Chapter Seventeen
Maisie
“Mais...” My eyes dart open at the sound of my name and instantly lock with Macallan’s. He’s propped up in bed, awake, looking leaps and bounds better than he did the last time our eyes met, which was right after he realized that he had been stabbed.
Only there was no fear in his gaze when it happened, only concern.
.. Concern for me. Which I didn’t understand at the time.
When I came to, I had no idea what was happening.
It felt like a dream. It wasn’t until they took him back for surgery and insisted I be checked out that I realized why he was looking at me that way.
That the blood soaking my shirt and face was my own.
Thankfully, the cuts weren’t too deep, and they were able to use adhesive to glue the skin back together rather than stitches. The nurse said it should help with the scarring, though a few scars are the least of my worries.
Straightening in the less-than-comfortable chair I dozed off in, I let my gaze drift over him, hesitating on his abdomen, which is covered with a blanket, though it does nothing to keep the vision of the knife protruding from his gut from filtering back to the forefront of my mind.
“How are you feeling?” I roll my neck, trying to work out the kink from sleeping at an awkward angle.
“I’m okay. You?”
“Good,” I confirm, pushing to a stand. “Is there anything I can get for you?”
“Yes.” He pats the bed next to him, gesturing for me to move there. “Are you okay?” He takes my hand as soon as I’m within reach, pulling me onto the bed.
“I am.” I settle onto my side on the small sliver of mattress available, resting my head on his chest as my hand settles on his abdomen, careful not to touch his wound.
“I was so worried about you.” He speaks into my hair, his arm wrapping around my back as he pulls me closer.
“Me? You’re the one who got stabbed,” I needlessly remind him.
“She drugged you, Mais. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead. If you’d ever wake up. It was... I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Because you felt responsible?” I wager a guess.
“Because I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t regain consciousness.” He kisses the side of my head, his lips lingering there. “I’ve made so many mistakes with you, Maisie. So many. And the thought of never getting the chance to make up for them...”
“I’m right here,” I remind him when his breath shudders. “Thanks to you, I’m alive and well.”
“It was because of me we’re in this mess. I am no hero.”
“Lana did this. Not you. You hold no responsibility for what happened. And if I must face a hundred Lanas for loving you, then so be it.” The words no more than make it past my lips and I realize what I essentially just said. The fact that Macallan goes tense beneath me tells me he realizes it too.
“Maisie Rose, did you just say you love me?”
I lift my head to peer up at his handsome face, the smile that resides there stealing my breath.
“And if I did?” I’ve already said it; there’s nothing left to do but commit.
“Would you believe me if I said I feel the same way?”
“No.” My abrupt answer causes him to chuckle and then in turn grimace at the pain doing so causes. “Don’t laugh.” I push myself upright, sitting on the edge of the bed, facing him. “You’re going to rip your stitches.”
“Then stop making me laugh.” He reaches up, cupping my injured cheek with his hand, his fingers brushing over the bandage. “I do, though, you know... Love you. I think a part of me always has.”
I open my mouth and then close it, no words coming to the surface.
“I wondered what it would take to render you speechless.” He grins, the indent of his dimple more defined at this angle.
“Is that your way of saying I talk a lot?” I arch a brow.
“Never.” His smile only widens.
“Uh-huh.” I roll my eyes, preparing to stand up when his hand catches mine, urging me to stay in place.
“I’m sorry, Maisie. For everything. For the way I treated you.
For Lana. For how long it took me to realize what a monumental mistake I made in not fighting for you when I had the chance.
There’s no excuse, and I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to undo some of the damage I did anyway.
I meant what I said, I love you. I’ve never said that to a woman before, never felt this way about another person, and the thought of losing you now. ..” He swallows hard.
“Hey.” It’s my turn to reach out and cup his cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. It takes a lot more than a lunatic ex with a taste for drugging people to scare me off.”
“Technically, she isn’t my ex.” He corrects with a smile.
“Semantics.” I shrug.
“I want you, Mais. All of you.”
I’m pretty sure at this point my heart has beaten an entirely new cavity in my chest with the way it’s pounding, kicking against my ribs so hard I can feel the impact vibrate my whole body.
“You have me.”
“Not as a hookup. Not for the time being. I want you to be mine.”
“Then I’m yours.”
He tugs me closer, our lips meeting in a kiss so gentle and yet with so much promise it feels like the most powerful kiss of my life.
“I love you,” I say it properly this time.
“I love you.” He smiles against my mouth.
“Nothing like a hospital to bring people together.”
I straighten at the sound of Char’s voice, turning to see her standing in the doorway, her shoulder propped on the frame, making me wonder just how long she’s been standing there.
“Seems like yesterday it was me in that bed and River pouring his heart out to me.” She smiles at the memory.
“What are you still doing here?”
“Like I was going to leave until I knew everyone was okay.” She shakes her hair, her long red waves swaying as she does. “Glad to see you’re still alive.” Her eyes slide to Mac.
“Thanks to you. You arrived just in time.”
“I’ve been told I do have impeccable timing.” She grins. “Welcome to the fray, by the way. I think you’ll find our little group is quite close, so you’d better get used to sharing Maisie now because we can be quite selfish when it comes to her.”
“Funny. So can I.”
“I knew I liked you.” She chuckles, her attention coming back to me. “Jackson is here. Kai called him.”
“He didn’t tell my parents, did he? God knows I don’t need them worrying.”
“No, it’s just Jackson. He wanted me to wake you, but I refused. Though I’m not sure how much longer I can hold him off. I think Lyric is the only thing that’s kept him from barging in here.”
“She’s still here?”
“They all are.”
My heart restricts in my chest. I know how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life, but sometimes even I’m surprised by their loyalty.
“I’ll be out in just a sec.”
“Take your time.” She pushes away from the doorframe. “I’m quite enjoying watching Jackson squirm.”
“You would.” I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.
Without another word, Char turns and leaves, pulling the door shut behind her.
“She told me you were the one who sounded the alarm that I was missing.” I turn back to Macallan.
When we arrived at the hospital, Char didn’t leave my side, but it wasn’t until after they were done closing the wounds on my face that she filled me in on everything that happened while I was unconscious.
“It’s not like you not to be somewhere you say you’re going to be.”
“You did the right thing calling her.”
“It would appear that I did.” He nods. “What do you remember?”
“Not much. I went for a run. Came back to my dorm, showered. Next thing I know, I’m waking up on a roof with a knife to my throat.”
“Lana put something in your water. I’m assuming she did it while you were on your run. I still don’t know how she got you up on that rooftop.”
“I wish I knew. It’s eerie knowing that something happened but not being able to remember it.”
“I still can’t believe she went so far.”
“Neither can I,” I admit. “But she’s finally dug herself into a hole she can’t get out of. There’s no way she won’t spend a significant amount of time in jail for this. And hopefully she can get some help while she’s incarcerated. Either way, she’s not our problem anymore. You’re free.”
“Have you spoken to the police then?”
“I did. Shortly after I arrived at the hospital. They arrested Lana on the roof after you lost consciousness. Char held her down until they arrived. If I weren’t so worried about you, I might have found it humorous to see her sitting on top of Lana the way she did.”
“I’m starting to have a whole new appreciation for Charlotte O’Malley.” He grins.
“She is a rare breed, that one. They don’t make many like her.”
“Seems you two have that in common.” He drops his head back onto the pillow, exhaustion showing through on his expression.
“You should get some rest,” I tell him.
“Will you be here when I wake?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I promise, taking his hand in mine.
Wrapping my fingers around his, I look down at our joined hands, the contrast of our skin tones so different and yet perfect just the same.
“Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake,” I reassure him, rubbing my thumb over the back of his hand as his eyes flutter closed.
I don’t dare move a muscle until his breathing evens, his face relaxing as sleep takes him back under. Only then do I exit the room, figuring it’s best I go find my brother before he finds me.
“Would you stop it?” I bat at Macallan’s hand when it slips beneath my shirt, teasing my breast. “Doctor said no strenuous activity for at least a week. It’s been five days.”
“It’s not my fault that you’re so irresistible.”
I feel his smile against my skin as he buries his face into my neck.
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” I grab his wrist and pull his arm out of my shirt, earning me a pitiful-looking pout as he juts out his bottom lip.
“Do you understand how torturous it is to lie next to you and not be able to touch you?”
“You just need something to distract you, is all.” I climb out of bed, ignoring his protests as I grab my bag off the floor. Pulling out my psych folder, I plop back down next to him.