47. Zombie
FORTY-SEVEN
ZOMBIE
I woke up to the beeping of a heart monitor and something heavy on my arm.
I turned my head toward the weight and noticed blonde hair with pink tips cascading across my skin.
Lennie was lying on my arm, fast asleep.
I lifted my hand, careful of the IV, and ran my fingers through her luscious locks.
That seemed to stir her out of her slumber.
Sparkling blue eyes met mine, then filled with tears. Before I had a chance to understand what was happening, Lennie burst out crying and wrapped her arms around my neck.
Sobs racked her body as she mumbled things I couldn’t understand.
I rubbed her back with my hand, just relishing that she was touching me and was here. The only reason I knew I wasn’t dreaming was the dull throbbing in my side reminding me that I had been shot. I pressed a kiss to her hair.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m okay,” I tried to soothe, but her sobs only continued.
Finally, she looked at me, her tear-stained face killing me inside. “I’m… so sorry,” she blubbered.
I gave her a weak smile. “You have nothing to apologize for; I’m the one who needs to apologize.”
Lennie sat back down on the chair and I immediately felt her absence. She wiped the tears from her face and rubbed her hands on her jeans.
“You almost bled out,” she said with a hiccup.
That checked out. Stomach wounds were no joke.
“I’ll be okay. I’m a doctor, remember?”
Lennie let out a wet laugh before placing her hand on mine. “I’m still so mad at you,” she whispered.
I looked down at my lap then back up at her. “I know. But I will do everything in my power to make it up to you.”
She nodded before leaning down and pressing her lips to mine, and I knew in that moment that we could get through anything together.
I was released from the hospital a few days later, my team and Lennie never leaving my side.
Evelyn and Kade watched over Ryann as I got acclimated to being home.
Georgy had been especially excited to see me and refused to let me be in a room unattended.
It got so bad that he even followed me to the bathroom.
“Can I pee in peace, please?” I asked my short-legged furry friend.
He only responded with a head tilt before flopping on the tiled floor. Guess that was a no.
Lennie had insisted, more like demanded, that she was staying at my house to take care of me. As if I would deny her anything. I wanted to give her the world and more.
I went back into the bedroom and lay down. Lennie was still curled up on the bed, asleep. She hadn’t slept much while I was in the hospital, and I was glad to see her finally getting some well-deserved rest.
Later that evening, Lennie brought me dinner in bed and sat next to me as I tried to eat. But something was on my mind that I couldn’t shake.
“Why did you help the team with everything?”
She looked at me like I was crazy. “Because I couldn’t let you do this alone, and I refused to be the reason that you died when you tried to be a martyr.”
Well, that was fair. I placed my fork down and cupped her cheek. She looked so beautiful with no makeup and her hair in two short ponytails.
“I love you. Thank you for giving me another chance. But we need to talk about Ryann.”
Her cheeks tinged pink before she cupped my cheek.
“You don’t need to thank me. I love you more than anything in this world.
The idea of my life without you in it doesn’t make sense.
I would do anything, not only to save those women and children, but also to help you.
But yes, we need to talk about your daughter. ”
Relief flooded me at her words and tears began to prick my eyes.
“I should probably start from the beginning,” I said and then began to tell Lennie about everything I’d learned, my previous relationship with Cassie, and now how I needed to make a decision on how to care for my child and give her the best life.