Chapter 45
Knox
Kacey’s crying. And I can tell I’m in a hospital.
What the fuck happened?
Why is Kacey here?
Wait, where is here?
A doctor and a nurse hover close by. I think someone asked me a question, but I can’t stop staring at Kacey.
Why is she crying? I hate when she cries.
My head is foggy, my legs and arms feel weighed down by lead. I rub the back of her hand with my thumb, but this seems to only make her cry harder.
“Kac—” I want to comfort her, but I can’t get words out. My throat feels like someone rubbed sandpaper down it repeatedly.
“I’m so happy you’re awake.” She puts her other hand on top of my hand she’s already holding. Tears are rolling down her face, but now she’s smiling.
The nurse gets me water and lets me take a small drink, helping my throat. “I—I don’t understand.” I can barely get the words out. I remember being at the rodeo and getting ready to ride, but everything after is blank.
“Your bull went down on top of you the other day.”
The other day? How long have I been in this hospital?
She must see the confusion in my eyes. “Knox, you’ve been in a coma for almost three days.”
A coma?
Three days?
Before I can ask questions, the doctor makes me do some neuro tests, checking my pupils, nerves, and motor function.
He seems satisfied with the results, saying I don’t appear to have any brain damage—I could’ve just told him that—and moves on to telling me they removed my spleen; I also have a lacerated liver, and a cracked sternum.
Shit. That I can feel.
I’m slowly coming back to myself, and it feels like I’ve been hit by a truck. I try to take a deep breath, and son of a bitch, that hurts.
“What’s your pain level?” the nurse asks. She must have seen me grimace.
“My ribs have hurt since July,” I grumble at her.
“Knox!” Kacey scolds.
“Joking is a good sign.” The doctor chuckles. He asks a few more questions, and checks a couple of monitors before he leaves, saying, “I’ll be back in an hour to check on you.”
The nurse gives me a dose of pain meds in my IV before she, too, slips out the door. I mess with the bed adjustments, sitting up as far as I can while Kacey’s fingers are flying a million miles an hour over her phone screen.
“Your fingers are going to blister.”
Her head snaps up. “Sorry, sending out an update to everyone. Your mom will be here in about an hour.”
“She’s coming here? She doesn’t need to come,” I complain. I hate when I get hurt and people make a big deal of it. I’m a bull rider—we’re always hurt.
Kacey cocks an eyebrow at me. “You were in a coma. You’re lucky my dad isn’t up here. He texts me every hour and uses spoiling Rein rotten as a coping mechanism—look.” She holds her phone out to me, and I see Rein sitting in a chair at the dining room table.
The laugh starts before I can stop it, causing every muscle in my chest to tighten as all the air suddenly leaves my lungs. I try to breathe in, but all I can get is a tiny wisp of air into my lungs. I groan in pain and close my eyes, waiting for it to subside.
Kacey jumps to her feet. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think about you laughing.”
I can’t help but smile. “It’s okay, it was worth it. Besides, it’ll feel a lot better when it quits hurting.”
She looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Okay, tough guy, you can drop the act when it’s just me in here. I won’t ruin your reputation.” She starts to sit in her chair again, but I stop her.
“Come here.” I hold out my arm.
She sits on the edge of the bed, and I take hold of her hand. “I heard you.”
Her eyes widen. “Like, the whole time?” she squeaks out.
I fight not to laugh, she’s so cute. “No, at least I don’t think so, but I heard you before I woke up.”
She’s looking down at our entwined hands.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
She slowly brings her eyes to meet mine.
“I love you, too.”
Tears well in her eyes.
“Please don’t cry again,” I beg her. “Come here.” I pull her hand toward me, and she gently leans in.
“I love you. I was so scared,” she whispers as a single tear runs down her cheek.
I press our foreheads together. “I’m so sorry.
But I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.
Nothing in the world, remember? We’ll be back in Mountain Time soon.
” I brush my lips over hers, soaking in the words.
She loves me. I never imagined I’d find a love like this.
The kind that settles deep within you and wraps around your soul, filling it with belonging and an undeniable sense of home.
But I did, and Kacey is the beautiful woman who gave it to me.
I’m the luckiest man alive.
They moved me out of the ICU and into a regular room. A regular room where people can visit. Now my mom and Kacey sit in chairs on each side of my bed while Trey and Jessie share the window bench seat. They’ve both been oddly civil, and it’s weird. I’m waiting for them to snap.
Kacey told me Trey has only left the hospital to ride over the weekend. After seeing how bad it scared Kacey, I’m sure it freaked Trey out, too, but I’m glad he didn’t let it affect his performance. Taking second place this weekend secured him a spot to the national finals with me.
Kacey is still reluctant to leave my side, but when my mom and Jessie drag her out of the room to get some food, Trey fills me in on the wreck and shows me a video.
He hasn’t shown it to Kacey, and she hasn’t asked to see it.
We both agree it’s probably for the best; I haven’t seen a wreck that bad in a long time.
It’s amazing I survived. I still don’t remember any of it—the doctor said I likely never will.
“Hey, man, thanks for everything. I’m sure this put a cramp on your bar-hopping this weekend,” I tease him.
“Nah, you rate higher than bar hopping. Most days.” He grins, putting his phone in his pocket. “I know you would do the same for me, you’re the only brother I never had. Thanks for not dying.”
I try to hold back my laugh, knowing it will make my chest ache. “Thanks, dickhead. You know, I think this is going to affect my driving next season, so you’ll have to drive more.”
“Guess I’m going to have to start looking for a new traveling partner then. And a new roommate.”
“That would mean you’d have to start paying rent, ya leech.”
“Well shit. Never mind.” He laughs but then he turns serious. “I really am happy you’re alright. Don’t ever fucking do that again.”
“I mean, I didn’t plan to do it the first time, but yeah, let’s never do this again.”
My mom loves Kacey—I knew she would. My sister even visited with her over FaceTime when I talked to her and my nephew. She texted me afterward, sharing how happy she is for me and mentioning how pretty she is.
She’s more than pretty. Kacey radiates beauty. Her kindness, empathy, and loyalty make her who she is.
Jessie and my mom fly out two days later, leaving Trey and Kacey to drive me back to Colorado when I’m released from the hospital one week after the wreck.
It’s going to be a long recovery, but I should be ready for the National Finals in December.
And I can’t wait to be back in Mountain Time.