Chapter Eighteen #2
It’s another twenty minutes before a nurse comes out and then Mr. and Mrs. Langston go to his room first. I’m anxious as hell, itching to run in there and shake him awake so I can tell him I love him and to fight like hell.
The doctor implied he’s going to be fine and that he’s lucky because it could’ve been so much worse, but I can’t help the fear building that there’s always a chance for things to take a turn.
Posey and Bodie go next, but they return disappointed because he still isn’t awake. After them, JoJo and Bellamy check on him but return with the same outcome.
Once it’s my turn, I ask if anyone else wants to come with me because I feel awkward taking up time that they could be sitting with him. But Mr. Langston says he has to get back to the ranch, so Bellamy and Posey tag along with him. Then it’s just me, his mom, and aunt.
“Go ahead, sweetie. He’s in room sixteen. Take as long as you need,” Mrs. Langston encourages when she notices me hesitating. I already said goodbye to the others, so I nod and walk down the hallway.
My heart beats out of my chest when I enter his room and find him sleeping peacefully. He looks so calm while I’m trying not to panic.
I pull up a chair next to his bed and weave my fingers through his. They’re ice cold, so I cover my other hand over both of ours.
“I can’t help thinkin’ I’m to blame for some of this,” I admit softly.
After we fought this morning, he was probably distracted, stressed, or both. As far as I’m aware, this hasn’t happened before because Warren’s good at his job. Always has been.
“I’m so sorry, Warren. For everythin’.” Tears cloud my vision, so I close my eyes and rest my head against our combined hands.
After a few minutes of silence, I can’t take it anymore. I hate that he probably can’t hear me, but I speak anyway.
“Do you remember that box I kept our notes, photos, and other mementos from high school? I kinda forgot about it until I came back and saw it on my bookcase. Anyway, I went through it and found the vows you wrote on our weddin’ day and cried over every word you wrote.
I can’t believe I forgot how beautiful it was.
Maybe I blocked it out so I could push away my feelings after years of tryin’ to move on.
Rereading it was heartwrenchin’ now knowin’ how much you truly meant your words.
I can’t believe I was able to walk away after that.
It actually makes me sick and mad at myself.
I had my reasons at the time, but still, it blows my mind. ”
I look at his eyes, willing them to open, and frown when they don’t.
“I can’t help thinkin’ there’s a reason for everything that’s happened.
Maybe we needed the time apart so I could stand on my own two feet and get clarity on what truly makes me happy.
Maybe we would’ve ended up in a bitter divorce had I stayed and resented you.
I hate thinkin’ that I would’ve but knowin’ who I was in my younger twenties, it makes me wonder.
Or worse, you would’ve resented me. Kinda surprised you don’t already. You’d have every right to.”
“Warren would never resent you.”
I nearly jump out of my chair at the voice behind me.
Spinning around, I find Silas in the doorway. I haven’t seen him since I’ve been back, but wow, he’s changed a lot. Both of his arms are covered with ink and his dark facial hair isn’t new, but it’s thicker than Warren’s.
“Holy fuck, you scared me.” I press a palm to my chest and feel how fast my heart’s racing.
He pushes off the wall and walks inside. “Sorry, I was tryin’ to figure out a way to let you know I was here.”
“That was one way to do it,” I say in an aspirated laugh.
He stands on the other side of Warren. “Bodie called me a bit ago, but I was an hour out of town, so I rushed here as soon as I could. Any update?”
“Not really. Just waitin’ for him to wake up.”
Silas grabs the extra chair and takes his other hand.
“Hopefully, me being here doesn’t traumatize him more.”
“No, he’d be happy you’re here. I dunno what happened between y’all, but he texted me this mornin’.”
That makes me tense. “What’d he say?”
“Not much, honestly. Just that he signed the papers and when I asked him about havin’ seven days, he said there was a change of plans.
I offered to leave work early so we could hang out, but he said he wanted to drink alone.
I shoulda pushed him to take the afternoon off instead, but he mentioned choppin’ wood to restock his pile, and I stupidly cracked a joke about callin’ me if he needed a ride to the ER.
Ya know, presumably because he was gonna be choppin’ wood while angry and drunk. ”
“Oh my God…” My eyes stretch wider with each sentence he speaks.
The guilt on his face makes me feel bad.
“He shouldn’t be handlin’ an axe while drinkin’ anyway,” I say, comforting him the best I can.
“I doubt he was gonna or I would’ve intervened. Most likely he would’ve been out there until his arms hurt or drank alone with his chickens.”
“He does have a weird obsession…as if he gave birth to ’em and they’re his children.”
Silas chuckles, and so do I. It feels good after crying most of the afternoon.
“You met ’em yet?” he asks.
“No, he was supposed to introduce ’em to me before our date tonight.” I rub the pad of my thumb over his knuckles.
“Indiana Jane is my favorite. She’s spunky.”
I can’t help the burst of laughter that falls out of my mouth. “And I thought Kelly Cluckson was clever.”
“He let me name two: Cluck Skywalker and Princess Lay-a.”
I grin, his nerdiness from high school showing. “Very cute and fittin’. ”
“I thought so. Except Warren hasn’t let me play with ’em since the last incident.”
I arch a brow. “Do I even wanna know?”
“To be fair, Bodie started it.”
“Of course he did.”
“The chickens are already crazy on their own but add in a drunken game of tag where we run around the coop until one of us trips makes ’em extra crazy.”
The corners of my lips twitch. “I’m startin’ to understand why Warren no longer allows it.”
“He acts like we hurt ’em when it was ’em who kicked our asses.”
I open my mouth, but then a groan grabs my attention.
“Are y’all seriously talkin’ shit about my chickens while I’m unconscious?”
I jump to my feet, the chair scraping across the floor, too in shock to be subtle or quiet. “Warren?”
“Shoulda known talkin’ about ’em would wake you up,” Silas taunts, grinning wide.
“Mhm. Stop flirtin’ with my wife.” Warren glares.
I can’t stop smiling and crying happy tears.
“How do you feel?” I ask, softly rubbing over his hand.
He grunts, trying to reposition himself. I reach for his pillow, helping him sit up more. “Like I got kicked in the fuckin’ chest by a twelve-hundred-pound horse.”
“Smacked your head too,” I clarify, readjusting his blankets.
He winces as if he just realized it hurts.
“Glad you’re awake, man.” Silas pats his shoulder. “Gonna send a text to your family so they know.” Silas reaches for his phone on the table. “And I’ll tell your nurse. ”
“Can you tell his mom and aunt too? They’re in the waitin’ room.”
“Sure thing. Be right back.”
Once we’re alone, I sit and lean in closer. “You scared me.”
“Sorry ’bout that.” His voice is strained, and he seems a bit out of it, but overall, he’s talking normally.
“Everyone’s been worried sick about you.”
“I have no doubt. My family’s gonna be insufferable now.”
“How long have you been listenin’?”
He reaches for me, grabbing my hand and linking his fingers through mine. It sends a wave of electricity down my spine, and I beam at him.
“Since the moment you started talkin’,” he says, making me wonder if he heard everything or since Silas entered. “My brain was still too foggy to comprehend I needed to open my eyes and move my lips to speak.”
“Don’t worry about talkin’ if you’re too tired. Rest as much as you need,” I reassure him, keeping my eyes on his.
He nods once, speaking softly. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Of course.” Every nerve cell in my body explodes with relief.
“I’m kinda surprised,” he says cautiously.
“Well…” I grin hesitantly. “You still owe me two dates.”
There’s so much I want to tell him, starting with how I’m still in love with him and that I’m not filing those divorce papers—assuming he’ll give me a second chance after our fight this morning. But that discussion can wait until he’s feeling better and stronger.
“Does this count as one?”
I chuckle, sniffing and clearing my throat. “Not a chance, cowboy.”