Page 53 of Breaker

I smile as Alex squeezes my hand, and I say, "She is his grandmother, and me…." I swallow hard, about to admit something I haven't even told myself out loud. "I'm his woman."

Alex's grip tightens as Shelly lets out a sob while Crow states proudly.

"I'm sure my daughter-in-law here is capable of holding the pressure on her son's head until Doc comes back. I think it's best you leave."

The nurse flinches before doing as asked, and I look at Noah, raising a brow and asking, hoping to distract him. "Now what did you do this time, little man? Jump off the table?" He sniffles, and I continue, "No? Hmmm…you slipped on slime?"

He grins wide, making me smile back. He says, "I-I fell off the lad-ladder."

I wince. "Yeah, that would do it, huh…."

He sniffles. "It really hurt, Momma…."

My eyes soften and I lean forward and gently kiss his forehead, ensuring to keep the pressure on his injury as Alex grip remains, refusing to let go of my hand.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite teacher." I look to see Doc enter the room, and I smile. He looks at Noah. "All right, bud, let's sort this cut out, shall we?"

He nods, his little eyes tearing up with fear before Doc looks at me and Alex. "I think it'll be best for me to sedate him so I can stitch his wound up before giving him a head C.T."

Worried, I squeeze Alex's hand, causing him to straighten and wrap his arm around me, while keeping hold of my hand to comfort me.

Half an hour later, Noah is having his scan. He was a big boy when Doc put a canula in his hand, refusing a nurse, after having some magic cream, before he fell asleep. Doc managed to stitch his cut up without having to shave too much of his hair off. Now Shelly and Crow have gone to the cafeteria to get some coffee, and I'm currently curled up in a ball on Alex's lap in a room where they will return with Noah. When I refused to let Noah go without me, Doc promised not to leave his side, and Alex kept hold of my hand.

"I like you in my clothes, Goldie…." Alex whispers against my forehead, the coldness of his lip ring soothing me as his fingers run through my hair.

I grip his cut, deciding that now is the time to speak. "I don't want to be my momma." His fingers stop for a moment before moving again, and he stays quiet. "When I saw you in bed with her, not even caring why, the feeling I felt consumed me, and it scared me, and it still scares me. I-I felt like I could die seeing that, and then hearing what you did with that woman…. It killed me a little bit inside." He rubs his lips over my forehead as I grip his chain around his neck, admitting, "I'm in love with you so deeply that I've tried to run away from it, and it took for me to be honest with my dad about the past to realize that I can't run anymore. I need you like I need air to breathe, and I can't—" my tears fall "—I can't apologize enough for pushing you away."

He holds me tight as he places two fingers beneath my chin, making me look at him. He looks at me so affectionately that my heart pounds.

He rubs his nose against mine and rasps, "It's about time you caught up, baby, because, fuck, have I missed you.” He presses his lips against mine as I let out a sob, before he rasps, "I love you too, Goldie, so fucking much." He kisses me hard. I grip his chain tighter while opening my mouth, giving his tongue access as he cups my jaw, tilting my head, deepening the kiss.

Home, that's what I feel right now.

"Oh, it's about time," I hear whispered, causing Alex to smile against my lips and break the kiss.

He rubs his nose against mine, and I admit, "I've got another job hours away from here."

He nods and states, "And I've ensured they cancelled your position," not shocking me at all, making me giggle a little. I hear Shelly giggle and Crow snort.

"I let my apartment go, and my stuff is on its way to California," I add.

He nods at my words before kissing me and then stating, "Your dad has stored all your stuff in his garage." I laugh this time. Of course, my father was in on it. I kiss his lips before he states, "I wasn't letting you go, Quinn. I was biding my time for you to realize it."

I nod, some tears falling as I whisper, "I love you."

He sighs in relief, replying, "I love you, too."

The next day, I'm again curled up on Alex's lap, where I've been all night, watching Noah sleep in the hospital bed. He was so brave. Doc stated there was no lasting damage shown on the C.T. He believes he cut on his head is from the ladder, not from hitting it on the ground, which is a relief.

I look down and I gently run my finger over Alex’s ring finger. Last night, I noticed a new tattoo on his finger, proving how much I mean to him. He was never going to let me go, and my name inked on his skin, along with the date we met, proves it—and no, not the date he snapped at me at our first meeting, thankfully, but the date Noah set us up.

Alex gently rubs his fingers up and down my spine, underneath his hoodie I'm wearing, and states, "I hope you’re aware that you're not going to your apartment when he's discharged."

I smile, place my head on his shoulder, and mumble, "I wasn't planning on it."

I feel him grin against my head as the door to Noah's room opens. I look but don't move my head, though I grin.

"Hey, Ken," I say, causing Alex to look near the door. She grins at us before looking at Noah, her eyes softening.

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