Page 99 of The First Chord

Bright eyes greeted me with outstretched arms, and I practically fell into them, only stopping myself when I remembered her injuries.

“Are you okay? Are you in pain anywhere?”

She shook her head and gave me a watery smile. “I’m fine, even my headache has eased. I’m just so glad you’re here. Jimmy tried to get in.”

“I know, I know.” I sat down on the chair and pulled it closer to the bed. “Ali told me. He didn’t do anything or say anything when he was in here before, did he?”

She shrugged. “Not that I know of. I was out of it.”

The idea of her being unconscious with him in the room petrified me, filling my gut with what felt like poison. I wanted to puke.

“Do you remember anything about the accident?”

“Just that I went upstairs to the toilet as there was a queue downstairs. The police told me a witness said I tripped.”

“The police have been here?”

“About twenty minutes ago. It’s their procedure for them to question people at the scene of an accident and they just wanted to let me know.” She frowned and seemed lost in thought.

“What is it?” I lay my arms across her stomach and my heart stuttered. “Is it the baby?”

The frown evaporated and she graced me with a beautiful smile as she shook her head. “No, everything is fine, although it’s really early.” Biting on her lower lip, her eyes held a level of trepidation. “You know anything could happen.”

“Yeah, I know, but it won’t.” I was always the optimist, but this was different. This was something deep inside of me that said it was all going to be okay. We might have it rough for a while, but it would be okay. “Are you happy about it, the baby?”

“If you are.” She swallowed, waiting for my response. Her worry was unfounded, though, because I didn’t think I’d ever felt so much happiness. It was like I was stuffed full with it.

Shit, I really needed to go and do something manly to make sure I still had balls and a dick!

“More than happy. I know it’s a shock but I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. That baby in there,” I gently patted her stomach, “is our reason that we became friends, that we became more.”

“As long as you’re sure. I don’t want you to think that you have to stay with me. I would never keep you from the baby, but I’d never keep you with me either, not if you didn’t want to be.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I took a deep breath. “I love you, Amber. I don’t want to ever be without you.”

Tears brimmed at her eyes and her chin began to wobble as she blew out a breath. “Y-you do?”

“God yes. I’ve been falling in love with you since the first time I saw you in that hotel reception. When you were alone and waiting for Jimmy. I thought you were beautiful and sweet and just the sort of woman I would treat like a princess if they were mine.” Wiping the tears from her cheeks, I knew that exact moment had been inevitable. It was always going to happen. I was always going to fall in love with her. We were always going to have our happiness together. “Every single second that I’ve spent with you has led to this. Our joy, our peace.”

And I did feel at peace because at that moment the person I thought of was my mum. It wasn’t with anger or pain; it was with love. I wondered if she was looking down on us and was happy that I’d found the love of my life, that I was going to be a dad. That she was going to be a grandmother.

“I love you, too,” Amber blurted out. “So very much. And I need you to know, it’s not just gratitude for saving me from him. It’s respect and real, proper, heartfelt love. I never felt for him like I feel for you because you are a better man and a better person.”

“I’m also better looking and have a bigger dick,” I quipped. “Not that I’ve seen Fox’s dick.”

“He certainly doesn’t have the adornments on his that you have.” She giggled and I saw a little blush on her cheeks. “And yeah, you’re bigger.”

“I fucking knew it.” I held up my hand. “Come on, babe, high five me, don’t leave me hanging.”

Amber rolled her eyes and high fived me. “It appears you have super sperm too, because they managed to break through the contraception of my pill.”

“Well fuck me, that deserves a double high five.”

When Amber groaned but double high fived me anyway, I knew everything was going to be okay.

* * *

Amber and I had spent the rest of the day together, well, I’d spent it watching her sleep mostly. Elliot had also popped in for half an hour and we played charades while Amber snored lightly from the bed. It was not rock n roll one bit, but it was quiet and didn’t disturb her. He left to go back to the canteen and his book when Amber woke up just before Dr Klinsmann checked in on her. He was happy that she could leave the following morning. Instantly, the relief was evident on her face and her smile was only outdone by mine.

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