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It took Talya a few minutes of thought before she realized what he meant. “Well, shit. You bought the roses.”
He laughed, which he didn’t think he’d do after his talk with Talya. “And the rest.”
“Oh, God. Now I’m really going to cry.”
While Talya softly cried against his chest, he wiped at his own eyes.
He was desperate to go to Sylvia, but he knew that she was on the mend and would be going home with him, which gave him the enthusiasm he needed to get their house in order with furniture.
He’d get the basics and then they’d shop together for everything else. In fact, the huge sleigh bed he’d ordered with the thick mattress was due to be delivered the following day. So at least that was one less problem.
“Let me drop you at the hospital, and even though it will kill me not to go inside to see her, I’ll hold off until I come and get her to take her home.”
She nodded, and without a word, followed him to his truck.
Chapter Thirty-Two
For four days Talya had been acting weird. It was as though every time she came to visit Sylvia, she was avoiding her, which was strange considering they were in the same room. Every time her discharge was brought up Talya wouldn’t meet her gaze. Even now that she helped Sylvia into leggings she was being evasive. That had put her on edge so instead of looking forward to going home, she couldn’t help be distracted with her friend.
For brief periods, she would think about Eric, and whether or not he had something to do with her friend’s distraction, but she really didn’t believe that. He’d had over two weeks to contact her, and he hadn’t, albeit, she’d been in the hospital for one of those weeks, and with the promise from her friends that they wouldn’t call him. She tried to forget that it had been her decision not to inform Eric about her being shot, but she really had wanted to save him from worrying about her. In the end though, she’d wanted him with her so badly that she’d nearly given in and begged Talya to call him.
“Hey,” Talya made her jump. “I don’t know where you went, but you’re going to fall over if you’re not careful.”
“Sorry.”
“Hmm,” she mumbled. “C’mon, you’re ready. Sit in that.”
She really had no wish to be pushed out of the hospital in a wheelchair, but she knew that she wouldn’t make it to the ground floor without one. Although her side was healing as it should, it still caused her pain to get around, and the longer she shuffled around, the more intense the pain became.
“I seriously didn’t think you’d get in it.” Talya shoved Sylvia’s belongings from the hospital over the handles before setting off.
In the elevator, Sylvia looked around and realized her friend was nervous, so she sighed, and said, “Spill.”
“What?”
“There’s something going on with you.” And then it hit her that Talya had said her car was in the garage. “Who’s picking us up from the hospital, or do you have a taxi waiting?”
Talya pushed her out of the elevator and toward the entrance, when she more or less begged, “Please don’t be angry with me.”
“I don’t understand.” Sylvia frowned.
“You will in a minute. Just don’t be pigheaded and hear him out.”
Sylvia was about to turn to ask Talya what the hell she meant when movement at the side of a black SUV caught her eyes.
Eric.
Her heart fluttered in her chest when he walked toward her. He got down on his haunches and rested his hands on his knees while he looked her over, and then finally, he reached for her hand.
She was surprised that his had a slight tremor to it as he held her tight, his eyes closed. When he opened them, all the love he had for her shone clear, and her tears leaked freely down her face.
“Hey, babe. Please don’t cry.” He knelt and used the Kleenex Talya passed to him to try and mop her up. “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he admitted, his voice gruff.
Sylvia reached out and cupped his face. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I would have been here a few days ago, but after talking to Talya, I decided it was best to wait. Which is why you’re coming home with me.” He smiled. “I know we need to talk and I need to apologize, which I will, but for now, I want to get you away from here.”
She nodded her head through her tears. “Okay.”
