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Yawns start ripping through me, and with my parents satisfied that I’m still alive, they get on their way, promising to be back first thing in the morning. They walk out the door accompanied by Logan, which is when Tom clears his throat to gain my attention. I turn to him with a raised brow, wondering where the hell this is going to go.
“I, umm . . . owe you an apology,” he says, looking as though just saying the words alone could have him spontaneously combusting and burning in a blazing inferno right here in my hospital room.
“No shit,” I grunt.
“Would you shut up and listen?” he demands.
I gape at him. “I just got shot and you want to yell at me?” I say, glancing at Mel. “Really, girl? Are you really sure this is your best option? Out of all the guys who’d kill to have you, you want this one?”
Mel rolls her eyes as Tom lets out a frustrated groan, making Sean turn on him, anger blasting through his stare. “Dude, seriously?”
Tom’s groan turns into a sigh, and he swivels his gaze back to me, clearly wishing he were anywhere but here, but what can I say? He brought this on himself. He didn’t need to come here, but he did, and now I’m going to milk it for all it’s worth. “How can I make it up to you?”
I try not to smirk, knowing this particular asshole is putty in my hands right now. “You can start by dealing with that phony speeding ticket for starters,” I tell him.
“Done,” he says, holding my stare and making me wonder if he truly is a genuine person, maybe just someone who’s a little rough around the edges, or maybe a lot rough. Either way, I need to come to terms with the fact that he’s an asshole who means well. After all, if he truly was an asshole, Mel wouldn’t be entertaining this little flirtation between them.
I hold his stare for a while, dragging this out and making him sweat, and after a moment, I finally let out a breath and nod, accepting what will be and putting our drama behind us.
Tom eventually manages to pull Mel out of the room, leaving just me and Sean with Georgie fast asleep on the opposite side of the open curtain.
Georgie’s doctor comes in and clears her to go home, and after being discharged, Sean wraps her in his arms and brings her over to my side before taking a seat with his little girl safely in his lap.
I watch him for a moment, wondering why the hell he isn’t scrambling to get her out of here. “What are you doing?” I question.
“We’re keeping you company,” he explains as Georgie gets comfortable on his lap and tries to sleep against his chest, somewhere I wouldn’t mind sleeping right about now.
“Uhh, no you’re not.”
He gives me a blank stare, clearly not seeing what the problem is. “Why the hell not?” he argues.
“Where should I start?” I say. “Firstly, Georgie has been stuck in a hospital for the past twenty-four hours and has gone through things no child should ever have to go through, not to mention, I don’t think you’ve actually slept in well over twenty-four hours. So, you both need to get home to your own beds.”
“And secondly?” he grunts, knowing damn well I’m right.
“And secondly,” I say, putting the cherry on the top of the cake. “I want to go to sleep.”
Sean groans, and just like that, I know I’ve won this round, but there’s still hesitation in his eyes, something that pulls me right in. “I don’t want to leave you,” he admits.
My heart flutters as a brilliant warmth begins spreading through me, but I push it aside, all too aware of the exhausted child in his arms. “If I could have my way, I’d never let you leave,” I tell him. “But you need to get her home. You’re no good to her if you’re too tired to catch another attack.”
With a sigh, Sean places Georgie down on the end of my bed and starts making his way over to me. He leans down and presses his lips to mine in the sweetest kiss, lingering a little too long considering his little girl can’t take her eyes off us.
Butterflies swarm in the pit of my stomach, and as he pulls back, he meets my stare, a soft smile settling on his face. “Do you mind if I come by tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” I say, a blush spreading over my cheeks.
His eyes soften, taking me in. “Do you need me to bring anything?”
“Just yourself,” I smile.
“Okay,” he whispers as he takes a step back and collects Georgie off the bed. He heads toward the door before turning back. “You know you can call me, right? Even if you’re just lonely. I’ll come.”
