Page 187 of Forgot to Tell You Something

Hey, it soothes her nerves, and at the rate she’s going, our son will have a fresh blanket for each day of the month.

“Tally…”

My eyes fly open at the sound of Owen’s voice. He’s looking at me, his fingers moving against mine. I know he’s dopey from the pain medication, but his eyes are clear. Those gorgeous gray skies that live in my Owen.

“Hey, baby, you’re awake.” I lean over him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You scared us.”

“Scared myself for a minute. I much prefer to be on the doctor end of the doctor patient relationship.”

I giggle, my hand stroking his scalp. He’s here. He’s still here.

He turns his head, offering a smile to his mother. “Hey, Mom.”

That’s all it took for the levee to break. As soon as the words leave Owen’s mouth, Mrs. Steven’s calm facade crumbles and she collapses at his bedside.

“I’m okay, Mom. I promise.” Poor Owen, he’s a gunshot victim and yet he’s reassuring his mother.

“I’m sorry, it’s just seeing you like this, hurts my heart.” She takes the tissues I offer her, wiping her eyes. It doesn’t matter that her son is thirty-eight. He’s her baby boy, now and forever.

I rest my hand on my belly, smiling down at Nugget. I get her pain. I understand the desire to shield this angel from everything life tosses our way, and the helplessness you feel when you lose any semblance of control.

Owen reaches up his fingers, tracing along my belly. “Are you two okay?”

I nod, stepping closer to the bedrail to allow him easier access. “We’re fine. Scared to death about you, but fine.”

Owen clears his throat, a flash of pain crossing his features.

“I’ll go speak with your nurse, see if I can get you some ice chips and pain medicine.”

His mom needs a few minutes with her son, and I need to pee—for the millionth time today.

Ten minutes later, I return to the room, a smile lighting my face. Right on the money. Mrs. Stevens is busy fussing over her son, fluffing his pillow and tucking in the edges of his blanket like a burrito. Finally, she sighs and shakes her head, her gaze moving between the two of us. “I know, you want me out of here, so you two can canoodle.”

“Owen is definitely not canoodling for a while,” I chuckle, watching my man wince when laughter reverberates through his body.

“Still, you two need a minute. I’ll be in the waiting room.”

The door isn’t even closed before I climb into the bed next to him, careful to avoid any lines or wires. Protocol? Bite me.

I burrow my head against his chest and sob.

His arm wraps around my body, and despite the pain, he presses a kiss to my head. “It’s okay, Darlin. I’m okay.”

I meet his gaze, tears running down my face. “You took a bullet for me. You saved my life. Owen, you could have died.”

He thumbs away my tears, shaking his head. “I’d do it again, every damn day, to keep you two safe. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, though.”

I chuckle, pressing kisses through his gown. “Only you would joke right now.”

“I damn near died. Can you think of a better time to laugh?”

“I prayed. I went to the chapel and begged for you to be okay. I promised God all sorts of things.”

“Anything interesting?”

“I may have mentioned oral sex daily for the next decade.”

“I am so collecting on that promise.”

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