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“Sweet, I won the bet.”
“What bet?”
“With Jon and Frank. They insisted she was having a girl,” he answered, referring to his older brothers. “We couldn’t get in touch with Tom to include him.”
“Trent must be on cloud nine. I can’t wait to see the baby.”
He was close to that himself and he wasn’t even the father. He could only imagine how his brother-in-law and sister felt. “Go tomorrow. Spend a few days up there. You deserve a few days away after last night.” With her stalker dead, she had her freedom back. She could visit Providence or anywhere else before getting back into her normal routine again.
“Not with you in here. When you get out and can travel, we’ll go together like we planned.”
He didn’t consider himself a super emotional guy, but damn if he didn’t like her answer. “I love you. And when I get outta here, I plan on taking my time and showing you just how much.”
“I’m holding you to that.” She smiled for the first time since coming in. “And looking forward to it,” she added, standing up and giving him a peck on the lips.
“Not so fast,” he said when she tried to move away. With her so close, he planned on kissing her right. Rock brought her mouth toward his. “That wasn’t a kiss,” he whispered before he devoured her lips and showed her what a real kiss was.
The throat clearing got his attention. Damn it. Someone had come in the room. Rock let his lips linger a moment longer before he pulled away. His parents stood inside the room, the door again closed behind them. His mom looked like death warmed over, as she’d say. Her clothes were rumpled, her eyes red, and she had on two different shoes. His dad, who’d done the throat clearing, looked the same as always. No matter the situation, he appeared calm and in charge.
“He looks fine to me,” his dad said as they approached the bed.
Color climbed Allison’s face, but she faced his parents. “Hi, Marta, Sal. Maybe I should give you some time alone.”
He’d prefer if she stayed, but she looked ready to fall asleep on the spot. She needed sleep, not a visit with him and his parents.
“Jake invited me to stay with him. I’ll get some rest and come back in a few hours.”
Considering the state of her house, bunking with her cousin made sense. “No rush. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You might want to wait. Mark and Abby will be up in a minute. He got a phone call as we walked in the hospital,” his mom said.
“They’re here too?”
His mom appeared surprised by the question. “We all flew down together. I thought you knew we were all coming down together.”
Mark Sherbrooke entered the room, his wife a step or two behind him. With the exception of the missing tie, he wore the same clothes as when they’d met for dinner the night before. Like Allison and his mom, Mark had the walking dead look going on. His wife only looked slightly better.
“Dad, Abby, you didn’t need to come.” Her words came out muffled as Mark enveloped her in a hug. “I’m fine.”
Tears glistened in his eyes when he pulled away. “O
f course I did.” The guy sounded like he’d drank a glass of sand on the trip down.
Rock could only imagine the wide range of emotions the guy had experienced tonight. Actually, the same went for his parents.
“How are you, Rock?” Mark turned his attention on him, which apparently was a cue for everyone to look in his direction.
“Fine, sir.” His leg and side throbbed and he knew it’d only get worse as the pain meds continued to wear off. He’d never admit it.
“Mark, remember?” He put his arm around Allison’s shoulders. Judging by his expression, he didn’t intend to let her go anytime soon. “If you need anything, let me know.”
The man had his arm around the only thing he needed. “Thank you.”
“Marta, Sal, we’ll wait down the hall so you can visit with Rock alone. Just come and get us when you’re ready to leave.”
He appreciated that they’d come down, but at the moment, he’d prefer if everyone but Allison left. Telling his mom he didn’t want her there was not an option. Dropping a hint or two was something else. “Come back later, Mom. You and Dad spent all night at the hospital with Addie. Get some sleep. It’s my plan.”
“Mine too,” Allison chimed in, either because she wanted to leave or she understood his intention.
