Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I wanted to argue, but everything she said made sense.
“After the way I treated you, why would you want to?” I asked.
She sat down, shaking her head. “I don’t know, but I have to. I can’t tell you what it did to me seeing you lying on the porch, bleeding and injured.” Her voice broke, and she was quiet for a moment. “I don’t understand you sometimes, Hunter. But frankly, I don’t think you understand yourself either.”
She slipped her hand into mine. “You’re hurt, and that hurts me. I want to help you get better because I care. I care about you.” She met my eyes. “We need to leave it at that for now. You won’t be released until at least tomorrow, and you’re coming home with me.”
I hated seeing the worry in her eyes. Knowing how upset she’d been. How strong she was being for me. “Okay, Little Dragon. I don’t think I’ll be a very good patient, though.”
She rolled her eyes. “I already figured that out.”
I sighed, shocked at how much a simple conversation sapped me of my strength. I felt Ava’s fingers stroking along my brow. Her touch was light and gentle, bringing with it relief and warmth. I leaned into her caress, drifting.
She touched her lips to my cheek, the scent of her chasing away the medicinal smell and replacing it with the lingering notes of flowers, citrus, and her.
It lulled me back to sleep.
* * *
Ava
I peeked in on Hunter. He was asleep, his head turned into the pillow, the rise and fall of his chest steady. He had been a surprisingly docile patient since I’d brought him home with me four days ago. He slept a lot. His body needed to rest to recover. He hated being reliant on me—on anyone—for help, so he asked for very little. It zapped all his energy to get out of bed and be helped to the bathroom for a shower. Ralph, the nurse who came to help him, was friendly and pleasant, and Hunter was polite, although I could tell he hated requiring the aid. I knew once he got stronger, he would refuse it.
I sat at the kitchen table, looking over my lists. Addi had been shocked when I’d informed her I would be working between home and the office for a while, although she understood when she heard about Hunter’s accident. I had spoken to Robert, who assured me that between us, nothing would get missed. My parents had been to the house once they found out, checking in on Hunter and making sure we were all right the first day I brought him home.
“All of us can help,” Mom soothed me. “You figure out your schedule. There are enough of us, we can sit with Hunter while you go to work or do errands.” She reached out, clasping my hand. “You have to look after yourself as well.”
“I know,” I assured her. “I am.”
“You look tired.”
“It’s been a little stressful.”
She squeezed my fingers. “I know.” She met my eyes. “Seeing someone we love hurt is always difficult.”
I felt a tremor go through me. “Am I that obvious?” I whispered.
“No. But I know my daughter. I see a lot of myself in you. A lot of your father in him. He is not an easy man to love.”
I shook my head. “That’s the problem, Mom. He is easy to love.”
“I suppose it’s not easy for him to accept it, then.”
I nodded, then felt the tears I’d been holding back gather in my eyes. “I was so scared, Mom. Seeing him lying there, how still he was. The blood. How frantic Cash was.” I wiped my eyes. “I thought—” I swallowed. “I thought he…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.
“I know, but he’s not. He’s here, and he’ll be fine, thanks to you.”
I nodded. “He will be.”
Dad walked in, bringing Cash with him. He’d taken him outside to throw a ball with him for a while. Cash was wagging his tail, his head up. He’d been so excited to see Hunter, making whimpering noises in the back of his throat and wanting Hunter’s attention.
“We need a dog, Sunshine.”
“Maybe when you retire. In the meantime, you can look after Cash.”
I smiled at the memory. By the next day, my fridge was full of casseroles and easy dinners. There was a list of people wanting to take Cash for a walk or to play with him, and I had no shortage of bodies willing to sit with Hunter when I had to go to the office or run errands. My family rallied, the way they always did when someone needed help. I was grateful, and Hunter…well, Hunter was confused. All the caring and generosity were alien to him. He was polite with everyone, but he held himself back. A part of me wondered if he would be comfortable in a place that was home to me. If he would ever find a place to be comfortable enough to call home. The thought of him leaving, wandering to yet another destination, searching for something he couldn’t put into words hurt my heart, but I knew there was nothing I could do to hold him. If I held too tight, he would leave all that much sooner.