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I loved that his eyes were the first thing I saw when I opened mine.
But did he love me?
“I want you to sleep.” He kissed my forehead. “The only way you’re going to get stronger is by resting your body, so that’s what you need to do.”
Sleep.
Something I couldn’t imagine doing right now.
But with my eyelids so heavy, that was something I couldn’t imagine fighting for a second longer.
Still, I had things to say.
Things I needed to get out.
Questions I wanted answered.
But my tongue—it hadn’t lightened. It felt swollen and weighted, like an extra limb that didn’t even fit in my mouth.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered. “I’ll be right here. I’m not leaving you.”
“Are you in any pain?” Grayson asked from the open door of the back seat, where he stood just outside, an arm around my back and another on my uncast hand to help me get out of the SUV.
Even though the medication was helping, the pain was still present.
In my wrist.
On the side where I’d fallen, which was covered in dark-purple bruises.
In my abdomen, my ribs, and beyond, like I’d been hit with a hammer.
“I’m okay.” I carefully turned toward the door and extended my legs across the side of the seat, my feet reaching for the ground, anticipating the sidewalk.
Once my toes touched down, I winced.
“Will you let me carry you inside?”
Something I’d adamantly refused when the driver had pulled up to our building and again when Grayson had opened my door.
“No.” I took a breath and the motion—even though there was none aside from my lungs filling—felt like a jackhammer was cutting through my ribs. “The doctor says I need to walk as much as possible.”
After two nights in the hospital, I had finally been discharged. My parents and Grayson had discussed this morning whether I should stay at their new apartment or Grayson’s condo, like I wasn’t in the hospital room while they’d talked about this or capable of making my own decisions.
There was no decision.
I was staying at home with my fiancé.
Grayson hadn’t left my side once during the entire time I’d been in the hospital. He slept in the chair next to my bed, used the restroom in my room. He had the cafeteria bring him a tray when they delivered mine and had the guys bring him some fresh clothes.
When I closed and opened my eyes, he was always there.
I understood my mom’s desire to want me under her roof, and I appreciated Grayson’s insistence that he wanted the same. It was an amazing feeling to be cared for by everyone I loved.
But I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
I just needed to get past this sidewalk and through the lobby and into the elevator to go upstairs.
“Shit,” I hissed after my first step.
