“I’m really going to cry.” I sniff. “Can you pass me a tissue?”
Getting back to his feet, he grabs a handful of tissues and uses them to mop me up. “You can cry any time you want and I’ll always be here to dry them.”
I groan. “I love hearing those words, but can you wait until I’m not so emotional. My face will be all blotchy like it probably is now.”
He starts to laugh. How can he laugh at me when I’m in the hospital crying?
“Now babe. Stop frowning at me. You look damn cute.”
He kisses my frowning lips with his smiling ones.
“I love you,” he whispers.
And that does it. How can I be mad at him when he tells me I look cute even though I know I’m blotchy and when he can say “I love you” when I’m not at my best.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Donovan
“Reece, you are seriously pissing me off,” Mara shouts to her brother’s back as he leaves my place.
She’s been living here with me for two days now and is getting frustrated as hell not being able to get around on her sprained ankle. The trip downstairs took place four days ago and no matter what anyone tells her, she thinks her ankle should be back to a hundred percent by now. Part of me is relieved that Reece came around when he did because he got the brunt of her temper.
I suppose I’d be pissed as well, not able to get about and being cooped up indoors, but that’s about to change. While she was chatting to her brother, I’ve set up the new sun lounger that he brought around for me. She loves the hammock, but until her ankle is better this is the next best thing. It’s even better because it’s one of the double ones so I can cuddle up with my girl and hopefully calm her down.
Entering the bedroom, I lean against the doorframe and watch her fight back tears, probably tears of frustration.
“Hey babe.” Gently climbing on the bed beside her, I lean over her and kiss her lips, her forehead, her nose and back to her lips. “I have a surprise for you?”
“You’re going to make love to me.”
I groan.
“When you can move”
“I can move now.” She wraps her arms around my neck.
“Without being in pain.”
“Spoil sport,” she pouts.
Laughing, I pull away from her. “C’mon. I want to show you your surprise. Grab your kindle.”
I pull the throw from the bottom of the bed that she’s partial to and then scoop her up in my arms. “Hold tight, baby.”
I carry her through my home, which I hope one day she’ll call her own. This is the only place I can imagine living with her, although if the truth be told, I’d live anywhere she wanted to just to be with her. She’s my home now; I just don’t want to scare the shit out of her with her being younger than me.
“Oh wow. You did this for me?” She covers her mouth with her hands as tears form in her eyes.
“I’d do anything for you babe. Let’s check it out.” I place her down gently on her side and get the cushion in the right place behind her head before covering her up with the blanket. Once I’m sure she’s settled, I lie down beside her and take her hand in mine. We are silent as we gaze out at the view of the lake.
“So this is what all the noise was while Reece was inside annoying me?”
“It was and what did Reece do?”
“He wanted to know what was going to happen between us when we both went back to the city.”
A question I’d been dreading because I wasn’t all that sure I wanted to go back and was planning on talking to her to see whether she wanted to stay in the city or transfer back here. Part of me feels selfish though. How can I ask her to do that? She is happy with her new program of study and to have her work displayed in an art show in the museum was amazing. It was also something that wouldn’t have happened back here.