When I exit the building, I grab a cab and head straight for the hospital. Traffic isn’t too bad this time of day, and before I know it, I’m hopping out and making my way into the recovery wing, where Jordan’s dad is located.
When I walk into the room, Jordan looks up, and I watch a smile pull at his lips. Some of the tension leaves his body as he stands, moving towards me. He looks like he hasn’t slept much. I know at night in bed he tosses and turns until I stroke my hands through his hair. It’s the only thing that settles him down, but I’d do it all night if it meant he finally had some peace. He’s been a mess the past few days, and I know the stress is wearing on him.
“Hey,” I say softly. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer into him. I bury my face in his chest, breathing him in. Some of the worry of the day fades away at his simple touch. I never knew having him in my life would offer me so much comfort.
“I missed you,” he says against the top of my head, and I feel him kiss me there.
“I missed you, too,” I admit. “How are things?”
I try to pull back so I can look at him, but he only holds me tighter, not wanting to let me go.
“They said he should wake up anytime now.”
More relief washes over me. They’re letting him wake up. That’s good. Better than good. “So we wait?”
“We wait,” he agrees as he picks me up and sits us both down in the chair beside the bed. He cradles me in his arms, and I snuggle against him, feeling his hope seep into me.
“Jordan?”
“Rest,” he says, stopping me from asking questions.
“You’re the one who needs sleep,” I insist, finally getting to really look into his eyes.
“I just need to hold you. Then I’ll be good to go.”
“Hmm,” I mumble, burying my face in his neck. I feel even more tension drain from his body as his warmth surrounds me.
I must drift off, because the next thing I hear is a man’s gruff voice. “You always going to hog her like that?” Jordan laughs quietly at the man’s question.
I turn my head to see Jordan’s dad is awake, and he’s staring at me. In one movement, I’m up on my feet. “You’re awake!” My eyes water as I step toward the bed.
Jordan hits the call button by the bed rail.
“Now why did you do that?” his dad huffs, clearly not pleased that the doctors and nurses will come in at any moment.
“Let them check you over, Pop. You scared the shit out of me.” Jordan’s words are filled with so much relief.
His dad reaches up, touching the spot where he got hit. “How long have I been out?”
Jordan sighs deeply. “It’s been a few days.”
His dad shakes his head. “I don’t remember a damn thing.” I can tell he’s trying to concentrate, but it isn’t coming to him.
At that moment two nurses come rushing in with a doctor, and all three of them start looking him over.
“I feel fine. Just a small headache,” he reassures everyone once again. He says he’s ready to go home, but Jordan isn’t having it. The doctor says everything is looking great, but they want to keep him a few more days to monitor his progress.
“The doctor wants to make sure you’re okay. Please, Pop. It’s for your health.”
I step forward, placing my hand on his arms. “Please stay. We’ve been so worried and—”
“All right.” Jordan’s dad gives in to me easily.
It makes me smile, and Jordan shakes his head.
“Well, aren’t you going to introduce us?” his dad adds, making me blush. “I always felt like I knew you. Even when he would try to keep it a secret, I knew.” He gives me a teasing smile, and I watch Jordan duck his head shyly.
“Pop, this is Jay. Jay, this is my father, Rick.”
“But you can call me ‘Dad’ or ‘Pop,’” Rick adds. He reaches out, taking my hand and kissing it. His eyes soften, making him look so much like Jordan. He lets out a deep breath, and I know he’s fighting sleep. The doctors put something into his IV to help manage his pain.
“Why don’t you kids get home. Let this old man rest so I can get out of here soon. I still want my Sunday dinner.”
“Maybe I should stay…”
Rick ignores Jordan and looks over to me. “Make sure he gets home and gets some sleep. He looks like he needs it.”
“Hey, not all of us got to nap for the past few days,” Jordan teases his dad, making him smile. I see so much love in his eyes for his son. He’s more worried about him then he is about himself.