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I’ve been waking up on a cold concrete floor for too long, so regaining consciousness in a warm, soft bed makes me wonder what the hell is going on. There’s a warm weight on my left shoulder and bicep, and when I open my eyes I see why.
Mia is sitting in a chair next to my bed and she’s fallen asleep against me, her cheek pillowed on my shoulder. A sweet ache fills my chest as I look at her beautiful face.
She stayed.
My girl needed to be here when I woke up, and I’m so happy that she is because I’ve been so lonely locked up in that cage. It felt as if the world had forgotten about me. Like I was already dead.
The hospital room is dark and empty apart from the two of us. It must be the middle of the night.
Moving carefully because my ribs on the right side are aching, I shake her awake and ease back in the bed, making space for her.
“Bambi. Come up here. You’re not sleeping in that chair.”
Mia lifts her head, the wrinkles of my hospital gown printed on her cheek. “Hm? No, I can’t. You’re hurt.”
“You’re pregnant. Get up here, now, or I’ll get out of bed and make you.”
That persuades her to do as she’s told. Mia clambers sleepily into the narrow bed and beneath the covers with me. I wrap them around her and pull her against my chest, gritting my teeth and swallowing a groan of pain as I squeeze her too tightly.
My girl mumbles sleepily, and then falls asleep again. I stroke my fingers through her hair, her warmth and softness seeping into my hard, aching bones. I don’t know what I did to deserve her and our baby. Probably nothing. I’ll just have to make sure I deserve them from now on.
I wake hours later to sunlight filtering around the closed blinds, and Mia still asleep in my arms. She rouses slowly, rubbing her face and stretching her toes. When she finally looks up at me, I’m smiling at her.
She doesn’t return my smile. “I see you’re feeling better.”
“So much better. Give your man a kiss.”
When I lean down to press my lips against her, she turns her face away. “I’m still mad at you.”
But she’s cuddled close against my chest, her fingers clenched on my hospital gown and her foot rubbing against my calf.
“Kiss me, Bambi, and say you’ll be mine. Forever.”
“After what you’ve done you deserve a slap, not a kiss.”
I capture her hand in mine and press it over my heart. “I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t mean forever.”
I’ve never thought I’d say those words to a girl. I didn’t believe I was built that way, or that I’d live long enough for anyone to fall in love with me. Mia’s expression softens as she gazes up at me. I must look a sight with my bruised and beaten face, but she gazes at me like I’m what she’s been craving most in the whole world.
“Will you be my forever?” I ask.
“You didn’t leave me much choice. That was a dirty trick with the birth control.”
A smile spreads over my face. “It was, wasn’t it? Worked like a charm.”
“Stop grinning like that.”
“Why?”
Her mouth twitches and she struggles to keep a straight face. “Because it’s really hard to stay mad at you when you smile at me like that.”
“Bambi?”
“What?”
“Will you marry me?”
Her mouth opens and closes in outrage. “You can’t... I’m not... this is...you are unbelievable, Lazzaro Rosetti.”
