Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
LANDEN
Sitting in this waiting room brings back conflicting feelings from the last time Ellie was here.
I would’ve camped out all night to stay close to her, but I’m glad I didn’t have to because the seats were not built for bigger guys.
And now, I’m not even bothering to sit. All I can do is pace and wait.
I watch as Noah talks to Ellie’s parents and Aunt Phoebe. When I introduced myself to her, she looked me up and down a few times and then gave me a discreet smile.
So I think I passed whatever test she gave me.
“We’re gonna check in on her and be right back,” Mrs. Donovan tells me after the doctor walks away. “I’ll let you know when you can go in.”
Mr. Donovan claps my shoulder. “I’m rootin’ for you, don’t worry.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Fisher waits with Noah. He’s not much of a talker, but sometimes I wish he were so I’d have someone else to listen to besides my own thoughts.
When Angela storms down the hallway with her arms swinging and a scowl on her face, I can’t tell if it’s directed at me or the situation.
I had no idea what to expect coming here, but seeing my ex after eleven years wasn’t it, and now I have more questions than answers.
“Let’s go…” She directs to someone behind me.
When I look over my shoulder, I see…Gage?
What the fuck?
He takes her hand and they exit the waiting room.
Okay, well, now I have even more questions than answers.
“Stop fidgetin’. You’re making me anxious,” Noah scolds. “Sit down at least.”
“I’m fine…” I crack my neck and each one of my knuckles, and once I’m out of things to crack, I pace the waiting room.
“Landen? Noah?”
My attention draws to Mrs. Donovan. “She’s awake and ready to see y’all.”
Noah jumps out of her chair. “Finally!”
I side-eye her as she runs past me.
Following behind, I blow out a tense breath and enter the hospital room.
“What have I told you about dying on me?” Noah scolds, wrapping her arms around Ellie.
“Hey, at least I’m three for three on not dying.”
She’s making jokes. That’s a good sign.
Ellie looks at me. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I respond.
Noah glances between us. “Uh…I’ll give y’all a moment.”
When she walks past me, she pats my chest. “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” I murmur.
I go to Ellie’s bedside and roam my eyes over her body. “You’re okay?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
“I—” My words are cut off by her trying to speak at the same time. “Go ahead,” I tell her.
“I’m sorry, Landen.”
I gulp because this is it. She’s breaking it off.
“Can I at least get the opportunity to fight for you first?” I ask, pushing back the emotions threatening to surface. “Even if it’s just five minutes.”
Her expression shifts and she nods once. “Okay. Go.”
“Oh, um…alright.” I hadn’t expected her to agree, but I’m going to give it my all regardless.
Inching closer, I stand taller. “I understand that someone you trusted, looked up to, and idolized told you a version of the truth, but I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove how this person lied and exploited you. Angela and I dated on and off through high school and—”
“You can stop.”
My mouth clamps shut.
“I don’t need to hear about Angela.”
“Oh. Okay…well. Then allow me to tell you about Talia and Tucker,” I plead, feeling the sweat across my forehead.
She nods once again, and I spend a solid three minutes speaking as fast and eloquently as I can about how amazing my friends were and how bright of a future they had with each other.
“They sound really lovely.”
“Yeah…” I lift my cap and scrub a hand through my hair. “It’s why I fought so hard to get justice for Talia.”
“Good. Angela got what she deserved.”
“Yeah, and…wait, what?”
She smiles for the first time since I walked in and a huge weight falls off my shoulders.
“I was tryin’ to tell you how sorry I am not because I got my memory back and was taking Angela’s side, but because I remembered how I acted toward you before my accident.
I’m embarrassed and humiliated that I treated you so horribly when you were nothing but nice to me.
Hell, you even saved my life after I tore you a new one. ”
“You’re apologizing to me?”
She reaches for my hand, and I let her take it, then sit on the bed next to her.
“Yes, and I’m not gonna make excuses for my behavior, but I wanted you to know how sorry I am and that I will never again treat you that way.”
“Ellie…” I choke up because I was prepared for the worst. “You could run me over with a four-wheeler, spit in my mouth, and kick me in the nuts, and I would still love you with every fiber of my being.”
Her eyes widen, and I grin. “I knew you were a masochist!”
“Only for you, though, remember?” I wink.
“Do you accept my apology? For real…”
I cup her face, lean in, and press my forehead to hers. “Yes. I accept. But I don’t blame or resent you. You acted out based on what you knew at the time. It’d be different if you continued hating me after knowing the truth.”
She pulls back, meeting my gaze. “Would you believe me if I said that even though I wanted to hate you, and said I did, I couldn’t? I definitely hated that I was attracted to you, but I fought it hard.”
“I fuckin’ knew it!” I shout victoriously.
She sighs, rolling her eyes. “I shouldn’t have admitted that.”
“But it’s nice to have the validation so I can rub it in my brother’s faces.”
She snorts, shaking her head at me, and I flash her a wink.
“I have to ask…what happened with Angela when she was in here?”
“I told her I never wanted to see her again. That I wanted her out of my life for good.”
Tilting her chin, I meet her sad eyes. “For your sake, I’m sorry you had to do that. It hurts gettin’ betrayed by someone you trusted.”
“It does, but the pain is worth it to get something much better in return.”
I lean in, stealing a kiss. “When I was lookin’ up stuff on memory loss, I came across something interesting. After death, it’s said that the human brain continues to be active for several minutes to replay its best memories before we fully die.”
“Really? I never knew that. That’s devastatingly beautiful to think about.”
Threading my fingers through hers, I bring our joined hands to my lips and then press them to her knuckles. “When it’s my time, every minute I have left will be spent replaying memories of you.”
“Landen…” She squeezes her eyes as tears fall down her cheeks, but I quickly catch them before capturing her mouth.
“I do not deserve you.” She wipes her face. “Are you sure you still wanna be with me after everything I’ve said to you?”
Amusement bubbles inside me as I fight back a laugh. “If I got offended by every snarl and snarky comment you sent my way, I would’ve stopped tryin’ to get your attention years ago. But speakin’ of, I was hopin’ we could discuss this fake engagement and make it a real one.”
“Whaddya mean?” She twirls the band between her fingers, and I’m not even sure she realizes when she’s doing it.
“You’re already wearin’ my grandmother’s ring, so I have nothing to give you at this moment, but I’ll happily get on one knee and beg you.”
“Landen…” Her breath quickens as she lowers her voice to a whisper. “We haven’t even had sex.”
“Well, no…but…” I mock her soft voice even though no one else is in the room. “I’ve wanted to for the past four years. Does that count?”
She nudges me, fighting back a laugh, but failing. “No, it doesn’t, but I do appreciate you makin’ us wait because now I know it’s going to be even more special.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t easy keeping your hands off allllll this.” I slide my hand down my chest and abs.
She crosses her arms. “You are just so full of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Is this where you tell me you remember why you hated me in your past life?”
She scoffs. “Oh, I’m remembering in this lifetime, too, Major Ego.”
“Aye.” I waggle my brows. “Previously, we discussed gettin’ married for our third date and then you told the whole rodeo community that we were engaged. Aren’t you the one who said they’ll continue to bring it up during interviews until there’s a wedding…”
“That’s hardly a reason to actually go through with it,” she argues.
“Says who?” I raise my brow in question and she sighs. “Now, say you’ll marry me.”
“Hmm. On one condition…”
“Name it.”
“We can only get married after I win first place at the NFR.”
“You only get that chance once a year…” I remind her.
“Yep, so you better make sure I win next year if you wanna make me your wife.”
I confidently hold out my hand. “Alright, deal. As long as you’re prepared for my trainin’ sessions, which will include a lot of stamina exercises.”
She holds out hers too but then pulls back. “Okay…but I’m keepin’ my last name. It’s part of my career now.”
Lowering my brow, I counter, “Hyphenated.”
She blows out a breath, contemplating. “What about our kids? That seems cruel to do to children.”
“They get mine.” I push my hand closer. “And I’ll build us our dream house.”
Her eyes light up and she beams. “With double wraparound porches and a view of the pond and sunset?”
“Yep, and I’ll even throw in a few dogs.”
She sucks in a breath, gasping at the idea of having dogs for the first time in her life. “You play dirty.”
“We got a deal, Little Devil?” Smirking at her old nickname, I shove my hand closer.
Laughing and crying, she nods and slides her hand into mine.
Pulling her toward me, I crash our mouths together and slide my tongue between her soft lips.
“In case you haven’t figured this out by now…” I whisper against her mouth. “I’m hopelessly in love with you.”
“It’s about damn time. Only took you four years,” she deadpans.
“Sorry about that. I had to make sure I wasn’t falling alone.”
“You won’t ever again. I promise.”
I kiss the tip of her nose and smile.
“I love you,” she whispers with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for waiting for me.”