Page 85 of Chase Our Forever

“My girlfriend’s here,” I explain, my voice breaking. “I need to find her.”

The receptionist gives me an apologetic smile as she continues to hold a conversation with someone else on the phone.

My hands find my head as I consider how crazy it’d be if I just started searching every room for Liv. Maybe that’ll be quicker than waiting for this woman to get off the phone and help me.

I’m seconds away from doing just that when I hear my name.

“Dean.” Mare steps forward with a soft smile. She holds a coffee cup in her hands, along with a bag of chips.

I let out a relieved breath as I close the distance to her. “Where is she?”

“Let me take you to her.”

I nod, trying to keep my emotions at bay. “Is she okay?” I ask, my tone hesitant.

Mare nods as she walks to the elevators. “Yes. She’s okay. She’s asking for you.”

My vision gets blurry as I stare at Mare. “Really?”

Her smile is reassuring as we step into the elevator. It takes forever for it to climb each floor, but each floor higher means I’m one step closer to the woman I love. The moment the doors open, I’m racing out of them. I find my loved ones in the waiting room, and as much as I want to talk to them, I have to get to Liv first.

“Which room?”

“Third room on the left,” Pippa answers as she stands up.

She might say more, but I don’t hear any of it. I race down the hallway, my boots tracking snow everywhere as I hurry to her. I get a few odd glances from hospital staff as I make my way to Liv’s room, but I don’t care. They can look at me like I’m crazy. I have to get to Liv.

I get to the room Pippa directed me to, stopping in the open doorway and finding her propped up in a hospital bed, staring out the window.

It feels like everything in my life falls into place when Liv turns her head to look at me. Her hair is pulled back into a bun, bringing attention to a bandage wrapped around the top of her head. There’s scratches and red marks all over her face. There’s exhaustion in her eyes, but they light up as they travel my body.

No matter her injuries, I focus on the fact she’s alive.

“Dean.” My name comes out like a whisper.

A sob crashes through me as I close the distance to her. I carefully climb into the hospital bed with her, making sure I don’t hurt her. I want to take her in my arms and never let her go, but I know she must be sore. I keep my shaking hands at my sides, even though every part of me wants to touch her to know she’s really here with me.

She pushes herself off the mattress a little, a smile on her face despite the absolute hell she’s been through. Her eyes track my face. “I’m so sorr?—”

“I love you,” I interrupt, unable to hold on to the words for a second longer.

Her eyes go wide. My fingers tremble as I reach out to run them along her cheek. I need to touch her, to make sure she’s actually here in front of me. It feels like I can finally relax enough to take a deep breath, knowing that the worst didn’t happen toher. That she’s right here in front of me so I can finally tell her how much she owns my heart.

“I was so fucking worried I wouldn’t be able to tell you that,” I croak. “I hated myself for not saying it back to you the moment you told me. But I love you, sunshine. I love you so fucking much that the thought of something happening to you tonight, fuck, it tore me up inside.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her eyes fluttering shut as I gently caress her cheek with my thumb. She’s got what looks like burns against her cheeks, but I try not to focus on them. I don’t want her hurt at all, but I have to remind myself that she’s alive and she’ll heal. She’s in the right place to make sure whatever injuries she endured will be taken care of.

A sad laugh escapes me. “I just told you I love you, and you’re saying you’re sorry? What could you possibly be sorry for, baby?”

She grabs my coat and brings me closer to her until my body is flush with hers in the bed. I try not to focus on the way she flinches with the connection of our bodies. I don’t know if they’ve been able to run scans on her to make sure she’s okay, but she doesn’t seem to want me to leave her side. If anything, she keeps a firm grip on my coat to keep me close to her. “I’m sorry for going out in that weather. For scaring you. With everything you’ve been through, I feel so stupid that I?—”

I gently press my fingers to her chapped lips. It kills me inside that she thinks she needs to apologize to me. “You couldn’t have known.” I press my forehead to hers. I want to kiss her so bad, to pull her into my arms and never let go. “It isn’t your fault. None of that matters anymore, anyway. You’re here. You’re safe.”

“I’m right here,” she confirms, pressing her forehead to mine.

“Did you hear me say I love you?” I ask, my heart racing.

I never imagined myself falling in love again. Quite frankly, I thought it was impossible. But it was only impossible because I hadn’t met Liv yet. I should’ve known the moment she first aimed those beautiful blue eyes in my direction and gave me her perfect smile that she’d be the one to breathe life back into me.

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