Page 19 of Revived

A nod. That was all I could manage in response. It wasn’t until Gabe’s hand squeezed my own reassuringly, that I realized our fingers were still entwined and he didn’t seem willing to let go quite yet. That was, until I brought attention to it by staring at our hands. Then, Gabe pulled away and offered a sheepish smile.

“That was crazy,” I murmured.

“That is my normal. It’s why Chevy had his girlfriend go to New York so she could get an understanding of what life with him would be like. He keeps saying what happened is his fault, but I’m the one who convinced him it was necessary. I didn’t want him to lose the girl the way I did, or because she wasn’t prepared, you know?”

“I think you both need to let go of the guilt. Bad things happen every day. It wasn’t on you or Chevy.”

“I’m pulling into the underground emergency entrance. You should have an easier path from there. I’ll radio security too. They can escort you to your floor, just in case.”

“Thanks, Officer…” Gabe left it open so the officer could fill in the blank with his name.

“Godfrey,” he told us as his warm, brown eyes seemed to smile through the rearview mirror at us. “My pleasure. Though I will ask that you take more precautions next time. I’d hate to have to roll up to a different kind of scene. You’re lucky I wanted tacos today instead of Lorna’s Lasagna from down the street.”

“You’re right. I forgot for a minute.”

“Seeing what you just went through, kind of makes me happy that I only sing in the choir on Sundays.” The officer grinned as she spoke while letting us out of his cruiser.

“Thank you, again, for saving us from that craziness,” I told him before security met us at the door to escort us to the floor where Chevy was reaping the benefits of Gabe’s fame. On the one hand, his celebrity status was frightening and awful, on the other, it opened doors that most people didn’t even know existed.

Gabe and I didn’t speak again until we were safely deposited on the secured section of the floor where Chevy was a patient. “We still need to talk,” he told me once we were there.

“How about we go chat with Chevy since this has to do with him more than anyone else?”

Gabe smiled brightly, almost like he had a secret. “You’re right. He should be included in this conversation. Kendra probably should too, if she’s still here.”

When we entered Chevy’s room, Kendra and Ford were both still present, though Josh wasn’t. “Hey guys. Did you have a nice lunch?” Kendra asked while trying to hide a knowing smile.

“Right up until a police officer rescued us and gave us a ride back across the street,” I deadpanned.

Kendra’s smile slipped. “Oh no. You were recognized?” Oddly enough, she was talking to me and not Gabe. I just shrugged my shoulders as flashes of memory came back to me. People were asking if we’d been fucking the whole time and talking about me being pregnant. My head slowly turned to Gabe who looked away guiltily. “What exactly has been said about me?”

“She doesn’t know?” Kendra gasped.

“Oh hell, shit’s about to get real!” That was from Ford.

“Uh, listen, Mel, you can’t leave us,” Chevy managed to get out in a panicked voice.

“We’ll talk about that later. First, we need a family discussion with Mel about what everyone wants and needs to happen once Chevy is released from here.”

“Well, that’s obvious, she’s coming home with us,” Chevy commanded with zero hesitation. “I don’t want another nurse, especially one that will be in our homes. We all trust you, Mel. Besides, you need to think about your security too. It won’t be safe for you to be in your own place just yet.”

I glanced back at Gabe again, promising him we would be having a conversation about that safety issue very soon. Still, I didn’t know what to say about Chevy’s vehemence that I stay with them.

“If you’re uncomfortable because you’ll be staying with two men, you can always take Chevy’s old room at my house. We’re just down the road, and it won’t be an inconvenience at all,” Kendra offered.

“That’s very sweet of you, but I promise it’s not a problem. I didn’t know that anyone out there in the world knew who I was before today.” I held my phone up and shook it. “I’ve been looking for places of my own and planned to just go over to wherever Chevy was staying during my shifts. You guys have already been too kind.”

“Too kind?” Gabe scoffed.

“We literally got you fired from your job and made you move to another state. I’d say we’ve been unkind. I’d understand if you want to walk out that door and never see any of us again, but I really hope you don’t do that.”

“Chevy,” I muttered his name in response to what he’d just said. “You’ve been one of my best patients. It’s not like that, and honestly, I’d already been looking for new employment anyway. This situation only expedited that process.” I waved away his concerns. “I don’t have a problem sticking things out with you, but I also don’t want you or your family to feel like I’m some guilty burden you have to take care of.”

“Are you kidding? We’re keeping you,” Kendra told me before coming over to wrap me in a hug. She was a smaller woman than I was, but her hug made her feel so much larger. Gabe was oddly silent again, just watching as his son’s family embraced me. That lasted right up until Ford tried to dip in for a hug as well. Then, Gabe reached over, palmed Ford’s face, and simply said, “No.”

Ford threw his hands up in surrender and laughed as he backed away from me. “One more year and I’ll be legal, then I’m coming for you,” he promised me with a saucy little wink.

“One more year and I’ll be 35. I’m pretty sure that’s almost your mom’s age.” Ford just shrugged.

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