Page 61 of Forever my Love

She was quiet. “It’s my fault,” she said, leaning back.

“What? Me falling in love with you? It sure is.” He smiled, feeling a little dizzy now that the meds had hit his system.

She shook her head. “Fred attacked me before the fight. Your mother⁠—”

“What?” He jerked a little and instantly regretted the move.

“Your mother and I fought him off and escaped. Security was looking for him, and we figured it was best if we didn’t distract you before the fight.”

“Did he hurt you?” he asked, glancing around to ask his mother the same.

“No, I was fighting him off, using the moves you’d shown me, when your mother did an amazing flying tackle and took him down. We ran away and he escaped out the fire door.”

He remembered hearing the alarms going off in his room just before he’d left to head into the arena. He was told that some idiot had opened the fire door and it was nothing.

“How did he get back in with a gun?” he asked.

“That’s still under investigation,” his father said when he stepped into the room. “How are you feeling, son?”

“The drugs are making everything fuzzy. I don’t know if I’ll be awake in five minutes, so hurry up and tell me they’ve caught the asshat.”

His father’s face told him that no, they hadn’t caught Fred yet.

“Shit,” he said, feeling himself slip further into a drugged state. “Mom, are you okay?” he asked, his words slurring again.

“I’m fine, son. Get some rest. We will keep an eye on Hailey and you until you’re awake.” She leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead as he once again faded into the darkness.

“You’re only doing this for attention,” his sister’s voice woke him the next time. “See, I was right,” Hannah said, her nose inches from his own. “Hey, stupid.”

He smiled. “Hi, ugly.”

Hannah smiled. “I heard you went and won a fight and then to celebrate, you got shot.”

He groaned. “At least I won.”

“Yes, you did. Stupid.” Hannah leaned down and kissed him on the forehead where his mother had.

“Where is everyone?” he asked when he realized that the room was quiet.

“Sleeping. It’s three in the morning. We finally convinced Hailey to go back to a hotel room and get some real sleep.”

“What day is it?” he asked, feeling fully awake for some reason.

“Three days after you got shot,” Hannah answered, leaning back in her chair. I flew out here earlier. Mom and Dad were worn out, and Hailey…” She shook her head.

Worry flooded him. “What’s wrong with Hailey?” he asked, wishing he could sit up more.

“She’s exhausted. She hadn’t left your side for more than a few minutes to go to the bathroom or shower. It took a call from her sister to finally convince her to go back with the folks and get some real rest.” Hannah took his hand in hers. “How are you feeling?”

“The sharp pain in my chest is now dull. It might be due to the drugs, but it’s not as bad as it was the last time I woke up.”

“Rest,” Hannah said with a smile. “Your body is healing quickly. You’ll be up and punching more grown men in underwear soon enough.”

He shook his head. “No, I think I’m done with that career. Nothing can top the other night.” He smiled. “You know what they say, quit while you’re ahead.”

Hannah smiled at him. “Good, because we like your face the way it is.”

“Have they caught Fred yet?”