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I was hit by a delivery truck, and it drove over my leg, which is why it’s broken.
What. The. Hell.
Who the hell gets hit by a whole-ass truck nowadays? Like, really? This is my life? How did it hit me and I didn’t even know it was coming? I wasn’t even on my phone. But my mind was on Ciaran. I can’t believe I didn’t see a truck coming, but then…I never saw Ciaran coming either. He takes my hand the moment the doctors step away from me. He takes the cup of water from the nurse and brings the straw to my lips. I take a pull from the straw as best I can, and I’m thankful for the cold water rushing down my throat. I’m actually able to smile when Ciaran pulls the straw away, and his hand lands on his chest as he takes a deep breath. His eyes are full of tears when our eyes meet.
“There is my smile.”
He leans in, kissing the smile off my lips, and I feel every single emotion in the kiss. He’s still shaking, and I want to ease it all. I want to reassure him; I want to comfort him. “I’m okay,” I whisper against his lips as we part.
“I know that now. But before, I couldn’t breathe.”
I squeeze his hand, and he sits down, his other hand cupping our hands in his. “Ciaran.”
“Louisa.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more, my love.”
I want to fight him on it, but I don’t have it in me. So, I allow him to think he loves me more, even though there is no possible way.
CHAPTER 52
Ciaran
Louisa and I aren’t alone until the next day. I slept for the first time in days, and though I needed it, I’d much rather have talked to Louisa. While I know she has a family, and they love one another, I wish they’d leave us be. I’ve wanted to be alone with her the whole time. Since the moment she woke, I have gone over and over what I want to say when we’re finally alone. But now, all I can think to say is, “I love you, Lou.”
Her lips quirk, and I’m met with her teasing eyes. “You’re just saying that ’cause I got hit by a truck.”
I can’t help but chuckle, and it feels good after three days of constant worry. “Probably so, huh?”
“Oh, totally. Who gets hit by a goddamned truck?” she says with that mischievous gleam in her eyes that I love beyond reason.
“You, apparently. Weren’t you paying attention?”
“I mean, I guess not! I probably wasn’t walking right after all that loving you gave me.”
She waggles her brows, and I laugh, shaking my head. “Great. So it’s my fault?”
“All your fault for keeping me completely distracted all the time.”
I grin at her. “Same, my love. Same.”
We laugh together quietly, our eyes locking with each other’s. She leaves me utterly breathless, and I’m thankful for the color that is coming back to her skin. Seeing her eyes open and sparkling is something I’ll never take for granted again. That smile is stunning and as beautiful as she is.
I lean back in the chair by her bed, blowing into a straw with the wrapper on, and my breath carries the paper toward her, hitting her in the nose. She giggles as I declare, “Ten points.”
The doctor had suggested that Louisa blows the paper off straws, that it can help her lungs, so I stole a bunch from the cafeteria, and we’ve been beaning each other all morning. She’s covered with white paper wrappers, as is the floor. Even all the girls got in on it before they finally left us alone, and while we had a blast, I’m glad to have this time with just Louisa.
When she slides her hand into mine, I thread our fingers, looking up to find her watching me. I stare into her eyes for a long time, neither of us saying a thing, just our fingers tangling and untangling. We have so much to say, but all I care about is letting her know how much I love her. Before I can utter a word, though, she reprimands me. “You’ve missed two games, Ciaran.”
I’m surprised by her statement. I hadn’t expected it. “I did, but Mrs. Adler is good with it, understands what’s going on. And Dimitri really stuck his neck out for me. Everything is fine.”
“But it could have not been,” she urges, her eyes holding mine. “You should have gone.”
I scoff at that, shaking my head. “Lou, there was no way I was leaving you. I physically couldn’t.”
“Your career is imp?—”
