Page 62
“Don’t,” he said, squeezing my hand. “I know what you want to say, and I’m asking you not to. Don’t say it just because I’m in this bed or because you thought I was going to die. And please don’t say it because you feel obligated after I let it slip that night.”
“If I can’t say it when you almost lost your life, when can I?” My eyes burned, my body so overwhelmed with emotions that they had nowhere else to go.
“Say it when I’ll least expect it, when you know that you mean it with every fiber of your being. I want to be taken so off guard, that I have to smack myself in the face to remember to say it back.”
“I’m so sorry.” I tried to quickly wipe away the tears falling down my cheeks before he noticed, but I wasn’t fast enough.
“Hey, no more crying! What are you sorry for? You didn’t do this.”
“It feels like I did,” I admitted. “You mean so much to me. I should have protected you.”
“Jason, I don’t think anyone could have predicted this.”
“He’d already attacked you twice, I should have at least known something.”
Ryan raised a hand, trailing a light finger over my jaw. I hadn’t realized it was bruised until his touch hurt. “How’d that happen?”
Bashfully, I recounted what happened after Ryan had bolted out the door of the shop. By the time I finished, even he failed to hide his smirk. “Did you get him back?”
“Oh, yeah, he won’t be breathing very well for the foreseeable future.”
Ryan chuckled and though it was brief, I’d have been content never to hear another sound for the rest of my life.
“You don’t always have to be the strong one, you know. You’re allowed to feel it.”
“Oh, I’m feeling it.” Ryan brushed a hand over the bandages on his stomach. “Painkillers are wearing off.”
“I’ll go find the nurse.” But Ryan held tightly onto my hand, pinning me in place.
“No, don’t go. I want to sit with you for a while. I’ll get all doped up when you go home to sleep. Or you pass out again—whichever comes first.”
I sighed. “You know about that?”
“I do,” he confirmed with a lazy grin. He crooked his finger to beckon me closer. “Ahora, dame un beso.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Come here and I’ll show you.”
Ryan dropped my hand to take my face in both of his. Our lips pressed together, and tears poured down my cheeks, flavoring the kiss with a salty taste.
I never wanted to live another day without knowing that feeling.
“My mom loves you,” Ryan said when our lips separated. “She can’t stop raving about you.”
I blushed and looked down at my lap. “She’s pretty great too.”
“I wasn’t expecting to hear her call you Genie.”
I peered at him through my lashes, worried that he’d be angry that I didn't let him do it. “Does it upset you that I let her?”
“No, of course not. I think it’s really sweet. Thank you, for accepting her so quickly. This situation, it’s… it’s a mess, and so not what I had in mind for you meeting my family.”
“Your mom’s an incredible woman.”
“She is.” The smile faded from Ryan’s face. “But she’s tired. She tries to hide it, but I can see it. I’m constantly worried about how she’s managing the kids without any help.”
“Who would they be with now if she’s here?’
