Page 31 of Heartbreak Hill

“Hey,” she said melodiously. “I’m so happy to see those beautiful eyes of yours.”

“Is that all?” he asked, cracking his first joke.

Reid smiled and chuckled. “You just had major surgery, and you’re already joking?”

Grayson would’ve shrugged, but he had a hard time moving. “What can I say? You bring it out in me.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes and waited ... anticipating his body would push her away, reject her. His mind knew he loved her, but did the rest of him?

Yes, he decided, it did.

“Will you answer some questions for me?”

Reid nodded. “As best as I can.”

“Why does my throat hurt so badly?”

She smiled. “You had a breathing tube in until yesterday.”

“I don’t remember.”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t. They put it in when they took you for surgery the first time.”

“The first time?”

“Yeah, they rushed you into surgery when we first got here. That’s how we found out you needed a transplant.”

“Oh.”

“How come you didn’t tell me you were sick?” she asked.

Grayson closed his eyes. “I didn’t want you to judge me or mother me about things.”

“I wouldn’t have.”

He eyed her questioningly, and she shrugged. “Okay, fine. I would’ve. But only because I care about you so much. This really scared me, Grayson. I thought I was going to lose you, and the last thing you would’ve remembered me saying was for you to stop faking.”

“Faking?”

“I thought when you asked for help that you were faking things because I told you I was going to start dating.”

“Oh.” His heart sank, and he knew this new one would love her the same becauseheloved her. Grayson didn’t need some blood-pumping organ to tell him how to feel. “Are you dating?”

She shook her head, much to his relief. “No.”

“Are you going to?”

“Maybe? I don’t really know right now, Grayson. There are things I want out of life.”

Tell her how you feel!

He squeezed her hand. While he might not know what those things were at the moment, he surmised he could probably give her something she needed or wanted. “When I get out of here, do you want to go on a date?”

“Of course. I’ll come over and make you a low-fat meal, and then eventually we’ll be back to doing trivia night at the Green Turtle.”

“Gross.”

She smiled. “Lots has to change, Grayson. You’re going to have to live a whole different lifestyle. I’m sure the doctors will fill you in before you’re discharged. I’ve already cleaned out the garbage from your apartment.”

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