Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
My phone rings again, and it’s the same number. I stand and walk to the corner of the room. “Hello.”
“Mr. Raines, it’s Edward Mullins. I was calling to confirm our appointment tomorrow. We’re still meeting at your new home, correct?”
“No.” I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. He doesn’t know where I am. “There will be no meeting. I’m unable to make it.”
“Legend, you do understand—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“What I understand is that my wife is lying in an ICU, fighting for her life. What I understand is no amount of money can heal her. What I understand is that I can’t live this life without her. I can live without five million dollars. So, no, Mr. Mullins, we won’t be meeting tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your wife.”
“Thanks,” I mutter. “I need to go.” I end the call and slide my phone into my pocket. “I fucking hate this. I hate seeing her like this. I hate that I feel helpless.”
Emerson comes to me and wraps me in a hug, and I hold on to her as tightly as I can. “She loves you so much, Legend. She’s going to come back to us.”
“I need her to. We have plans. Babies, and barbeques, and growing old together. She has to beat this.”
“She will,” Roman says, placing his hand on my shoulder. He grips it tightly, lending me his strength. “She just needs time to heal.”
After a few minutes, Emerson pulls away. “The others are anxious to come and see her. Drake and Lyra have both been checking in as well.”
“Tell them thanks.”
“We’re going to stick around for a while. We’ll come back in and say goodbye before we leave.”
“Love you, man.” Roman pulls me into a hug.
“Love you too.”
They leave, and I take my seat next to the bed. Monroe’s hand is finally warm in mine. Hope swells inside me. “You’re getting better, baby. Your hands are warm. Your color is better. Just keep fighting. I’m right here. I’m with you every step of the way. Just keep fighting.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Monroe
I can feel his hand in mine. I try to squeeze, but nothing happens.
“Just keep fighting.”
I know that voice. Legend wants me to fight. I’m trying, but I can’t move, and my eyes won’t open. It’s dark, and my chest hurts.
“Just keep fighting.”
I’m trying. I want to scream, but the words won’t come.
I try again, but darkness claims me.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Legend
“Fuck yes!” I cheer, and the doctor and nurse both laugh. I should feel bad, cussing in front of my mother-in-law, but I can’t seem to find the will to care. I rush to the side of the bed and take her hand in mine. “You did it, baby. You passed.”
“We’ll remove the tube and monitor her closely. As long as she stays stable, we’ll move her to a step-down unit.”
“And when will she wake up?”
“We’ll stop the meds. It will take several hours, even days. Every patient is different, but as well as she’s done over the past forty-eight hours, I’m hopeful that in the next ten or so hours, she’ll start to be more alert.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Eric tells him. I can hear the emotion in his voice. It’s been a tough couple of days.
He and Heather move to the opposite side of the bed. “Our girl is a fighter,” Heather says.
“She is. You’re doing so well, baby. Just keep fighting. You’ve got this, and I’m right here.” I pick her hand up and bring it to my lips. “I love you so much, Monroe.” Tears prick my eyes, but I will them not to fall. She’s getting better. She passed the test, and she’s breathing on her own. She’s fighting to come back to me. I know she is.
“Your mom and I cleaned the house and washed the sheets, and this afternoon, we’re making meals to stock the freezer. We’ll be back to check on her and you in a few hours.”
“Thank you for everything.” I smile at them.
They both give me a hug before they leave, and I sit down in the chair as close to the bed as I can get without actually lying in it with her. “You’re doing so well, baby. Breathing on your own again. Keep it up, gorgeous. We’re going to get you out of here and home and in our bed. I love you. I can’t wait to see those baby blues.”
I rest my head on the bed, still holding her hand, and drift off to sleep.
My eyes pop open when I feel her hand flex in mine. I sit up and see the most beautiful sight in the entire world. “Hey, baby.” My voice cracks. “Good to see those pretty blue eyes.”
“W-What?”
“Hold on. Let me get you a drink.” I pour her a glass of water from the pitcher on the table and hold the straw to her lips. “Slow,” I tell her as she drinks greedily.