Page 123 of Anything To Be With You

"Poor aunties boy." She whispers.

I pull my hand out of hers and walk over to the bed. His chest is raising and falling steadily, the machines next to the bed beep slowly.

"What happened?" Erin asks.

Tears climb up my throat as I clamber onto the bed with Mason. Taking his hand in mine again, I tell Erin everything the doctor had told me.

"How are you going to pay for his room or physio?" Erin inquires.

"I have no idea. Maybe I’ll start stripping." I reply with a shrug.

"Dani!" Erin squeals.

"What? I can dance."

Erin’s laughing hard enough that she starts to snort. "Maybe Luke can pay for everything." She suggests.

I snort. "Maybe Archer should start paying me for my goods and services."

"That’s called prostitution," Erin giggles. "Let me see what I can do. I know a couple insurance companies that may be able to help you." Erin sits in the chair next to the bed.

"Thanks Erin."

I don’t know what I would do without her in my life.

I'll Cover It

Luke

The ringing of my phone wakes me from a fitful sleep just after eight in the morning. I spent most of the night tossing and turning and trying to get a hold of Dani to see what's going on with Mason. I reach over and grab it from Dani’s nightstand. My chest tightens when I see the name.

"Sweetheart?"

"It’s Erin."

"Erin, what's going on? Is Daniella all right? What about Mason?" I throw the questions at her.

Erin sighs. "She’s shook up and stressed out. Mason is out of surgery. Once he wakes up, we'll see how he's feeling but he's more than likely on some strong painkillers."

I sink back down in the bed, rubbing a hand through my hair. I feel helpless sitting here, however I don't want to show up at the hospital uninvited. Dani made it clear that she could do this on her own, but fuck, I want to be there for her. Show her that she can trust me when it comes to Mason. He's her everything and I want to protect him the same way I protect her.

"Can you come down to Toronto Gen?" Erin's hushed voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

I throw off the covers and toss on a pair of sweatpants and a faded t-shirt. "What room?" I grab my keys on my way out the door.

"216. Dani needs to talk to you about something." Erin hangs up.

I fly towards the hospital, my heart racing with fear.

Fear for Dani and what she’s going through.

Fear for Mason and what he has endured.

I find a parking spot and climb out of my truck. I enter through the ER and walk towards the elevators. I find the room with help from a nurse. I knock on the door and walk in. Dani’s lying next to her monstrous son and Erin’s sitting in a chair next to the bed. Erin turns and stares, blindly swatting at Dani’s arm.

"Erin, what?" Dani turns and her stunning eyes meet mine.

Her hair is in a messy heap on the top of her head. She’s wearing a pair of sweatpants and an oversized shirt that I don’t remember her putting on when she left the house but she’s still the most stunning creature I have ever seen.

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