Page 95 of Noah

"All yours, Brody. And you're mine."

Brody's thumb moved back to my cheek where he traced circles on my skin.

"I love you, Noah Waters." Then he hummed as he touched me.

I was reluctant to leave Brody's side but when he fell asleep, I realized how badly my back was hurting. After emptying my bladder, I laid out a top sheet on the makeshift bed, threw a pillow down, and climbed under the blanket. I could see my man from where I lay.

I pulled out my phone. It was late. Liam was probably entertaining.

Me: Brody is going to be all right. He told me he loves me. We're good. It's all good.

I didn't expect an answer and was surprised to get one.

Liam: Sweet! Been waiting up hoping you'd call.

Me: No big date?

Liam: No. I wanted to be ready to go if you needed me.

I smiled. Best friend ever.

Me: Aw. You love me.

Liam: Fuck off. Glad he's all right. And love won. Talk tomorrow.

I tucked my phone back into my pocket and tried to sleep. The hard bed wasn't much better than sitting in the chair by Brody's bedside. I made my way back over to the chair and fell asleep with my head on Brody's thigh, imagining what it was going to be like to live with him.

The man I loved and who loved me back.

The man I almost lost.

The man I can't imagine surviving without.

Mine.

Charlie was sitting with Brody for a few hours today. I had things I needed to do at the pub. I'd spent the past two days at the hospital. My first order of business had been to head home and have a much-needed shower. Then I'd gone around to Brody's to take Bentley for a walk. Charlie and I had been alternating animal duty. Now I was in the office, explaining some of my jobs to Liam.

Thank God, Liam was a quick learner. I wasn't sure how much time I was going to have to spend at work while I was looking after Brody. Charlie and I had organized a schedule, giving me a couple of hours each night to nip into the pub to make sure Liam was running things the way I needed him to. I was going to be relying on the talents of my staff to hold down the fort.

Surprisingly, I felt comfortable doing it. Brody was more important.

"When do you bring him home?" Liam asked.

"Tomorrow morning at ten."

"And he's all right with you basically moving in with him?"

"It makes the most sense. His brother has a full-time job and a family he needs to put first. His mom … well, she isn't capable of helping. And Brody isn't keen about having strangers from the Vancouver Island Health Authority coming into his home."

Liam smiled at me. "Plus, you want to be there for him."

I laughed. "Guilty. I want to take care of my man. He saw the wisdom in that."

"Are you going to subject him to your cooking? You're supposed to help him get better not send him back to the hospital to have his stomach pumped."

I shoved Liam. "Fuck off. My cooking isn't that bad."

"How long does it take to boil an egg?"

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