Chapter 72
Night had settled over the hospital quietly.
Gianna's parents had left to check into their hotel and shower after refusing to leave her bedside for hours. Ronnie had stepped out to grab food insisting I needed to eat too even though the thought of food made me sick.
So now it was just me and her. I sat beside her bed in the reclining chair, one leg stretched out while my fingers absentmindedly rubbed slow circles across the back of her hand.
Two days.
I looked exhausted. Felt exhausted. My beard needed trimming.
My eyes burned from lack of sleep and crying more in forty-eight hours than I had in years.
I stared at her face quietly. The swelling had gone down some.
Her color was slowly returning too. Every now and then her brows would twitch faintly like she was fighting her way through whatever place she had drifted off to.
"You been stressing me out, beautiful," I murmured softly.
I brought her hand to my lips kissing her knuckles gently before settling back in the chair.
Melo's rainbow marble still sat beside her hand on the blanket.
My chest tightened at the sight of it. "He asks about you every hour," I said quietly with a tired smile.
"Talking about some, 'Daddy when GG coming home?
'" I chuckled softly to myself. "Lil' man got it bad for you. "
The monitor continued its soft steady beeping.
I leaned my head back against the chair closing my eyes. "Everybody loves you already," I said. "My mama. Angel. Pops. Hell—even Melo's teacher asked about you." I smiled softly at the thought of the impact she had made on our lives. "You really came in and turned our whole world upside down, huh?"
Silence settled again.
Then—movement. Her fingers twitched slightly against mine. The twitch was so small I almost thought I imagined it. My eyes immediately snapped opened. I froze. "Gianna?" I leaned forward instantly.
Another small movement. Then the faintest crease formed between her brows. Her lips parted slightly as she took a deeper breath.
My heart started pounding violently. "Baby?" My voice shook as I stood up fast moving closer to the bed.
Her eyes slowly opened, moved sluggishly around the room unfocused, dazed, and confused.
"Hey, beautiful."
The breathing tube shifted slightly, and panic flashed across her face.
"Shhh—" I soothed quickly reaching for her hand. "Don't fight it. You're in the hospital. You're okay."
Her breathing picked up anyway. I could see the fear building instantly.
"Look at me." I cupped the side of her face gently forcing her eyes toward mine. "It's me. It's Remy."
The panic in her gaze softened just slightly at my voice. Tears filled her eyes.
"I'm right here," I whispered shakily. "I got you."
She tried to move again, reaching for the tube but I gently caught her wrist. "Don't pull it out, babe. Please." I pressed a kiss against her forehead quickly. "They said it's temporary. Just relax for me, okay?"
Tears slid slowly from the corners of her eyes into her ears.
I wiped them away carefully. "You scared the shit outta me. Thought I was gon' lose my mind waiting for you to wake up."
Her eyes stayed locked on mine.
I rubbed my thumb slowly across the back of her hand. "You're home now," I whispered softly.
Something in her expression shifted at those words. Recognition. Emotion. Her lashes fluttered again and more tears spilled free.
I leaned down resting my forehead gently against hers being careful of all the wires and tubing. "It's over, beautiful," I murmured. "They got her. Nobody's gonna hurt you again."
The monitor beside her sped up slightly. Her eyes closed briefly before reopening heavier this time from exhaustion. I pressed another kiss to her forehead. Her fingers tightened weakly around mine.
Emotion swelled in my throat. "I'm real, baby," I murmured softly somehow understanding what that grip meant.
A soft knock sounded before the nurse hurried in. "Oh!" Her face brightened instantly. "Well look who's finally awake."
Gianna's eyes shifted toward the nurse cautiously before coming back to me again.
The nurse smiled gently checking her monitors and IV lines. "You're doing so good, Gianna." Her attention shifted toward me. "How long has she been awake?"
"Just a couple minutes," I replied.
She nodded approvingly. "Good." Leaning over Gianna she softened her voice. "Blink twice if you're in pain, okay?"
Gianna blinked slowly twice.
"Okay." The nurse adjusted something on the machine. "I'm gonna get your doctor and see about lowering some of your sedation. You still have the breathing tube in so try not to panic. You're safe."
Safe.
Gianna's eyes flicked toward me again at that word.
The nurse noticed, smiling slightly to herself before stepping back. "You can stay," she told me quietly before slipping out again.
I sat back down beside her bed, not once letting go of her hand. Her eyes stayed on me.
"You really had me scared," I said quietly rubbing my thumb against her skin. "I was in here bargaining with God." The faintest amusement flickered through her eyes. "There she goes," I chuckled softly. "That's my girl."
Her lashes fluttered slower, exhaustion pulling her back under. I leaned closer brushing my fingers gently through her hair. "Go back to sleep, beautiful," I whispered. "I'll still be here when you wake up again."
Her grip loosened little by little until her body finally relaxed against the bed. But even asleep…she still held onto my hand.