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I shake my head, remembering what we had done in the parking lot earlier. “No.”
“Good. Go home. Give Zu a kiss for me, and come back in the morning to get me.”
“I doubt you’ll be ready for release that soon,” the nurse cautions him, but Pax ignores her.
“I’ll call Roger,” Pax reaches for his phone, but I shake my head.
“No. It’s the middle of the night. I’ll have Gabe drop me off.”
“They’re still here?” Pax lifts an eyebrow.
“Of course. They love you. They’ll take me to get our car tomorrow, too.”
He nods and I throw my arms around his neck. He winces, then hides it.
“Are your pain meds wearing off?” I ask, then I turn to the nurse before he answers. “He needs more. Please don’t let him be in pain.”
“He’s in good hands,” she assures me. “I promise.”
“Ok.”
Pax kisses my lips softly, and then a little more insistently. The nurse clears her throat, gesturing again at the monitor. I smile against my husband’s lips.
“I guess I do affect you,” I sigh. “I’ll be back in the morning. Don’t go anywhere.”
He chuckles, and I get up, but I pause at the door.
The nurse is checking the pulse at his wrist, and he’s so big and strong, and he looks so out of place in the hospital bed.
“I love you,” I tell him.
His eyes are gold as he looks up at me. “I love you, too, Red. Sweet dreams.”
“Always.”
I force myself to leave, and Gabe and Maddy walk me through the hospital corridors and out into the chilly night.
I’m silent as they drive me home, my eyes hot and red from lack of sleep.
“He’s ok,” my sister reminds me as we pull into my driveway. “You can relax and get some sleep.”
“I know,” I agree. “Thank you for giving me a ride.”
“We’ll be back in the morning to take you to your car,” Gabe says gruffly.
“Thank you, guys,” I murmur as I climb out. “Really.”
They wait as I unlock the door, and then they drive away, their taillights disappearing into the night.
I glance at my watch. It’s three-thirty a.am.
Chelcie is asleep on the sofa and I hesitate to wake her.
“I’m home,” I tell her softly. “Feel free to stay here tonight, if you’d like.”
“Is Pax ok?” she asks worriedly, sitting up. I nod. I know she’s sincerely concerned. She’s like family now. She was our waitress over a year ago in a tiny dive café, and after talking with her, we found out that she was an orphan, that she had no money, and she was trying to put herself through college.
That was all it took. Pax paid her tuition the next day, and she’s been our babysitter ever since.
