Page 60 of Forever my Love

ChapterTwenty

What a terrible dream. Reece’s mind circled over and over the past evening’s events until all he could think about was getting to Hailey. Seeing her face one more time.

When he woke, her name was the only thing that came out.

Even when he was held down, he shouted for her.

“I’m here,” she said, suddenly appearing in front of him. “Reece, you have to be still now.”

He blinked and, seeing her face, completely relaxed his body.

“You’re here.” He reached for her.

She moved closer and touched his face. “I’m here,” she said again. “Please, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

“Are you okay?” His words came out like he was drunk, slurred and all running together.

“I’m okay,” she said softly. “I’m here.”

She leaned down and brushed her lips across his and he settled down. This was right. This was home.

He slept for a while again and, this time when he woke up, pain shot through his chest and his arms and legs.

He must have groaned because his mother’s face appeared followed by Hailey’s.

“Are you in pain?” his mother asked. “I’ll hit the button and get you more medicine.” He heard a beep and felt the warm fluid enter the veins in his arm. For now, he wasn’t going to deny himself relief from the sharp pain. He knew that the more the medicine wore off, the worse it would be.

“What happened?” he asked, wanting to cough, but afraid it would hurt even more.

“You were shot,” his mother answered after a pause.

He frowned. He remembered that part.

“No, I mean, did I win?” he asked.

After another pause, his mother chuckled. “Yes, son, you did win the fight.”

“You remember getting shot?” Hailey asked him. “But not if you won the fight?”

He glanced over at her and smiled. “It’s kind of a blur.” He assessed his body and realized that most of it was still numb, all except a few ribs and a spot close to his right shoulder. “How many times did the bastard get me?”

“Twice,” his mother answered.

“You… you know it was Fred?” Hailey asked.

He did now. He’d only been talking about whoever had pulled the trigger.

“Shit, it was that asshat?” He winced when his mother made a noise at his language. “Sorry, Mom.”

“It’s okay. Any man who shoots my son is an asshat,” his mother replied quickly. “I’m going to get your father. He is just down the hall to get some drinks.”

“Hey, Hailey,” he said, and she appeared over him again. He determined that his right arm was free of tubes and reached up to cup her face. He pulled her down until their lips were inches apart. “I love you.”

He saw her eyes soften. Tears filled them. He felt them drop on his face as she brushed her lips across his.

“I love you too,” she said softly.

“I was going to tell you after the fight,” he admitted.