Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I need to get the nurse and let her know you’re awake.”
I nod again, and he leans down, kissing my forehead, then gets up and walks to the door. He doesn’t leave, just sticks his head outside, and a moment later, a woman in pink scrubs walks into the room.
She stays only long enough to ask me a few questions, then she leaves and comes back with a doctor. By the time he’s done asking me a million questions and poking and prodding me, I’m exhausted but relieved when he tells me that they want to keep me overnight for observation but I should be released tomorrow.
“You need to sleep, baby,” Walker says, leaning over me when we’re alone once again, and I yawn, covering my mouth.
“You’re staying, right?”
“It would take an army to pull me away.” He says quietly and I scoot over to make room for him and roll to my side, he lies down behind me, shoving his arm under my head and curling his other hand around my stomach.
Holding onto him, I close my eyes and try to remember something while wondering what will happen if I do.
On the couch in the living room, my head on Walker’s lap while he plays with my hair, I watch the news coverage of Mrs. Lewis and Kate’s deaths and breathe a sigh of relief when an image of Josh being taken into custody fills the screen. Officer Taylor called this morning to let us know it would be happening, that they had gotten enough evidence to arrest him for the murder of his mom and that there were possible charges pending against him for the murder of Mrs. Lewis. I don’t want to believe that he could do what they are claiming he did, but Officer Taylor told us that his friends turned on him and said that he admitted to killing his mom while he was drunk. But that he only did it because she is the one who killed Mrs. Lewis for the money and property she was being left in the will. I don’t want to believe he could have hurt his aunt, who loved him so much. I also don’t want to believe his mom could have killed her either just for greed.
When the channel is changed, I glance back at Walker and find an expression on his face I’ve grown used to this past week. He might have been cool, calm, and collected at the hospital, but since we got home, he’s been on edge. I haven’t even been able to go to the bathroom without him standing outside the door. And I don’t know what he’s going to do when it’s time for him to go back to work in just a couple of days.
The only time he was a little better was while my parents were here, but I’m guessing that was because he knew I wasn’t alone, that if he wanted to go for a run or do something outside the house, they’d take care of me, so he didn’t need to worry. But since they left, his hovering has gone even more extreme.
“You should go for a run,” I tell him, and he glances down at me.
“Maybe later.”
“You always go in the mornings. You should go now.”
“I’m good.” He focuses back on the TV.
I press my lips together, then get up and move to straddle his lap. Once we’re chest-to-chest, I grab his face.
“I’m okay.”
“I know.” His hands fall to my bottom, and he pulls me more snugly against him.
“Nothing is going to happen to me if you go out for a run or if you need to do something without me. You can’t watch me twenty-four seven.”
“I’m not. I was trying to watch TV.”
“Don’t be smart. You know what I mean,” I groan, and he drags in a deep breath.
“I’m working on it. I just can’t get the image of you on the floor not moving out of my head,” he says quietly, and my heart hurts.
I didn’t find him unconscious, and I don’t even want to know what it would feel like experiencing something like that. Hell, I don’t even remember any of that at all. The doctors have said there is a chance I might remember but I hope I never do.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way to go back to normal. You have to work, and that will mean—”
“I’m not going back,” he says quietly, and my head jerks back. “I already talked to Toni and the guys. They all get it. Toni’s letting me out of my contract without any kind of repercussion, and Otto and Ham are cool with it. They understand.”
“You never told me this.”
“I didn’t want to fight with you about it. I know you’re going to say you’ll be okay and that I should finish out my contract, but there is no way I’m going back out, not after what happened. Not when something might come up where you need me here. It would take me hours to get to you.”