“Night, Heaven.”
“Night, Anderson.”
I moved down the hallway but felt fingers on my hip, and he pulled me back. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. So much.”
The following kiss was sweeter, shorter, and I finally dragged myself away. In Hayden’s room, I found him lying on the bed, eyes closed. His chest moved up and down slowly.
Carefully, I eased my way into the bed, trying not to jostle him, but his arms wrapped around me instantly, pulling me close to his chest.
“Hey,” I said, inhaling his distinct scent. God, it felt good to be so close to him. “I thought you were asleep.”
“I was,” he said, “kind of, but now that you’re here it’ll come easier.”
“I’m so sorry about everything, Hayden. I didn’t know you were struggling so badly.”
“To be fair, I didn’t know either.”
“You told me weeks ago that you wanted to know about my health. Well, I want the same. Tell me, okay? About the pains and aches and if something feels off. Don’t protect me.”
He looked at me with soft, sweet, eyes. “I will. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
Exhaustion rolled down my limbs and I knew he was right, sleep would come easier with him by my side. I snuggled in and opened my eyes to find him staring at me. I pushed a lock of hair off his forehead and asked, “What?”
“I know I’m supposed to take it easy and I know this is…new again, but I really want to kiss you.”
I exhaled. “Please. I’ll be gentle.”
That was the only permission he needed and I almost cried when his lips touched mine. It wasn’t the seductive kind that he’d given me so many times before, but something different—full of love, not lust, full of promises, not demands, but mostly full of hope.
“For a while, I thought I’d never get to do that again and it almost killed me,” he said with closed eyes, most likely from the headaches. “And I know we can’t do it now, but very soon you and I are going to make up properly, got it?”
My heart rattled like it may explode at the thought. I rested my head on his chest, knowing he was already dozing off. “I can’t wait.”
In truth, I could and I would.
I’d do anything for this man, for all of my men. I needed him healed so he could come back to us whole, and then we would finally be complete.
52
Heaven
Days pass in Atlanta involving visits to the neurologist, a series of tests, and an official announcement by Hayden that he would not be able to return to Atlanta United for the next season. Bryant secured his endorsements, working out who still wanted him as the face of their product while he was injured. His frank transparency about his head injury brought him a lot of unexpected attention and most of the sponsors stuck by his side, willing to wait it out until he was better.
Oliver and Jackson were unable to travel to Atlanta with the entire cast of two superhero movies in town, but Anderson was able to balance his workouts with Hayden’s needs and I was committed to staying by his side until we all returned together.
“I talked to my coach and he’s willing to allow me to partner up with my old aquatics instructor at the University. They’d both noticed the strain I’d been under since moving here and think that being closer to home may help.”
It was late afternoon and Hayden was taking a long, necessary nap. That was what the doctor prescribed more than anything else. Long, intensive naps. Low movement—including sex. That made things awkward for all of us. We’d agreed if Hayden couldn’t get any, neither could me or Anderson. The good news was that it gave the three of us hours to reconnect and heal our relationship as much as Hayden’s body.
Anderson and I were intertwined on the sleek gray couch in the living room. I’d taken to wearing Hayden’s jersey, the 05 embroidered on the back. It was much too big for me, but I’d always liked wearing their clothes. He may not be on the team, but I wanted him to know I belonged to him, to all of them.
“So you’re really moving back to Allendale,” I said to Anderson, playing with his long, slim, fingers.
“I am.”