I’ve been sitting next to this bed for hours. The doctors said she’d recover. They assured me that she’d be okay. But a part of me didn’t believe them. A part of me thought that she’d never wake up. That she’d leave me.
But she did wake up. She’s here. She’s going to be okay. And she loves me.
My exhausted body is filled with too many warring emotions. Relief, concern, love. I’ve been on the brink of losing it since I first raced out of that ballroom, but I can’t lose it yet. I need to stay strong. But all I really want to do is crawl into Sasha’s bed and hold her warm body against mine while she sleeps. But I won’t fit in her bed, so I have to keep my stressed-out ass in this shitty chair.
I watch as John gently places a hand on her shoulder. He’s being so careful with her. Whispering how worried he was. Telling her never to frighten him like that again.
I knew that they had a solid relationship, but – being here, seeing this – it’s obvious how much they care for each other.
Sasha opens her mouth to say something but before any sound comes out, she closes it again. She might be in pain.
“Get the doctor.” I tell John, not taking my eyes off Sasha.
I swear I hear his teeth grind as he points an angry finger in my direction. “I’ll get the doctor because Sasha needs him. Not because you fucking told me to. I’m not going to turn into one of your brainless little minions.”
For the first time in hours, I feel the smallest hint of a smile trying to form on my mouth. “That’s a shame.”
Sasha’s eyelids are drooping, but she looks peaceful. And amused.
When the door shuts behind John, I kiss the back of her hand. “I know, sweetheart. John and I in the same room is a bit of an adjustment. Bet you didn’t see that coming.”
With the smallest movement, I watch as she shakes her head.
I smirk and tilt my face so she can see the bruise that’s starting to form on my cheek. “He’s a bit of a bully.”
Sasha’s eyes flare and her lips part just as the door opens, letting John back in. Sasha does her best impression of an angry glare.
John sees her expression and freezes. “What?”
Sasha’s voice is quiet, but we both hear it. “You hit my boyfriend?”
Now I’m grinning.
He slides his narrowed eyes at me.
The doctor chooses that moment to walk in.
John and I both reluctantly step back from Sasha’s bed so the doctor can check her over. At this point, we’re used to being silent around each other. We’ve been in this room, watching Sasha, for hours. Wordlessly, we took turns getting coffee, making sure she was never alone. John might hate me, but I actually find myself liking him. Anyone this dedicated to Sasha is good in my book.
Once the quick exam is over, the doctor helps Sasha take a sip of water before turning to us. “You need to let her rest.”
He doesn’t say more, knowing that there’s no chance in hell that we’ll leave. But we will let her sleep.
When the doctor’s gone, I take my place again in the chair at Sasha’s side. I grab her hand and lean against the edge of her bed.
She gives my fingers a faint squeeze before looking at John. “Will you stay for a while?”
“I can do one better. I received the approval about an hour ago.” It’s his turn to smirk. “I’m moving back. Permanently.”
Well, shit.
