
“Who?”
Her gaze searches my face. “There was a deer on the road. I tried so hard not to hit it. Please tell me he’s okay.”
I have no idea if the deer survived, so I offer what I can. “I’m going to get the doctor. She’ll come check on you, and I’ll check on the deer.”
She swallows again. “You’ll come right back?”
I slide the piece of sea glass from my hand into hers. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her fingers play over the smooth surface. A tear slides down her cheek. “Do you promise?”
I chase the tear away with a brush of my thumb over her skin. “I promise.”