“Could be.” The doctor winks at me and gives me a hand to help me up. “I need to do an exam.”
“I’ll wait outside.” I lean in, kiss Bryce quickly, and go to the hallway.
Our whole crew piles out of the elevator a few minutes later, and they stop dead when they see me wiping my eyes.
“It’s okay! These are happy tears.” I explain what happened, and Quinn pats herself on the back.
“Knew he was too over the top to sleep through another man hitting on you.”
“No one was hitting on me,” I argue.
“He didn’t know that.”
“Good lord.” Nate looks at the ceiling and then to her. “You have no shame.”
“Your sister is laughing and smiling. I’ll gladly accept your gratitude.”
My mom and dad both wrap their arms around her.
We talk until the doctor walks out irritated. “Is he always this stubborn?”
“Yes,” we all answer.
“We’ll run tests in the morning, but you need to convince him that he has at least three days before we release him. Barring the results.” He looks directly at me. “Does he listen to you?”
“Most of the time.”
“Don’t let him move that arm too much, and for the love of God, tell him, if he can walk, we’ll remove the catheter tomorrow.”
“Got it.” I nod. “Anything else?”
“Congratulations. He told me you married him tonight.”
My mom gasps behind me, and heat fills my cheeks. “It was more of an informal thing. We’re not legally married yet.”
“Tell him that. He’s pretty sure he needs to consummate the marriage.”
“Jesus,” my dad mutters, and I burn all over from embarrassment.
“The nurse has instructions on his diet for the next twenty-four hours, but fluids are good. Tests will start at seven a.m.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Dave speaks up and shakes his hand.
We all walk back in, and I stay back when Sheila and Dave go straight to Bryce. He hugs them with his good arm, and then Nate joins them. Quinn links her arm through mine and lays her head on my shoulder.
“He pulled through,” she points out. “Knew he wouldn’t leave you.”
“Brilliant thinking on the doctor thing. I’ll remember that.”
“Knew it would work.”
“I love you, Quinnie.”
“I love you too, girl.”
We stand together, watching Bryce ask questions and listen to the answers intently. He looks at me with horror when his mom tells him the details of waking up and not recognizing me.
“Baby.” His voice is soft and full of hurt.