“Don’t think I’ve forgotten that neither of you has admitted that you are finally together? Once that brain of yours heals, we are going to have a conversation about why it took you two so long to figure it out and how we make sure that my son doesn’t screw it all up.”
My insides churn with guilt, knowing that I’m already jeopardizing everything by not telling him about the missed call from the private investigator. He has to understand. Cruz would do anything to protect me, and this is the only way I know how to protect him right now.
“Hey, you okay?” Cruz asks, his lips a whisper from my ear.
I nod woodenly as I swallow down my guilt. “Just tired. We still have to call Hen and Poppy. You should get some rest.” I go to stand up, but Cruz holds me in place and shakes his head.
“Má. We are going to let you go. I need to check in with Hendrix and then Delilah insists I get some rest.”
“That’s my girl. I know you’ll take care of my boy. There’s no one better for the job, mija.” My heart swells at Analia’s words. I know she would support my decision to give her son a chance to heal before he deals with whatever is waiting on his voicemail.
“Buenas noches, Analia. I’ll text you my number so you can check on him while he heals.”
“I’d appreciate that. Thank you, Delilah.” Her voice is filled with sincerity. I know it must be emotional for her to have her only remaining son in the hospital after everything they went through.
“Of course.”
“Love you, Má.”
When we hang up the phone, I let my head rest on Cruz’s shoulder. “You up for one more call? We’re going to keep it quick. Poppy’s been texting non-stop. Hendrix is a mess. You should have seen him when you went down.”
“He was on second, wasn’t he? Man, that’s a front-row seat. I’m impressed at his restraint not to charge the mound.”
“I think he would have, but his concern was for you at that moment, not revenge.”
Using my phone, I find Poppy’s name in my contacts and call her on FaceTime. She answers on the first ring with Hendrix right over her shoulder like she’s in his lap. Cruz shifts next to me so he is in the frame, but I only let him talk to them for a few minutes before I make them wrap it up.
Sitting up, I swing my legs off the bed. Cruz needs his rest, and that means I’m banishing myself to the chair for the night, so he gets a decent sleep.
“What do you think you’re doing?” His voice is flat, and when I look over my shoulder, he’s slumped against the pillows. His unfocused eyes find me through the drooping lids he’s struggling to keep open.
“Moving to the chair so you can sleep.” He squeezes his eyes shut as he winces when I stand, making the bed shift. Shit, he overdid it. I never should have let him call Hendrix. I could have just texted Poppy like I did with Dean and Dom.
“If you want me to sleep, get back in here.” He cracks one eye open at me. “Don’t fucking argue with me about this. I’m injured and you’re the best medicine.”
“I didn’t know that cheesiness was a side effect of the meds,” I say, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Oh, it’s not. That’s all me. But it’s true. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re next to me and not sitting in that god-awful chair all night. And take that bra off too, I know you’re dying to.” He picks on the remote for the bed. “Now get in here before I press this call button and demand that they bring you a bed. That’s going to take a while and it’ll probably wake me up,” he says weakly before tugging on my arm to pull me closer.
“Even concussed, you’re insufferable.”
“You love me.” His voice drifts off and his breathing evens out.
I don’t respond with words. Instead, I lean over him, careful not to wake him as I kiss his lips. He’s not wrong. I have loved Cruz for years at this point. It’s not the first time he’s said those words, but this feels different. Now, it’s not just that I love him. Now I’m falling in love with him and it’s a bone-deep, forever kind of love. One that doesn’t touch anything I’ve ever felt before, and I am pretty sure he feels the same.
Chapter 32
Home Sweet Home
Present
Loud voices in the other room wake me up, but thankfully the raging headache I had when I laid down has faded to a dull ache. The flight home from St. Louis was a bitch. Flying with a concussion is not for the faint of heart.
I slip out of bed and make my way towards the bedroom door, pausing when I hear Delilah’s voice over the others. “Dominic Duran, sit down and shut up or I’ll kick you out.”
“Lilah, don’t be like that. I said I was sorry. I didn’t know Cruz was asleep. I’ll be on my best behavior.” He’s using the voice he uses on the cleat chasers after games. Usually it gets him whatever he wants. He infuses that charm into it and the ladies fall at his feet. It’s not going to work this time. Delilah was over the top protective the entire trip home. Trying to make sure I was okay and as comfortable as possible. If he thinks he can waltz in and charm her into letting him do whatever, he’s going to find out quickly that her claws are sharp.
“If you get us kicked out, I’ll be in line right behind Lilah to kick your ass,” Dean chirps at him in a much quieter voice than Dom was using.
