Page 20 of Claiming Becca

From the first time I met them, they adopted me as one of their own. I didn’t like the idea of Connor having his mom come over to check me out after I got attacked. But she did and brought Mark with her. She checked me out and told me she’d be there in a heartbeat if I needed her. She never came up short on that promise, either. I started sleeping on Bass and Connor’s couch because, after the first night, I refused to sleep in Connor’s bed anymore. I promised him I wouldn’t run away again before they woke up if he let me sleep on the couch, and he slept in his bed.

He wasn’t happy about it, but he agreed. Honestly, I never would have run away again. I had two scares in a span of days. That had been enough for me. Then his mom would bring food every week because she was determined to put meat on my bones, as she liked to put it. I fell in love with Connor fast, but I fell in love with his parents just as fast.

I had never felt anything like how they made me feel. Like I finally belonged. I squeeze my eyes shut tight, trying not to let the memories overwhelm me. Please let Connor pull through this. Someone kneels in front of me and puts their hands on my knees.

“He’s going to be okay, sweet girl,” Karla whispers. I open my eyes and look into her eyes. Connor got her eyes. They’re green with gold flecks. She grabs my hand and holds it tight as she stares at me.

“I know. I keep telling myself that,” I reply.

Karla leans up to push a piece of my hair behind my ear. “You can go sit with him now. Mark and I will be here when you’re done,” she promises and stands to move out of the way so I can get up.

Mark squeezes my shoulder. Karla hugs me and sits next to her husband. He puts his arm around her shoulders, and she leans her head against him like I was doing.

I give them a small wave and walk to Connor’s room. Standing at the door, I stare at him and wait until I see his chest move up and down. The beeping of the machines tells me he’s alive, but I need to see it with my own eyes. I ignore the chair beside his bed and gently climb up to sit beside him, grabbing his hand and holding it gently in my lap.

“You’re not going to believe this. Donovan Castiel is Liv’s stepfather. I can’t believe she had to live with that son of a bitch.” I trace the veins on his forearms, regretting saying that immediately.

I glance at his face, sucking in a breath. It’s not like he’ll hear it, anyway. I return to tracing the veins on his forearm. I love watching him use his hands and seeing his veins pop out. It’s one of the many sexy things about him. I wonder when he’ll get the tattoo sleeve; he’s always talked about it. He does have a dragon tattoo that starts on his back and ends on his chest.

“Do you remember when you went with me to get my first tattoo?” I chuckle, sucking in a breath, and a tear slips down my cheek.

“I was such a baby. You took me out to your truck and gave me a shot of Jack Daniels to calm me down. Then you slapped me on the ass and told me to suck it up and get in the damn chair.” My face heats up at that.

“I was only 19, but you said after all the shit I had been through, I was really thirty, so it would be okay if I had one shot.” I bite my lip, holding in the sobs that want to break out. He knew I wouldn’t take drinking too far, not after what happened with my parents.

Connor’s hand twitches in mine. My hand freezes from tracing his veins as my eyes fly to his face. I want to see his green-gold eyes again so badly. He jerks every once in a while. The nurse said it was normal. He’s having another surgery tomorrow or the day after. He’s already had two surgeries, but the doctor said they need to give him a break and allow his body to heal.

They started him on an antibiotic to stop any infections from happening. My biggest concern is once all this is over, will he be able to lead a normal life? Connor doesn’t know how to sit still. Sighing when I realize he’s not going to wake up, I flip his hand in mine and begin to trace the lines on his palm, taking note of the calluses. He’s built an empire in this town with these very hands. He and his crew have built or remodeled almost every house and business.

He single-handedly ran Donovan Castiel and his crew out of town. I admire him and would work for him in a heartbeat if it wasn’t him. Seeing him every single day would mess with my head. He constantly touches me, hugs me, and teases me. I couldn’t handle him doing that all day. He wasn’t coming to the gym for a while, but now that Bass is opening another gym across town, Connor has been around more. Bass wants me to manage the other gym, but I don’t want to.

I want to start my own business by doing interior design. Still, I’d have to move to another town to do that without working with Connor directly. I’ve worked with him on a few projects. He swears those houses sold the quickest, and they all went above the asking price. Shaking my head, I pull my phone out of my pocket and swipe the screen.

“I found a few dad jokes for you.” I glance back up at him and stare at his peaceful face. He looks like he’s sleeping. Clearing my throat, I look at the jokes I saved. “Why did the chicken go to the gym? To work on his pecks.” I chuckle, thinking of Connor’s response. He’d love these. “What vegetable should you never bring on a boat? A leek.” I miss his laugh so much. “What do you call a cow in an earthquake? A milkshake.”

I giggle at that one. It’s my favorite. He’ll be hearing that when he wakes up. I pause at that thought. At least my thoughts have gone from if he wakes up to when he wakes up. I glance down at my phone to tell him more jokes, but the nurse walks in.

“Hi, honey. How are you doing?” she asks as she walks over with his chart and takes his vitals. I slide off the bed and let her do her thing.

“Okay. How are you?” I ask her.

“I’m alright. Visiting hours are over,” she says, and I look at the time on my phone. Sighing, I nod, bringing Connor’s hand to my mouth and kissing it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Big Man.” The nurse walks out with me and gives me an encouraging smile.

“You can come back tonight,” she reminds me like she does every day.

“Other people will come tonight to visit him. This is my time with him.” It’s my first time telling her that, and she tilts her head at me.

“He’s lucky to have a girlfriend like you.” Her comment startles me.

“Oh! I’m not his girlfriend. We’re best friends.” I explain, and her eyebrows cave in as she glances down at his paperwork.

“Sorry. I just assumed since you’re his emergency contact,” she says.

“Oh, that. He put me as his emergency contact when we were roommates and never changed it,” I explain.

She hums. “That must be a recent development,” she states.

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