Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Don’t…I’m fine.”
“But you scared me. I can’t lose you too.”
His eyes watered, and he took my lips again, kissing me like he just needed the reminder that everything was all right and that I was still with him.
“I love you,” I said into his mouth as we continued kissing.
“I love you, too. So much more than you can possibly understand.”
I heard the door open, but Ethan didn’t stop kissing me.
“Ah, the lovebirds again,” a familiar voice said before Ethan pulled away and turned to a nurse who approached the bed.
She was a face I recognized from when I was drifting in and out. She glanced between us before saying, “I don’t want to interrupt the honeymoon, but do you mind if I get some vitals?”
She smiled at Ethan like they’d had some sort of previous exchange.
“I think I can let you in here for a minute,” he said. “If you need me to get up this time—”
“Not at all. Lord knows if I try to pry you guys apart, CNN will be sending a reporter down here to ask why we’re discriminating.” She winked, and Ethan and I shared a much-needed laugh.
She inspected the monitor beside my bed before jotting something down on a page in her clipboard. When she finished, she turned to us. “How long have you been together?”
“Not that long. A few months,” Ethan replied.
“Oh, really? I was wondering why I didn’t see rings on those hands.” She looked to me. “I thought this one was going to deck someone if we tried to get him off that bed.”
“Off the bed?” I asked. “Were you taking advantage of me in my weakened state?”
She snickered. “I like you guys. Don’t mind us. But just know, the nurse who’ll be tending to you tomorrow won’t be as big of a fan of two men rolling around in bed together.”
“You suggesting we keep it clean when she gets here?” Ethan asked.
She shook her head. “Hell no. I’m suggesting you put on a show.”
We laughed again, appreciating her bedside manner.
“No, he was very protective of you earlier,” she told me. “You’ve got a good one.”
“I’m learning just how good he is,” I acknowledged as I turned to him. I saw the sheer appreciation in his expression, and I hoped he could feel the same from me.
When she left, Ethan relaxed beside me once again. “You know, you’re probably not gonna be able to get right back to things straight away.”
“No, I don’t think that will be happening.”
“Gonna need some physical therapy…and someone’s going to have to take care of you.”
“You think I’ll need to hire someone?” I teased.
“Shut the fuck up. I think I’ve had enough of your smart mouth today. I’ve been sitting here worried as fuck about you, and you’re all jokes? No. I want you to stay with me, at least while you’re getting better.”
“Straighty, are you trying to trick me into moving in with you?”
“I just felt like this would be less embarrassing than you having to beg to live with me. I mean, my place is better anyway.” He winked before saying, “But really. I want you to live with me. Not just for this, but I think this has shown me just how much I want to be with you. And I don’t want to wake up to an empty bed, not when I could be waking up next to you.”
“I want to wake up next to you too,” I assured him, so he couldn’t question how I felt. I leaned toward him and planted a firm kiss on his lips.
I could feel our connection, our deep appreciation for one another as we got lost in each other the way we always seemed to. And when he managed to pull away from me again, I said, “I think we might need a new nickname for you, Straighty, because this is all getting super gay.”
“I kept telling you I needed a new name.”
“Well, too bad, because I don’t think I’ll ever find a name that suits you better. You’ll always be Straighty to me, Mr. Harris.”
“I can live with that,” he said before his lips crushed down on mine once again.
It wasn’t going to be easy. I knew that. My recovery wasn’t going to be easy, but between my parents and my amazing boyfriend, I knew I was going to be okay.
38
Ethan
“Jesus Christ, Sean. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I practically growled at my boyfriend as I caught him trying to lift a box with one hand, his other still in a cast.
“I’ve been out of the hospital for a month! I can carry a small box from the living room down the hall.” There was a slight edge of irritation to his voice, which I could honestly understand. He likely could carry the small box that distance but I didn’t want to take any chances.