Page 144 of Roughing It

My snort makes my ribs ache, but I hide my grimace. They had me in and out of surgery within a couple of hours after getting us to the hospital, and aside from the time I was under, Blakely and I haven’t been apart. She sweet-talked the on-duty nurse into letting her stay in my room overnight and ended upsleeping in my arms—where she belongs. Between her and the pain meds, I slept like a goddamn baby.

Blakely stretches out next to me, cuddling as close as possible. My lips find their way to the crown of her head. “How about you?”

“I’m fine. Like I’ve told you every time you’ve asked since you woke up. Bruised and sore, but nothing’s broken, and there’s no internal damage.”

Have I asked three or four or five times? Yes. Fucking sue me. The nurse comes in and out, only threatening me twice when I give her one-word answers. With morning rounds done and visitor hours not quite starting, I have the opening I’ve been waiting for.

“Yesterday, before Bo and Gray showed up, you said something about leaving.” I’m bracing myself for her to run, to ask me if it can wait. Or worse, to say she’s been waiting for an all-clear to leave.

She tilts her head back. “Is this your way of asking what I was going to say?”

I roll my eyes and nod.

“If you weren’t a day out of surgery, I’d pinch your nipple.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, baby.”

Her giggle is like a caress on my soul. How will I live without it if she leaves?

“Hudson, look at me.” The ocean in her eyes is full of warmth and love. And something else. Hope maybe? “Coming so close to losing you gave me perspective on things. You asked me to stay, and I told you I couldn’t. But that was a lie. I could. I can. Fear was holding me back, but the idea of being without you, not seeing your grumpy ass every day, is the scariest thing I can think of.”

“You’re staying?”

A wrinkle forms between Blakely’s brows. “I’ll repeat itbecause you recently suffered a head injury. I’m staying. You’re stuck with me, Bear.”

“What about your apartment? Your job?”

Blakely kisses me, sweet and searching. When she breaks it, she whispers, her lips still touching mine. “Are you trying to talk me out of staying? After everything? I mean, you wrecked your Jeep to keep me here.”

I chuff out a breath. “If anything, the accident was your plan. What with kissing me and all.”

“Nope. The kiss came well before the crash. It was clearly a ploy to strand us so I couldn’t go back to Austin.” There’s no bite to her words, only the familiar teasing tone I love. The playful bickering. The way she presses and pushes me. Her. “Kirk and I talked while you were in surgery and recovery.”

“About what?”

Just as Blakely opens her mouth to answer, the man in question knocks on the door. “Hey, you two. How are you feeling?”

Blakely untangles herself from me to hug him. “I was telling Hudson about our plans.”

Kirk nods. “Good. I’ve already had multiple offers from sponsors for the new direction your socials are taking. And a local realtor sublet the apartment for the remainder of your lease, so you’re good to go. Moving company is hired.” He pauses and glances at me. “One little thing, though, I didn’t have an address to give them.”

I’m a smart man. Blakely makes me an idiot, but away from her, I’m smart. Maybe it’s the pain medicine pumping into my veins, the lingering effect of the concussion I suffered, or exhaustion, but I’m not following.

“Don’t think too hard, Bear. You’re still concussed.”

“Yeah, Bear. Don’t sprain your brain.” Bo walks in with ashit-eating grin. Behind him is Gray, his arms full of stuffed animals and mylar balloons.

“Not really into little pink teddy bears,” I grumble.

“Bold of you to assume they’re for you.” Another voice joins the fray. “They’re actually for the beautiful young woman who saved your life.” My mother pushes both Bo and Gray out of her way, coming over to my bed and cradling my chin in her hand. “How are you?”

The freckles on her face match mine, and her eyes are warm as she studies me, watching for any hint of a lie.

“I’m good. Pain is manageable. Hoping they’ll send me home tomorrow.”

My father steps into the overcrowded room, his large frame eating up any leftover space. “Son.” He nods at me, then leans against a wall out of the way.

“King, get your butt over here and hug your son.” My mother scolds him before extending a hand to Blakely, who retreats to the far side of my bed with each arriving member of my family. “Blakely? Right? King and I just got into town this morning. We’ve been in Victoria for the past few weeks and flew out as soon as Bo called us.”

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