Chapter 67
Nina
Even from his hospital bed, Austin was taking care of me. “John said one of the guys will drive me home.”
“Good. Is your grandmother okay?”
“Ryan said she’s fine, but eager to see me.” I should’ve gone straight home when the doctor discharged me, but I had to see Austin.
I’m glad I did.
My heart fluttered at the memory of hearing him say he loved me.
Falling in love with Austin wasn’t him sweeping me off my feet like the romances I read about, but it was just as real. Austin won my heart with steady, caring, protective presence.
The nurse set up the bedside table with Austin’s lunch and rolled it over the bed without saying a word.
I hadn’t moved. “Nina?”
“Can I…” I looked at my shoes. “Can I have a hug?”
“Come here, Cherry.” He pushed the tray to the side and spread his arms wide. “You never need to ask.”
I tried not to cry at the love he poured into the hug as he cradled my head to his chest, but I failed. He’d been my rock the entire time, and I’d been too caught up in my fear to notice.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” he asked, lifting my chin so I had to look at him.
“You’ve been taking care of me the whole time.” He wiped the salty line from my cheek. “But I didn’t see it.”
He chuckled. “Still think I’m made of steel?”
“No.” I laughed at the grin he flashed. “But you are my man of steel.”
“How's that different?”
“You're like Superman.”
He kissed my forehead. “I can live with that. Now go see your grandmother and put her fears to rest.”
Out in the hall, John asked Jay to drive me home.
“Cate and Madi are there now. I sent Kroupa home to his wife,” John told Jay. “I told Matt he could leave, but don’t be surprised if he stayed with Madi.”
I thought it was over. I thought we were safe.
Ryan said they were only staying with me so that I wasn’t alone. So, why did someone have to stay with Nana Sue?
“Are we still in danger?” I asked again.
“We don’t believe so, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“And someone should stay with your grandmother while you’re here with Austin,” Jay added.
I’ve been gone too long. Now that I’d seen Austin, the need to see my grandmother consumed me.
“Can we go?”
Thankfully, Jay didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with small talk during the ride home.
And I didn’t have the energy to ask any of the questions racing through my mind. Or the emotional capacity to hear the answers.
Mostly I wanted someone to assure me Austin would be okay, but no one could. He’d been shot in the arm, beaten to hell, and the bullet that hit his knee destroyed it so completely they had to amputate his leg.
Austin was a lot of things, but okay probably didn’t make the list.