Chapter 29
I didn’t know what to expect from today’s appointment, but hearing Dr. Easton say there was a possibility I could walk again wasn’t it. I rubbed my ears, trying to make sure I’d heard her correctly.
“Excuse me? Walk?” I cocked my head to the side, needing her to slow down.
“Yes, Noa, walk. Of course, it would take time, and I’m not talking full walking, but assisted for short periods of time,” she added, “and only if that’s truly something you want.
It’s going to be challenging, and it won’t happen overnight.
We’d have to get you into physical therapy and monitor your inflammation closely. ”
I nodded because I couldn’t quite find the words to respond.
I’d asked about walking again nearly every appointment, but I never truly believed I’d ever be able to, and now here she was telling me it was possible.
If I got any more good news, I was gonna be a babbling mess of tears.
The universe had really been doing its big one lately.
I was painting more, working on my own fashion collection.
This week, I’d even been able to sleep through the night without waking up to images of flames or images of Quade’s old label head.
And it felt like I was finally living again.
My life seemed to be shifting ever since his bond had been revoked and he was put in jail until the trial.
I glanced over at Quade who was standing beside me, sharing the same shocked expression on his face. His hand wrapped around mine. He’d brought me to my appointment, even though Teagan could take me. He wanted to be present, and I appreciated that so much.
“So, what would that look like? The therapy?” he asked the doctor.
“Slow and consistent,” she replied. “We’d focus on leg strength, gait training, and pain response.
Some adaptive aids in the beginning. Think of it as less like aiming for a finish line and more like teaching your body a new rhythm.
” My heart pounded, and I just nodded my head.
I was speechless. Dr. Easton continued. “If you want to reclaim mobility, even partially, it’s worth exploring. ”
“I think I’d like to try.” I nodded my head.
“Great! I’ll get the referral started. We’ll be careful, but we’ll also be hopeful.
” She scribbled a few notes, then leaned forward.
She offered a soft smile before standing and heading toward the door.
“You’re doing better than you think, Noa.
We’ll see you soon.” The click of the door behind her left a hush in the room.
I blinked at the space she’d just walked out of, my heart still catching up. “Walking,” I whispered, like the word alone might jinx it. “Wow.”
Quade slid his hand over mine. “Yeah, baby. Walking.” His voice was low, steady, like he’d already seen it and believed it. “You gon’ do it, too. I already see you out there, fine as hell, struttin’ through the house in those little ass shorts.”
“Dragging this wagon.”
“Hell yeah. My hand is ready to pop that fat motherfucker when you walk by, too.” He winked as he helped me back into my chair.
We made our way out of the doctor’s office, and I willed myself down the hallway toward the lobby.
Quade walked beside me, saying bye to all the hospital staff like we were leaving a family gathering.
The moment we stepped outside, the late afternoon sunset blinded us.
I rolled over the threshold and down the familiar ramp to the parking lot.
“You ready for your driving lesson?” Quade asked as we reached his car.
“My what?” I blinked. He opened the driver’s side door like it was nothing, like he wasn’t asking me to drive. “You didn’t think I was gonna let you keep dodging the driver’s seat forever, did you?”
“I haven’t dodged anything. I know how to drive.”
He gave me a look. I returned it. Then we both grinned.
“Not with the mobility adjustments.”
I blew out a deep breath. Quade had been adamant that I drive again.
He’d gone online and purchased all of these disability adjustments for his car.
He said I needed to be able to get around on my own.
It wasn’t that I was afraid to drive, but I was nervous.
What if I had a flare? What would people think about me hopping out of a car alone?
“I got the pedal extensions and steering knob installed already. All it needs now is you, sunshine.”
I hesitated, just for a second. Then I blew out a breath and nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“That’s my girl.” He connected something to the steering wheel and moved aside so I could get in. I transferred into the seat slowly. Quade folded my chair and slid it into the back before climbing onto the passenger side.
“Okay, how do I work this?” I asked as I settled in. My hand was running along the steering wheel.
“Oh, Lord. She don’t even know how to start the car,” Quade joked. “Push to start, baby.”
“Whatever.” I smirked as I eased out of the parking lot. I couldn’t stop the feeling that I was no longer a passenger in my life anymore, and it felt good.
“Where are you even taking me?” I asked.
“Make a left up there,” Quade said, ignoring my question. My driving lesson had been going on for nearly an hour, and we weren’t getting any closer to his house. “Just keep straight after the left.” He pointed to the road. I rolled my eyes and continued driving.
“You kidnapping me or something?” I teased.
“Keep straight after the turn,” he said, grinning as he pointed to the road ahead. I rolled my eyes, but this felt good, sitting in the driver’s seat, hands on the wheel, windows cracked, wind teasing my tiny curls.
“Up next: We got that brand-new YFN Money and Quae Lo,” the radio host announced, and my head snapped toward the speakers. “Oh my God. That’s you!” Quade smirked, but he didn’t say a word.
“That’s you!” I squealed again, the car jerking slightly with my excitement.
“Keep yo’ eyes on the road, baby.”
I faced forward, biting back a grin as his voice filled the car.
“Pulled up clean, voice gold on the beat, told my past hello, goodbye, like Adele on beat,” Quade rapped.
“This is good, baby,” I whispered. “Like, really good.”
“You think so?”
“Hell yeah!” I bobbed my head as I made a left and then continued straight as I was instructed. When I passed the entrance sign, my mouth dropped open.
“Wait,” I whispered. “Are we going to the sculpture park?”
“I thought you might like it. Zy said the artsy girls loved this place.”
“You taking dating advice from a sixteen-year-old?” I shook my head, laughing.
“Hey, it got me this far.” He shrugged. “Park up there.” He pointed to an open parking space up ahead. I eased the car in and turned it off, heart still racing a little from the drive. We climbed out, and Quade rounded the car to meet me with my chair.
“You know, if I’ma be driving alone, I have to learn how to do that part, too,” I said.
“Well, we’ll work on that skill another day.” He waved me off as he locked my chair so I could make the transfer. I slid into place, adjusted my legs, and reached for his hand.
“You ready?”
“Let’s go.” We made our way toward the path. We wandered through the sculpture park, admiring the art. The park was quiet at this hour and lit up beautifully.
“Look at that one.” Quade pointed to a huge, abstract sculpture shaped like an unraveling flower.
“Ooh! Get my picture!” I gasped. “I want to paint this one.”
“Bet.” Quade pulled out his phone as I rolled to the edge of the structure.
“Smile,” he said, and I posed quickly, but he dropped the phone to his side. Instead of snapping the photo, he walked over to me and crouched in front of me.
“What are you doing?” I squealed as he scooped me into his arms. Before I could protest, he sat me gently on the curved base of the sculpture. “Oh my God!”
“This is a better angle, sunshine.” He grinned.
“If I fall and die, I’m haunting you.” I giggled.
“It’s not high. I got you.” He made sure I was stable before he stepped back and snapped a few shots. “You look like a fuckin’ model.”
I adjusted my position on the sculpture, trying to hold my balance and still look gorgeous. Quade snapped a few shots. Click. Another click. Then nothing.
“Are you getting the pictures or admiring the view?” I teased.
He didn’t answer, just lowered the phone into his pocket, walked up to me, and slid his hands along my thighs.
“What are you—”
“Tasting art.”
Quade stepped closer, his hands trailing softly along my thighs, thumbs brushing just beneath the hem of my dress. I held my breath as he bent lower, easing my knees apart. He looked up at me once.
“You comfortable?” he asked, gripping me tight.
“Yes,” I moaned.
“Safe word?”
“Tempo.”
“Perfect.” He ducked between my thighs without saying another word. His lips latched onto my clit, devouring me like he was starved.
“Ooh,” I cried out as his tongue made its way around my center. My hands gripped the edge of the sculpture behind me.
“She so wet for me, damn.” He grunted and then returned his face between my legs. The heat of his mouth made my thighs tremble as he sucked me gently.
“Yes! Ooh!” I moaned, not giving a damn that we were outside. I should have been embarrassed, but every lick and suck had me caring less and begging for more. My hips bucked into him, and I felt myself about to release.
“Quade!” I grabbed the back of his head and pushed him into my middle. “I’m cumming!” My legs shook around his head as he continued lapping up my juices.
“Shit, girl!” He rose slowly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and grinning as if he’d just lived the best ten minutes of his life.
He gave me a dark smile as he hooked his hand into the waistband of his shorts, freeing his dick.
My breath caught as he stepped between my thighs, guiding my hips to the edge of the sculpture.
Without a word, he slid inside me, and my head instantly fell back in pleasure.
He moved inside me like he knew my body by heart.
“Yes!” I moaned as he rolled his hips forward. My hands scrambled behind me, clutching the edge of the sculpture for dear life.
“Just like that, baby! Don’t stop!” I moaned, not wanting this feeling to end. I couldn’t get enough of how good he felt inside me.
“Fuck!” Quade grunted. “You so fucking perfect, baby. You were made for me.” He moved in and out of me, hitting every corner of my middle. It felt like I was floating, and I damn near was.
“Quade,… oh my—”
“Say my name again. I need to hear it.”
“Quade! Baby, I’m cumming!” I screamed as he moved inside me hard and deep. Every thrust was more intentional than the last. His eyes stayed on mine, and the way he looked at me in that moment threatened to unravel me. I loved this man so much. He was everything I thought I was too broken to have.
“I love you,” he whispered into my ear as if he read my mind, and my breath slowed. It was the first time he’d said those words to me.
“I love you,” I whispered back, clinging to him like he was the only thing tethering me to the Earth. I had never known a love like this one. We didn’t fall in love. We crashed into it, and somehow, we still found wings.