Chapter 26 #2
Tears filled my mom’s eyes, pride shone in my dad’s, Mia looked like a love-struck fool, and Kingston said, “Don’t ever do this to us again.”
“I already had her make me that promise,” Hawk shared.
“Okay, you know what? If everyone’s going to gang up on me, I think I’m feeling a bit exhausted.”
“We love you, Chloe,” Mia said, moving to the opposite side of the bed. “And we were terrified.”
“I know. I was scared, too.” I gave her a small smile. “But I think I’m going to get to go home tomorrow if everything goes well overnight, so that’s a good thing.”
“You might need some help for a while with that shoulder,” Mom said. “You can come home, so Dad and I can help you.”
Hawk looked at her and said, “With all due respect, I fully intend to take care of Chloe when she leaves the hospital.”
My lips parted, and I half expected my dad to lose his mind. But his lips twitched as he put his arm around my mom’s shoulders and said, “Alright, then. If either of you needs anything, you’ll call us.”
Nodding, Hawk confirmed, “I will.”
Warmth spread through me. Mere weeks ago, I’d been worried about how my dad was reacting to meeting Hawk for the first time. Now, he was arranging the details of my care with him.
My eyes drifted shut. I didn’t know if it was the medication that I’d been given taking hold, or if it was simply me coming to terms with all that had happened.
I was relieved, exhausted, and evidently, lucky to be alive.
But I was also so very loved and looked after that I didn’t worry about what would happen if I welcomed sleep.
And sure enough, when I woke up some time later, I wasn’t surprised to see my family still with me and the man I loved by my side.
HAWK - THREE WEEKS LATER
“You know, it kills me to see that look on your face.”
Despite the pleading in my tone and expression, Chloe’s lips didn’t curve into a smile. And every time I saw her like that, it did a number on me.
Because I knew what was happening inside her head. I could see the longing in her stare as she watched me struggle to do something that came so naturally to her.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled from where she was seated at the end of the counter. “I just… I hate this.”
Setting the hand mixer down, I moved toward her and wrapped an arm around her back. “You don’t have to be sorry, sweetness. I understand how frustrated you are. That’s why I offered to help with this today.”
My beautiful girl remained seated and leaned her weight into me. With her cheek pressed against my chest, she said, “I just want to do what I’m good at, what I love to do. I swear, it feels like I’m never going to bake or decorate a cake ever again.”
Drifting up into her hair, my fingers tugged gently and urged her to look at me. “You’re going to bake and decorate cakes on your own again. Right now, you just need some help.”
Chloe groaned her frustration. “I know. This sucks, though. I can’t bake. I can’t drive. I missed Harper’s birthday.”
I arched a brow.
She saw it and immediately declared, “But this is the price I’ll happily pay to know you’re here with me.”
I hated that Chloe was in this position.
It was still taking me some time to cope with all that had happened.
Mostly, I tried to remain focused on the positive part of it, which was that Chloe was here, alive and breathing, and the man who shot her was in prison.
That helped whenever my mind had flashbacks to that awful day.
It was different for her, though.
Surprisingly, she seemed to have gotten past the specific events of that day without much psychological trauma. It was the recovery process that was taking its toll on her.
Smiling, I stroked my fingers through her hair.
“I know this hasn’t been easy on you, Chloe.
But you’re healing. There’s been tremendous improvement in your shoulder.
And you’ve started therapy. It’s going to take time.
I’m sorry you can’t do everything you want right now, but the girls already told you they’re up for planning another get together when you’re feeling better. ”
Chloe nodded. “I know. I hate that I missed it, though. Especially when there was some drama with Tessa that I haven’t gotten all the details of yet with everything else going on.
I mean, I’ve been exhausted, in pain, at the police station, worried about the cake shop, at the doctor’s office, and going to therapy.
Someone who’s been shot shouldn’t have this much happening. ”
I chuckled. “You’ll get the full scoop about Tessa and whatever’s happening with her boyfriend soon enough.”
“Ex, if what I’ve heard is true.”
“Whatever it is, she’ll share when she’s ready,” I promised her. “And all the other things that are happening with you needing rest, therapy, and visiting the doctor are necessary to getting you back to normal. As for the police station, that was necessary to make sure you stay safe.”
There was a lot that Chloe probably could’ve convinced me to do that might not have been exactly doctor’s orders if she tried, but when it came to getting her down to the police station to give our statements, I wouldn’t have budged. It had to be done.
Fortunately, between our statements, the video footage from the shop, and Kara and her boyfriend’s statements, Dalton Hick’s brother was facing some hefty charges, the worst of which was attempted murder. It was still too early to know how long he’d be in prison, but I suspected it’d be years.
“Ugh, why do you have to be right and handsome?”
Grinning, I leaned down and gave her a kiss. “Do you want to keep walking me through what I need to do to get this frosting finished and on the cake? The sooner we do that, the sooner we can leave.”
Chloe brushed her lips lightly against mine. “Yeah.”
Only after I kissed her deeply did Chloe and I return to the frosting.
She’d been involved in the entire process, but considering her dominant shoulder was the one that had been shot, she hadn’t quite regained full mobility and needed help.
On the bright side, she was talented enough that she’d been able to walk me through the necessary steps to make this cake.
A cake she wanted to take to her parents’ place this afternoon.
After being stuck inside for the last three weeks, leaving only to go to the doctor, therapy, and the police station, Chloe had gone a bit stir-crazy. Sure, her family had come by to visit, but she needed a change of scenery.
So, I reached out to her parents. They didn’t hesitate to plan a family gathering.
Chloe was so eager to get out, but true to herself, she didn’t want to show up without bringing a cake. As always, I wanted to do anything to cheer her up, so I offered to follow her instructions.
“What do you think? How’d I do?” I asked after I’d finally finished frosting the cake.
She studied the cake for a long time before she brought her sympathetic gaze to mine. “You know what? It’s excellent for a first timer.”
Laughter spilled out of me. “It’s terrible, I know.”
Chloe bit her lip as she closed the distance between us. She touched her fingertips to my bottom lip and smiled. “You made me happy, Hawk. That’s all that matters.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “It might not be the prettiest cake, but it’s going to taste excellent. And we did it together. That makes it extra special.”
Chloe wasn’t wrong about that. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a light squeeze. “Let’s get ready and head out.”
Before I knew it, I was standing in the kitchen at Chloe’s parents’ place, and I could see it happening. Everyone was fighting not to burst into a fit of laughter. Kingston had no qualms about sharing precisely what was on his mind. “This has got to be the most awful looking cake I’ve ever seen.”
I shrugged. “I tried my best.”
His eyes rounded and darted between the cake and me. When the finally settled on me, he teased, “I don’t see a future in cake decorating for you.”
“Kingston?” Chloe called.
“Yeah?”
“If you don’t stop making fun of the cake Hawk made with me, you’re not having any.”
He pressed his lips together as his eyes shot to the ground as Emme declared, “I’m sure it’s going to taste amazing. Chloe, I’ve been wanting to ask you about therapy. Do you want to head into the family room and tell me about it while Hawk fixes you a plate?”
Chloe sent a warning look in Kingston’s direction before she glanced up at me. I smiled and dipped my chin. “Go, sweetness. I’ll be right in.”
She took off with her mom, and I’d barely taken two steps toward the stack of plates before I felt a tap on my shoulder. Spinning around, I was surprised to see Mia there. “Hey, Mia. Everything okay?”
Chloe’s sister tucked her chin toward her chest, a flush creeping over her cheeks. “I was hoping to ask you the same.”
My brows pulled together. “Pardon?”
“I know we’ve seen each other over at my sister’s place, but it’s always been in the presence of a group. You and I haven’t really had an opportunity to speak privately since that day at the hospital.”
“Ah,” I said as I tipped my chin up. “Right. Things did get a little out of control that day.”
Mia shifted nervously on her feet. “So, are we… Is everything okay? Between us, I mean.”
In a move that surprised even me, I lifted my hand to Mia’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “I’m good if you are. In fact, I should be thanking you for stepping in and making me realize how big of a mistake I would’ve made if I’d walked away from Chloe.”
“I knew it would happen,” she murmured.
“What?” My body had gone solid at the thought Mia had suspected I’d walk away from Chloe.
“Back when she first shared with me about you, I told her to be careful.”
This was getting worse and worse by the second. “You mean… You believed she’d get hurt being with me?”
Mia shook her head. “No. Not like she did. Not at all. But I wanted my sister to find love. I thought it was possible she’d find it with you.
And I know that every good love story has some kind of conflict, heartbreak, or tragedy.
Some have all of that. The tougher it is, the more satisfying the ending.
So, it sucks that you two have been through all that you have, but I’m glad for it.
Because I think that means you’ll be here to stay for a very long time. ”
I stared at Chloe’s sister for a long time.
And the one thought that went through my head was that as much as everyone believed they were opposites, I thought they were similar.
Sure, their demeanor might’ve been different—and there were some physical differences—but deep down, these two women were so self-assured and confident in their beliefs.
“I’m not going anywhere ever again, Mia,” I promised her.
“I’m glad.”
Nodding, I said, “Yeah, me too. Besides, I guess it’s my job now to make sure you make it to the other side of your conflict or heartbreak with as little pain as possible.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“I’d need a Chloe,” she said. “If I’m ever going to have a chance at love, someone’s going to need to find me like my sister found you. I don’t know if I’m that lucky.”
I gave her shoulder another squeeze. “You are. And don’t worry, he’ll find you.”
“This looks intense,” Chloe said, returning to the kitchen. “I thought you forgot about me. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I was just talking to Mia about her boyfriend.”
Chloe’s eyes nearly fell out of her head as Zane and Kingston seethed, “What boyfriend?”
Mia sighed. “There is no boyfriend.”
“But Hawk just said—”
“Hawk was talking about my future boyfriend. The one he plans to stick around to make sure doesn’t hurt me.”
The tension eased out of Zane's and Kingston’s bodies just as the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Kingston said as he took off toward the front door.
As he walked away, Chloe sidled up to me and pressed her body close.
I looked down at her and smiled. “Sorry for not getting back with your food.”
“It’s okay. Did you really tell Mia you were planning to stick around to make sure her future boyfriend doesn’t hurt her?”
Nodding, I confessed, “I did. But that’s not my only or main reason for sticking around.”
Chloe parted her lips to respond, but the room was suddenly filled with noise as the rest of her friends filed in.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Kingston answered, “Hawk called Mom and Dad and told them you were having a tough time. He wanted you to have some time with all your family and friends.”
My girl angled her chin up, and tears filled her eyes. “You did?”
“I did.”
The corners of her mouth tipped up in a smile. “What did I do to deserve you?”
It would’ve been easier to say what she hadn’t done.
Because I wasn’t quite sure there was one single thing.
Chloe had been determined and kind and selfless.
She’d pushed past every barrier I’d put up, and she didn’t stop until she gave me everything.
If anyone should’ve been asking that question, it was me.
I brushed a lock of her hair back from the side of her face, leaned forward, and kissed her temple. “Go, sweetness. Be with your friends. Enjoy yourself while I get you some food.”
She touched her lips to mine. “I love you, baby.”
I grinned. “I love you, too.”
With that, she turned and moved toward her friends. I watched her go before I did as I promised and got her a plate.
And after everyone ate, we learned that while my cake decorating skills left a lot to be desired, I wasn’t half bad at following Chloe’s directions and baking.