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“You’ve got some nerve, Ben! First, you break my trust, lie to me about everything and now you’re telling me you want to marry my only daughter? Fat chance. And you can stick your money where the sun don’t shine. I’ll figure something out, something without you in it. You or your stupid money,” he gasps, looking like he needs some oxygen as I buzz for the nurse.

“You always were better than me, weren’t ya?” he continues. “Always flashing your money around. Your inheritance. Well good for you, Ben. But blood is thicker than water and I know Stacey will wake up to the facts once she feels better. She’s coming home with me and that’s that,” he nearly shouts before the nurse comes in, shifting me out of the way with a frown and doing what she can for the man.

“Home?” I muse quietly. “Have her at home alone for what, a whole month while you sit here, racking up a huge bill neither of you can afford?”

I watch Greg’s face fall, he knows it as well as I do, but I gotta hand it to him for putting up a fight. The good fight for what he wants for his baby girl, but it’s not the fight she needs.

“I can look after her, Greg and you know it. I can support all of us if you’ll just let me. Okay, maybe I can ease off the idea of nuptials for a bit, but Stacey’s mine now. Learn to live with that. I’m gonna give her everything she needs in this life and it’s not as raw a deal as you wanna make it,” I tell him firmly, the nurse even nodding in agreement as she can’t help but listen in.

Eventually, Greg calms down and the nurse leaves, winking at me.

“I just wish it was you who told me, Ben. Even coming from Stacey, I can’t take it. She’s just a child…” he groans, sniffing with emotion again.

“She’s an adult, Greg, but I know how she’ll always be your little girl. Just agree to her staying with me until you’re outta here. I can field anything you need to be dealt with regarding your job, anything,” I add helpfully.

“As long as you get to have your way with her?” he groans angrily, clenching the bedsheets. “As long as you get to—” But I cut him off.

“It’s not like that, Greg. I really do love Stacey. I care for her very much,” I tell him earnestly.

And yeah, in more ways than I’d ever want to have to describe to you because it would kill you if you knew what we’ve been doing. What I plan to do to her every day. Every single night of our life.

His head sinks back, and his emotions overtake him. He’s sobbing with nostalgia.

Crying for his daughter growing up, crying for his own marriage that didn’t work the way he thought it would. Crying because he’s hurting.

I draw up a seat, closer to his bed and take his hand in mine.

“I don’t want to lose you as a friend, Greg,” I tell him honestly. “I was scared as hell in that damned ford, seeing the two people I love most about to be swept away. I would’ve died happy knowing I at least tried.”

“You should’ve left me,” he groans, trying to turn his face away. “All this is too much, Ben. It’s not… natural.”

I pat his hand, which I’m glad he hasn’t pulled away.

“Just give us tome, and give yourself some too,” I add, hoping again that he catches my meaning.

I love Stacey and I want her as my wife. But I don’t want to lose my best friend in the process if I can help it.

“You’ll… You’d really help us, I mean?” he asks after a long silence. Thinking everything over.

“Of course I will, you as much as Stacey. We’re like family anyway,” I point out, a little hurt myself that Greg hasn’t once asked if I’m okay. If I need anything, but I guess he’s always taken it for granted that I’m bulletproof. Indestructible. But only when Stacey’s around.

“And when did I ever flash money around?” I ask him, making him stifle a laugh as he shakes his head.

“Oh, probably never,” he snorts. “Just let me be mad for a time, will ya, Ben? I can’t live without Stacey either, but the idea of my oldest friend not wanting me either…”

“I never said that,” I caution him, but I don’t want to split hairs over anything anymore. I can see Greg coming to his senses.

Like Stacey, he’s had some big shocks over the past few days.

“Just rest up for now, and I’ll bring Stacey in to see you when she feels up to it,” I add casually, which makes him sigh heavily.

“See? She’s already against me, Ben. Don’t let her hate me. Don’t you hate me too,” he finally pleads.

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