Page 122 of Gravity

Looking down, I connect eyes with Nora as she stares up at us, and as her eyes fill with unshed tears, my heart bursts with relief that my girl is back with us.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Nora

“I want to go to Duck’s,” I announce as I’m carried over the threshold.

“No.”

“Please, Grayson.”

“Nora, it’s your first day home from the hospital. I’m not taking you for donuts.”

“But I feel fine.”

“I don’t care. The answer is no.” His strong arms carefully carry me upstairs to the bedroom when I didn’t even want to come up here. There’s no point arguing with him, though. I found that out whilst I was in the hospital. Everything I wanted to do for myself was taken over by him, and he was by my side faster than I could blink. The last thing I want to do now is lie in bed longer than I already have, but the truth is, I am a little tired.

“Fine. I’ll just go myself.”

He chuckles, “How. You’ve got one broken leg, a shoulder that’s fractured and stitches you need to be careful of.”

“Ugh, you’re such a mood killer. I’ve been locked up for over a week. I want to see what life in Virginia is like.”

“No different to a week ago, darling,” Mom says, carrying in my bags behind Grayson. With the doctors happy with my progress after a second operation on my leg, and an action plan to follow up appointments at a later date, I was discharged first thing this morning. Grayson had already announced before this that I’d be staying with him so he could take care of me. A part of me had wanted to be home with Mom so that she wasn’t on her own, but I’m glad I’m going to be here with him.

I wince as I’m placed down on the bed, my body still a little tender in places. “There you go, baby.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I get you anything?” Grayson asks.

“Yes. I want to go to Duck’s.”

He rolls his eyes. “Anything other than that?”

“No. I’m fine.” I smile, grateful that I now have the comfort of Grayson’s bed, considering I never wanted to come up here.

“Do you want some water? A juice box?”

“Grayson, I’m not a child. I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

He smiles, going to the bottom of the bed to look in my hospital bag before returning with Scuttle. My heart flutters with how thoughtful he is. It’s one of the things I love about him—how he takes care of me without even being asked.

“Right, well I’ll leave you both to it,” Mom says coming to my side of the bed and kissing me on the head. “I’m right next door if you need me. No matter what time of the day. Okay?”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You get some rest. You look tired.”

She heads downstairs along with Grayson, and I take a moment to register the fact that I’m home. Closing my eyes, the flashbacks of that horrific day play out in my mind. Despite the fact that Asher’s response to my outburst had never cleared the air between us, getting everything off my chest and expressing my unhappiness had lifted a weight off my shoulders. When I woke to find that he had been the one behind the wheel, it felt like my world had ended all over again, and that weight is now back. I’ve not seen him since our argument, nor have I heard from him since the accident as he’s serving a short jail time for the offence.

At the time I’d wanted nothing to do with him ever again. I’d had so much resentment inside of me toward him because he hadn’t just put my life in danger, but he’d put Makenna’s on the line, too, as well of his own. In my eyes, he is selfish and heartless. Only Mom has spoken to him and has said he’s not doing great. As I resent him so much, having time to think things over has made me realize that I can’t abandon him. He is troubled and needs those who love him to support him. Not only that, I can’t help but miss him. He’s my brother.

“Your mom is coming back later,” Grayson says, coming into the bedroom. Getting on the bed beside me, he snuggles down, resting on his side so he can face me. “Are you in any discomfort?”

Only my heart.

“No. I’m good.”