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I shake my head. Why won’t they understand I won’t leave his side? I will be here when he opens his eyes.
“Fuck, why did he forget to put his vest on?”
I vaguely hear Kieran’s voice behind me.
We both know why. He didn’t care. Without me, he doesn’t care. My eyes fill with tears.
Day four, five, six.
He’s still in coma. I’m in limbo.
“Chiara—”
“Stop. Leave me alone with him,” I scream to no one and all of them. They don’t understand. He’s my life. He’s the beat of my heart, my challenge, my reason—he’s mine and no one else’s.
My parents sigh, and my sister hugs me before they leave. I will lose my shit if someone keeps insisting that I leave him to rest. I sleep just fine in the chair. I shower in the adjoined bathroom. The girls bring me fresh clothes. I’m not moving from this spot.
“I love you and accept you for who you are. I miss you. I want my dream to come true. Our baby girl. And all the kids you want because I want that too. I know I keep telling you, but please come back to me. She looked like you. Of course, you slapped my genes silly, but I didn’t care. We’ll have others. You want a confession? I’m scared you’ll love her more. I’m jealous. I want you to myself a while longer. Just mine.”
Day seven, eight, nine.
The best doctors this country has to offer come by. It’s up to his body now.
Day ten, eleven, twelve.
“Please, please wake up. If you love me, come back. Don’t you love me? Cato, wake upppppppp!”
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.
“Don’t leave me. Do you want to leave me? Do you want me to let go? I can’t. I can’t. I truly can’t. I’m selfish too.”
I leave the guys with him as I drag my feet to the bathroom, switch the tap on, and sob until my body finally gives out of me.
Chapter 38
My body feels like I’m buried under cement. I try to blink awake, but I barely have the strength. With renewed force, I peel my eyes open and grogginess hits me. The guys shoot from their chairs. The scent of antiseptic and view of white walls surround me. I look for Chiara. Something nags at my brain to remember, but I sigh. She’s not here. And that thought is worse than dying.
“You were shot. Three times. You scared us.” Kieran drags a hand down his face, bags under his eyes.
“You asshole. You made me age prematurely.” Cameron’s usual put-together appearance is in disarray, as if he’s been sleeping in his clothes.
“Welcome back to the living,” Hayden adds.
I don’t know why I expect her to come any minute. She must hate me after my confession. Why didn’t I fucking die?
The bathroom door opens, and the machine I am connected to pings like crazy. She’s here.She’s here.
Chiara stumbles in her rush to me and sobs on my chest. She feels so tiny. She cups my face. Dark circles ring her eyes, emphasized by her pale face.
It fills me with relief, with fucking euphoria, if it’s possible to realize this beautiful, mad woman is all mine. She loves me enough to put herself in this situation. And if it’s one thing my woman is, she’s stubborn.
“Say it, and I am yours, from now on until I leave this world. Say what you never wanted to admit. Say it,” I urge.
“I have been yours since the moment you laid eyes on me.”
I slam my lips to hers and breathe in happiness. I don’t think I have ever felt this light-headed, a torrent of emotions that have me grinning like a fool.
“My life is yours, Chiara. My love, every-fucking-thing.”
