Chapter Twelve #5
I smile weakly, looking at how my shoulder is pressed to his. “I’m literally leaning on you as we speak.”
“Good.” He smiles wryly. “Keep doing that.”
We don’t talk much after that. I’m not in the mood to talk about everyday things, and he seems to understand that. But just having him beside me helps. It’s impossible for me not to respond instinctively to his comforting presence. I’m soothed by his scent and the feel of his big body against mine.
Nearly four hours later the doors open. Dr. Ashworth comes through in his scrubs, his mask pulled down.
I’m instantly on my feet, my heart in my throat.
I search his face for some sign things went well or poorly.
But I can’t tell from his expression. Marcello’s hand is on the small of my back, which gives me the courage to speak.
“Is he okay?” I ask hoarsely.
“He did beautifully,” Ashworth says, and the relief that goes through me is so total my knees nearly buckle. “The myectomy went exactly as we wanted. The obstruction’s relieved, his rhythm stabilized on the table, and he’s already in recovery.”
“Oh, thank God,” I groan.
“He’s not awake yet, and when he does wake he’ll be groggy.” Dr. Ashworth smiles. “But this is the outcome we hoped for. I wanted to come out here and put your mind at ease, Elio. I knew you’d be worrying.”
“Thank you, doctor. I appreciate that,” I say gruffly. “When can I see him?”
“When he’s out of recovery, which should be soon. A nurse will come for you in a bit.”
He says a few more things about the recovery timeline and the days ahead. I nod through all of it without absorbing much, and then he’s gone back through the doors. I turn to Marcello standing beside me.
“He made it through the surgery,” I mumble, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes. But this time I can’t stop the tears, and they spill down my cheeks. But they’re tears of joy this time, so it seems okay.
Marcello makes a pained sound and he tugs me into his arms. I clutch the front of his suit, letting what feels like years of grief pour out of me. Through it all, he holds me close, rubbing my back soothingly.
After a few minutes, I straighten and he releases me. I wipe roughly at my eyes, and he watches me with a gentle expression. His eyes are red as if he too feels a little emotional. He truly cares about me and he can’t hide it. He’s not even trying to hide it. That’s new for him. For us.
“Once you go in to see him, I’ll take off,” Marcello says gruffly.
“Okay.” Fabio still has no idea I’m married to Marcello. He can’t go with me into Fabio’s room because now is not the time to drop that bomb on my brother. “Are… are you going back to Italy?”
“No.”
“Good,” I admit, not bothering to hide my relief.
His smile is surprisingly vulnerable. “Yeah? You’re glad I’ll be home?”
I nod, taking hold of the front of his suit jacket.
“Coming here today, just so I wouldn’t be alone…
that… that was the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.
” I push up on my toes and kiss him. It’s not a sexual kiss.
It’s an emotional kiss, full of gratitude.
He’s surprised, I feel it in his careful response, but he seems pleased too.
When the kiss ends, he touches my cheek, his dark eyes warm. “I’ve missed you,” he says quietly. “Missed the real you. You’ve been so… distant.”
I grimace, unsure of what to say. I’ve missed him too. Missed touching him. Talking to him. But I’m the one who created the distance, and now is not the time to try and explain my confused emotions to him. That will come later. He deserves some kind of explanation.
“We need to talk, but I don’t think I have it in me right now.” I smile weakly. “My brain is fried and I’m too distracted.”
His eyes flicker. “Of course. I’m pretty exhausted myself.”
“I’m still in shock that you’re here.”
He puts a finger under my chin, looking into my eyes. “I told you I’d have your back. I meant it.”
“I… I think I finally believe you.”
A door opens and a young nurse pokes her head out. “Elio?”
“Yes?” I say, heart jolting.
“Your brother is still in recovery, but I can take you to the room he’s going to, if you’d like? Then you’ll be there when he wakes up.”
“That would be great.” I smile, relieved everything is still okay. I turn to Marcello. “I’ll see you at home?”
He smiles and brushes his thumb across my cheekbone. “Sure.” I’m surprised when he lowers his head and kisses me despite the nurse’s presence. Then he pats my cheek and leaves the waiting room without looking back.
“All set?” the nurse asks brightly. Something about her tight smile tells me she knows exactly who Marcello is. What he is.
“Yep.” I follow her through the doorway.
Four hours ago, I might have been embarrassed that Marcello kissed me possessively in front of some stranger. But after him showing up here, just so I wouldn’t be alone, I don’t give a fuck what that nurse thinks.
The awful truth is I’m falling for Marcello. And even though it’s the stupidest thing I could do, there’s no stopping it.