I pull back and sit down in the chair I have been sitting in for the last day and a half. I grasp her hand in both of mine and bring it to my lips, leaving one more soft kiss before I pull back and look into those eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Ave. I?—”
She takes her hand and places it against my mouth, effectively cutting me off.
“Don’t you dare apologize to me, Kane August D’Antonio,” she says firmly, indignation written on her face as she peers back up at me.
“But this is my fault,” I rasp out, my eyes welling with tears again thinking about how my reckless actions landed her here, fighting for her life, in surgery for hours.
“This isnotyour fault, and you better stop beating yourself up for it,” she says with a no-nonsense tone.
“But—” I start before I’m cut off with a withering look from her, threatening me not to push her.
“These are the actions of an absolute madman who has been abusing his children and getting away with it. You did what was right and stood up to him because you saw an injustice and couldn’t stand by. And I am so proud of you for standing up for that kid. I do not blame you for even a second. Theonlyperson to blame is him, do you hear me?” she says.
I hang my head and look at our joined hands. My tan, callused ones dwarf her pale, small one. The completeopposite of mine, but somehow fitting perfectly in mine. A hand that I never want to let go of as long as I live.
“Look at me,” she whispers softly.
I bring my head up and look at those freckles, my very own constellation guiding me home. Those eyes on me like I had been begging anyone who would listen for hours.
“I love you,” she states, knowing I need to hear the words more than ever. I reach over to stroke her cheek with one of my hands, the rings gleaming in the overhead lights. She moves her head further into my hand as if she is trying to burrow into its warmth.
“I love you so much. Thank you for coming back to me,” I rasp with another kiss on her hand, unable to keep my hands or lips off her for even a second. An angel encased in white, a vision I never want to see again. These past few hours have taken years off my life, the rotation of nurses and doctors spiking my anxiety at everyhmand new medical term they threw my way.
“There’s nothing that will keep me from you again, not even a lunatic with a gun,” she jokes. “Too soon?”
“Maybe a bit. I just got you back,” I laugh, my own smile making an appearance at the one she has shining at me, impossible to resist. My heart flutters with the thought of that smile peering at me again, the hours of hopelessness draining the longer she looks at me.
Soon we’re ambushed by a flurry of activity when the nurse pops in and sees she’s awake. They check all her vitals and ask her about a thousand questions while I refuse to let her go even when asked. She rolls her eyes at that but I’m not willing to let her go for even a second again. The nurses are used to my behavior, working around me, knowing how immovable I am when it comes to her.
At one point, the nurses clear out and my mother popsin. A small gasp leaves her lips as she rounds the bed to Avery’s other side and grabs her face between her hands.
“Oh, my girl, how are you feeling? I’m so glad to see you’re awake,” she coos toward my girlfriend, my heart warming at the look of adoration lining my mother’s face.
“I’m okay. It’s good to see you, Mrs. D,” Avery replies, smiling back up at my mother.
“Elena, please, darling. I won’t take up too much of your time. I brought some food, so please eat,” she fusses, making a pointed look at me, then at the pile of food that could feed an army of ten. The thought of her stacking the tray warms my heart at the effort. “I’ll come back to check on you a little later,” she finishes and kisses Avery on the cheek.
She rounds the bed, places a kiss on mine, and leaves the room with her heels clacking after her, her perfume lingering in the air even after she’s gone.
“How are you?” Avery coaxes, looking at me, imploring me, and nodding her head at where my mother just vacated.
“I should be asking you that, pretty girl,” I say, rubbing circles on the back of her hand, letting the feeling of her awake and talking fuel me. I take some bites of the food, bland and tasteless, but not wanting to collapse now that she’s made her way back to me.
“She apologized,” I start, my voice trailing off. “She left my father. She wants to be in my life.”
“And how does that make you feel? That’s good, right?” Avery asks, a hesitant look on her face. My heart aches at the reason it’s there, needing to let her in more than anything right now.
“I don’t know. It’s what I wanted, but I’m not sure if I can trust it,” I answer on a sigh, scratching the stubble that has grown back over the past two days.
“I think you should give her a chance, babe. If mymother came back telling me she was willing to try, I would jump at the chance. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least you know you tried,” she reasons, bringing her hand up to cup my cheek, stroking my cheek and calming my heart rate.
Just as I open my mouth to respond, the door opens in a flourish, and chaos soon sweeps into the room in the form of a five-foot-four bubbly blonde who yells, “Oh my god! You’re awake!” as she rushes to Avery’s side and wraps her in a hug.
Avery lets out a huff.
“Sorry, sorry I got too excited,” Morgan apologizes, stroking Avery’s hair and staring at her best friend as if she’s a mirage.
