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“Too… bright.” There is movement around me, and it’s darker as I try again, and finally his face comes into view.
“Noah,” I mouth with not much voice behind it, not knowing who’s here.
“Yeah, baby, I’m here.” His voice is like a soft blanket falling over my body. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.” And now his words are heating me through to my core.
It’s hard, but I don’t want to close my eyes again. Concentrating on looking into his eyes is what is making me hold on. He is stressed, tired, and the longer I search his soul, I can start to see the relief in his face coming.
One lone tear sliding down his face shatters me.
“You scared me.” His whisper is like he is giving me a key to his greatest fear. The fear of losing me is something he just can’t deal with. He is the strongest man I know, but when it comes to me, I am his greatest weakness, and that frightens him.
Using strength in my body I didn’t know was there, I lift my hand to his face above me, cupping his cheek and feeling the weight of his head falling into it. That tells me how hard it was for him.
“I’m here.” His lips touch mine in the softest way, like he is worried I might break if he pushes me too hard. But I need to feel him, all the way to my toes. “Kiss me like you mean it,” I say, and it’s enough to have him cupping my face in both his hands and trying to breathe the life into me that he thinks I need. My body starts to feel a warm tingle all over, and my brain finally feels like everything is going to be okay.
“Give the poor woman a chance to wake up properly.” Tate’s laughter breaks us apart, and as he pulls back, I can see the first real smile on Ghost since we left home.
“She started it.” Ghost winks at me as he stands from the bed.
“How old are you, man?” That has them both laughing, and surprisingly, I feel myself laughing with the faintest giggle.
“Old enough to know that if you hadn’t walked in, I’d still be enjoying kissing my wife.” Ghost pretends to be offended, but I can hear the respect he has for Tate and sense a friendship developing.
“Whatever. Now, as her super surgeon, I think I trump your kiss with the news that I got all the tumor, and from what I can see, you aren’t having any adverse effects yet. It’s still early, though, so let’s just take it easy, Cassie. Don’t let this guy push you too fast.” It’s his way of warning Ghost that he is still in charge until I leave his hospital, no matter what Ghost thinks.
There aren’t many men I can imagine my husband backing down to, but I think Tate could be one of them.
“That’s a relief,” I voice quietly, but on the inside, I feel like screaming with joy. They both look at me now, finishing their standoff as to who is in control of this room.
“Yes, I agree. Thank you from both of us.” Ghost’s hand is out to shake Tate’s. “Now, when can I take her home?”
Tate just rolls his eyes at him, replying with an answer that I doubt Ghost is impressed with. “When I say you can. Understand?” There is force behind the words.
“Roger that.” Ghost takes it better than I thought, although I’m sure on the inside he is not happy.
Everything happening around me is exhausting, and I’m not sure I can stay awake for much longer. My eyes are getting heavy again.
“Sleep, Cassie, it’s okay.” Ghost kisses me on the forehead, and I feel myself drifting off into the darkness again. This time I’m not as scared because I know it’s just tiredness and not that I won’t wake up. Between the two men in this room, I know they won’t let that happen.
GHOST
“Let’s step outside for a minute.” Tate tilts his head to the side so I know he means just outside the room, which is about as far as I’m willing to be away from her.
I follow him, wanting to ask more questions that I don’t want Cassie worrying about.
“I expect her to sleep on and off for a few days. Brain surgery is not for the weak. Plus, she has struggled more than most with the anesthetic. So, I don’t want any pressure on her at the moment. We need the brain to heal and her body to regain strength. Then, when she’s stronger, we can look at moving her out of the hospital back to the apartment for a few days before you put her on a plane back home. We can’t risk any brain bleeds by her flying too soon. It will already be sooner than I would like, but I know I’m not going to get much say about that, am I?”
There is no point giving him a bullshit answer.
“No. As soon as I can, I’m taking her home where I know she is safe. We are too exposed here, and I don’t like it.”
His nod tells me he gets it. “Understood. Now, I’m heading home to my wife and boys. It’s been a long day, and it’s not finished yet. Father duties await me at home.” I don’t know how he does it. This job must be draining, and I know firsthand how tiring little ones can be too. Although I’m sure he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Really looking at him now, I figure my questions can wait; he looks exhausted. Let the man sleep, and then I can get my answers tomorrow. Most of them are just me being the person I am and wanting to know everything.
“Thanks again, Tate, I mean it.”
“I know.” With that, he pulls his vibrating phone from his pocket, and his look tells me he needs to take it.
