Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Delicate fingers reach for me. I slip my hand into Poppy’s and then cover it with my other because it feels so cold. Poppy whispers, “And I know yours.”
I smile, seeing her eyes open as much as they can. The swelling will go down, and the black eye will eventually disappear. “What do you know about my guitars, baby?”
“I know they look like your first acoustic and electric guitars.”
“That’s right.” She remembers from our night in Austin when we talked about so much that we left out a few important details. We crossed every line we could find, and wound up falling in love. No one would have predicted it, but it’s all true.
The volume returns to its previous level, and the nurse says, “Water is in the cup, and if you need anything, there’s a call button on the remote tucked right on the side of the mattress.”
As the nurse makes her way to the door, Poppy asks, “How do I find out if I have any messages or missed calls?”
The nurse’s head tilts as if the question was asked in a foreign language. “No, that’s not how it works. The calls are sent directly to your room.” She points at a table on the other side of the bed. “If someone calls, it’s for you.”
Opening the door, she asks, “Anything else?”
“No.” The devastation is heard in Poppy’s tone, but she keeps her chin held high. It’s not the first time, and I would be willing to wager it won’t be the last. Her parents were the shitty cards she was dealt. “Thank you,” Poppy replies just before the door shuts, and then she lies on her back, closing her eyes.
I get the cup of water and go to her side to help her sit up to drink. “I love you.”
She cracks a small smile, but it fumbles and is gone before it leaves any impact. “I know. I love you, too. I just . . .” She looks toward the lamp, but there are no tears despite the quiver heard in her voice. “It would be nice to have a mom who cared.”
Nothing I can say will make this better or fix it. Normally, I’d fill the void her parents have left by distracting her with something fun or delicious. Letting her run the gamut of her emotions this time is best.
It’s not long before she’s smothering her feelings and looking around for entertainment. As if we’d been in the middle of a conversation already, Poppy says, “Riddle me this, I held you as you came close to death, but I’m the one stuck in the hospital bed for ‘observation.’ Does this seem fair to you?” She takes another sip.
Chuckling, I bend down and kiss her head and then her lips, staying there, tasting her again. Like fresh air in my lungs, I feel alive with her. “I may have looked like death, but I wasn’t knocking on death’s door.” I tuck my knuckle under her chin just so I can flagrantly admire her. “Honest truth, I wouldn’t have made it without you, baby. That’s quite the shiner you got there.”
I can tell myself there’s no permanent damage. I know that’s another lie I’m hoping to fall for one day. My shoulders curve over, and the realization that nothing is guaranteed sets in. It’s a lesson she learned a long time ago. “I’m sorry,” I say, my voice low to fit the early morning hour. “I’m so sorry for betraying you. I thought what I was doing was for you. My good intentions made things worse.” I slide my gaze to the machine where I won’t have to see the disappointment or pain I’ve caused her.
With her hand still held in mine, she says, “Come closer, babe.” I inch left and lean down, but she adds, “In bed with me.”
“Can we do that?”
“Wow, you used to be so spontaneous. Be wild with me again, Laird.”
“I’ll be a rebel for you anytime.” I pull the railing up and then slide to lower it. “You always said it’s more fun to break the rules than play by them.”
Sliding toward the other side of the hospital bed, she leaves room for me. It will be a tight squeeze, but we’ll manage. I’ll do anything to be close to her again.
I kick off my shoes and get as comfortable as I can in the space allotted and try to avoid aggravating my injuries. Poppy says, “Lift.”
I chuckle, lifting my arm for her to snuggle against me. Seeing her smile and breathe air not tainted with my sins is good. I know we’ll get into those soon enough, and the knot the doctors couldn’t find on the X-ray will return.
Anchoring her hand between us, she slowly props herself up. “I would have never said what I did if I’d had all the information.” My chest tightens as I stare into her eyes. It’s too dark to pick out my favorite colors, but they’re all my favorites anyway. I hope I get the opportunity to see them in the sunlight. She’s my favorite person ever. Cautious, she slides her hand over my stomach, eliciting the muscles to react to her touch.