Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
“Will you lie with me, just for a little while?” There’s no telling how long I’ll have to stay in the hospital.
“Yeah, Mae. I’ll lie down with you.” JW’s big body moves until he’s beside me, being careful the entire time. I move over as far as the bed allows. My wound is on the left side of my neck, so I shift to my right side, and when he settles in beside me, we’re facing one another.
“In case I haven’t told you lately, thank you.”
“Don’t gotta thank me, baby girl. I think you get I’d do anything for you.” He waits for my response.
“I know that, but I’m still going to thank you. You deserve that much.” Trying to hold my emotions back is getting harder and harder.
“Appreciate it, Mae, but it’s not needed. Now, how about you close your eyes for a bit? Hopefully, the doctor will come in soon. He’ll release you, and we’ll go home,” JW says exactly what I need to hear.
“Yeah, that sounds really good.” My eyes close, sleep pulling me under again. Everything must be catching up with me. I’m not sure I’ve ever slept as much as I have recently, but with JW, the outside world fades away. He’s here with me, and that’s all that matters.
TWENTY-FOUR
JW
Being home with Maeve has never felt better than after a day like today. I sent out a massive group text, much to Maeve’s annoyance, asking everyone to give us a few hours. She needed a shower, food, and to decompress. The only reason they weren’t at the hospital with us in the first place is because Fletcher cleared them out, and the small emergency room we were in wouldn’t have held our large group. Mae complained the entire way through discharge saying she’d be fine, yet the minute we were loaded up in my truck, she conked out again. She slept the entire ride home, barely waking up when I carried her through the house, and only when she felt the bed beneath her did she dart upwards.
We showered together. I was mindful of her bandage while I washed her body and hair. When she attempted to return the favor, I had to shut it down. Fuck, I hated telling her no, as did my dick, but there was no way we’d be doing anything until she had a full night's sleep, some food, and I knew she was on the other side of this ordeal.
“There’s something about a grilled cheese sandwich and chicken noodle soup.” Mom had come over before we even made it home to set a CrockPot on simmer, noodles in the fridge, and thick pieces of bread with cheese next to it.
“Tomato soup is better.”
Maeve scrunches up her nose. “Absolutely not. Tomatoes are meant for sandwiches and burgers, not be pureed into mush.”
There’s a knock at the door before I can finish telling her she’s wrong, tomatoes are good in any way, shape, or form. “I guess we should be grateful they waited this long,” I grumble as I stand up from my place at kitchen table.
“Don’t be a sourpuss. This is your doing. If you had let them see me at the hospital, they’d leave us alone now.” Mae is back in action already, throwing her attitude around and laughing at my annoyance with the brigade I’m sure is standing on the other side of the front door.
“Baby girl, I’m not above withholding your orgasm tonight. You were knocked the fuck out. No way did I want anyone in there while you were asleep. We’ll deal with our family, hang out with them for a few hours, and then I’m kicking them out.” I drop a kiss to the crown of head. We’re not really dressed for company—Mae is in a shirt of mine and a pair of plaid pajama pants, and I’m in a pair of cotton shorts. At least I had the forethought to grab a shirt from the bedroom before we made our way to the kitchen.
“Open up! We’re tired of waiting!” Trey’s voice echoes from the outside. I’m going to kick his ass or tell Amos he’s got the hots for his sister. Yeah, that sounds like a better idea for payback.
“Go away,” I answer the door as Trey’s fist is ready to bang on it again.
“Ma, you hear this? He doesn’t even want his brother to come over and check on him and his woman.” Mom doesn’t respond. Instead, she pushes him out of the way and heads right for me.
“Did you and Maeve eat? How is she feeling? Do you two need anything?” I wrap my arm around her, giving her a quick hug to calm her nerves.
“She’s eating now, feeling good, and we’re good.” My sentence isn’t even complete before Mom is darting into the house.