44. Katrinia
44
Katrinia
I wake to whispers in the room. The pain in my chest and the aching in my muscles is almost excruciating but I push myself up and peek around to find Anna, the girl from the tattoo convention talking to Luna.
“Oh hey sweetie! How ya doing? Richie and I heard what happened. You alright?” Her concern is soft but the look in her eyes borders on hysteria as I don’t think she’s taken a single breath.
“I’m sore as hell but I’ll be OK.” I assure her as she helps me sit up in the bed, stuffing a pillow behind my back.
“That’s so wild, right? Did you know about your condition before the incident?” She tiptoes around calling it what it really was, death , but that doesn’t stop her curiosity.
According to the nurses and my medical charts I died twice. It makes me nauseous even thinking about it.
I look at Luna who smiles before heading off to find a nurse.
“I’ve had heart pains in the past but I always figured it was stress or heartburn. Maybe I needed to workout more, but no, I never expected this.” Telling her the truth.
I’ve heard country songs about dying from a broken heart, I just never really thought it was possible.
“But enough about me, how was the rest of the convention?”
“Oh Richie is out there filling Coop in. The man damn near got carpal tunnel but he finally agreed to take me to Mexico! We are heading home today and in two weeks I’ll be working on my tan in Cabo!” She beams with excitement. She doesn’t seem at all upset that Coop and I kind of bailed on the final day.
“Sorry we left you guys in the lurch there. Trust me it wasn’t planned.”
“Oh girl, don’t even mention it! The convention is over and no one set the place on fire so I call that another successful year.” She giggles and starts spilling about all the convention drama I missed.
* * *
I was in the hospital for another four days before they discharged me. Now we are finally able to go home.
The four of us are riding in a ride share to the airport when I notice the driver missed the exit for departures.
“Sir. it looks like you missed our exit…” Cooper lays a hand on my thigh and gives it a squeeze drawing my attention.
“He didn’t miss the exit. We aren’t flying home commercial, zhena. You just had open heart surgery. I’m not exposing you to all those travelers and their germs. We are riding home with Theo and Luna.” He explains with a grin.
Remembering Theo called in a favor from a friend and flew out here on a private plane. Cooper watches me intently with a grin as I put the pieces together and my jaw drops.
“We are going home on a private plane?” Whispering the words I sound completely dumbfounded.
“Yeah baby. We are going home on that.” Cooper points out my window as the SUV pulls up next to a small shiny white plane. “It’s also not a secret. You don’t have to whisper.” He teases with a wink before jumping out of the vehicle.
I feel Luna’s hand come up and graze my shoulder, reaching back I wrap my fingers around hers as the driver opens my door.
While the guys get our bags out of the trunk Luna and I head up the stairs where we are greeted by our own personal flight attendant. She hands Luna a glass of champagne as I politely decline.
Luna snags both glasses and chimes, “More for me,” as she saunters away.
Giggling, I shake my head as I follow her. Still sore I gently take a seat on the sofa across the aisle from her chair.
“So this is how you flew growing up?” I ask, glancing around as Theo and Cooper board the plane.
Cooper comes to sit next to me while Theo sits in a chair across from Luna. Picking up her feet and laying them in his lap as she answers, “Well it depends. Regional flights, no, but anything out of the northeast we would. Chartering is sometimes cheaper than buying a bunch of commercial tickets. Plus travel is a tax deduction.” Luna states, always the bookkeeper.
The flight attendant comes back around with what looks like scotch for the guys and a bottle of cold pressed juice for me. Cooper sets the beverages in the cup holders before reaching down and pulling out the tiny bag I forgot in my suitcase that I packed my pills in.
“Thank you, husband.” I wink at him.
“Gotta always be looking out for my wife.” He smiles back as he wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“Is this what it’s going to be like the entire way back? I don’t know if I can deal with this for five whole hours.” Theo feigns distaste but I see the happiness flicker in his eyes.
“Oh don’t pout just because I beat you to the altar.” Cooper chides and Theo reaches across the small aisle to smack his knee.
“I’m still pissed about that by the way. I asked Luna before you even got Trin back.” He scoffs and Luna coughs.
“Excuse me? I asked you, remember?” She cocks a brow as Theo rolls his eyes.
“Don’t get hung up on the technicalities, amor.” Theo waves her off before going back to rubbing her feet.
Just then the flight attendant pops on the speaker announcing take off and requesting for us to buckle our seat belts.
Cooper straps me in and then hands me a bottle of water and my devil horn sleep mask.
“How are you feeling? Are you doing OK?” He fusses barely above a whisper as we ascend into the air.
“I’m OK Coop. The doctor said I was healing great and good enough to go home. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m just excited to get home.” I insist before resting my head against his shoulder.
Cooper has barely left my side since the doctor explained what happened. He’s been so attentive and considerate. The perfect man any woman would kill for. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but all the concern and attention is a little overwhelming.
I’m an introvert. The lonely girl, as Willow used to call me. I’m not used to all these people fussing over me even though I love them all even more for it.
Home is just calling my name. As we fly through the air I settle into the ride and dream of our bed.