Page 171 of Fought and Freed

Maddy nibbled her lip. “She seems scared of big men. It makes me worry about how she’ll react when she meets you.”

“We’ll work through that, don’t worry.” A calculating look filled his eyes. “We’ll have to add rooms or buy a new house.”

“I love that house,” Maddy protested.

“Then, we’ll have to add on some more rooms.” He grinned. “Baby rooms.”

“Don’t forget a room for Kelly,” she said.

“Of course.”

“Attention, visitors, ICU hours are now over,” a voice said over the speakers.

Cody gave her a firm stare. “I want you to go home, take a bath, and get some sleep.”

“I will.” She kissed him goodbye. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Instead of leaving, she slipped back into Ryder’s room.

He was awake again. “Sorry, I fell asleep on you.”

“Don’t worry about it. You need your sleep.” She walked to the bed to kiss him goodbye. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I love you.”

* * *

The next day, when they returned to the hospital, they found out that Cody and Ryder had been moved from ICU and into a private suite together.

That was what Lucca had talked to the doctor about.

Kelly was doing well at the house with Jace and Skylar. She had instantly fallen in love with EJ.

Maddy, Torr, and Giselle took Kelly shopping, and she got to buy whatever she wanted.

When Maddy told her that, she had stood there with wide eyes and mouth open, and she kept on saying, “Really?”

It was one of the happiest days in Maddy’s life, and the most fun she’d ever had shopping.

Cody was the first one to come home. He was getting grumpy, and she was sure the nurses were glad to see him leave.

The day he came home from the hospital, Kelly stood in the corner of the living room, hugging her favorite stuffed animal.

Cody walked in with another stuffed animal and a small stack of books. He walked up to her and sat on the ground in front of her. “Hi, Kelly. I’m Cody.”

“Hi,” she whimpered.

“Maddy told me you like penguins, so I brought you a special one.” He held out the stuffed animal. “This one comes with a real penguin that you helped save down in Antarctica. They’ll send you reports on the penguin every month.”

He held up the books. “Maddy also told me that you like to read. I had to ask for help picking out these books, because I know nothing about what girls like to read. I’m big and might growl, but I promise I’ll never hurt you. Getting used to me will take some time, and I’m fine with that. You’re a part of my family now, and I protect my family.”

“My brother talked about you when he snuck in to see me,” Kelly whispered. “He said you act big and tough, but you’re just a marshmallow inside.”

“There’s no marshmallow in here, just muscle.” Cody poked his firm stomach, making her giggle. “Now, do you think you can help me up? I’m not sure I can stand on my own.”

She giggled harder. “No, you’re too big.”

That was the beginning of a close relationship between those two.

The day Ryder was released from the hospital, Maddy got him to herself. She wanted to take him somewhere and tell him about the baby.

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