"There he is, mister sleepyhead," he says with a grin.
"Shit, man. Did you stay the night?" I say, realizing where I am.
"Of course I did."
"Thanks, mate," I say thickly.
"Don't you worry about it. I'm actually about to head home, but you still have someone to hang out with," he says with a grin, opening the hospital room door.
My auburn-haired, curvy girlfriend rushes in with Aldo following behind sheepishly. Culver says his goodbyes as Petula kisses my face all over.
"I was so scared," she whispers as I wrap my arms around her.
"I'm going to be fine."
"I'll give you two some space," Aldo says. "Want anything from the cafeteria?"
My stomach growls in response. "Yeah. I don't know what they're going to bring on a tray, so do you mind? Like a turkey sandwich or something?"
"You got it. How about you, Petula?"
"I'll have whatever he's having. Thanks, Aldo," she says, resting her head against my chest.
Aldo leaves, and the two of us lie there with Petula half on my hospital bed. I hear her choke back a cry.
"I was seriously scared, Flint."
I stroke her hair and kiss the top of her forehead. "I swear I'm going to be okay, babe."
She looks up at me, blinking back tears, and blurts out, "I love you. I can't believe I didn't tell you that before. I've been thinking it these last couple of weeks, and I've been too chicken shit to say it, but I love you, Flint. I was so scared I wouldn't be able to tell you."
My heart swells beneath my ribs as I pull her close to my face, studying her dark brown eyes.
"I love you too."
She grins at me, then smashes her lips against mine right as a nurse comes in to check my vitals.
Petula had to return that day because of a book cover deadline, but Aldo stays until it's time for me to be released.
On the drive back, he casually mentions, "By the way, Petula is planning on helping you out at home, so the hospital didn't assign you an in-home nurse."
"What? Are you serious? I can't ask her to be my nurse," I say, aghast.
"Well, she insisted. Already set up a cot in your living room."
"A cot? She can sleep with me," I say, laughing. "It's not like we haven't done that before."
"I know, but she was worried you might need more space with your leg and everything. She wants to take care of you." He keeps his eyes on the road. "I have to admit, I'm jealous, man."
I stare out at the highway flying by, feeling bad that I'm going to be a burden on Petula.
10
Petula
Aldo arrives with Flint right at dinnertime, and I'm prepared with a lasagna in the oven for my love. During dinner, Flint is pretty quiet, which doesn't surprise me given that he's hopped up on some pretty heavy-duty pain meds. But when I help him get ready for bed, he's extra grumbly and seems put out that I'm here.
Once I tuck him in, I sit on the side of the bed, resting my hand on his firm chest.
