Page 35 of Always Heated

Because he did. I helped him fix up the porch swing and he thought he was being slick asking me what your opinion was on various updates.

That man loves you, Cass. I’m happy you’re happy.

I chuckle to myself as I blink away my tears.She’s mine and would say yes.“Thank you.” My words are barely above a whisper.

“Go on in. I’ll wait here.”

“No.” I shake my head, handing him back his phone. “You’re her father.”

“And one day, you’ll be her husband. Go ahead.”

He opens the door for me and I step in. My breath is stolen from me. Cass is hooked up to oxygen and an IV drip, the beeps of the monitors filling the space. The distinct smell of smoke lingers, smudges of soot are still on her cheek. I’m at her side in an instant, carefully taking her hand in mine.

“Hey, baby, I’m here.” I kiss her knuckles, one at a time. She groans, squeezing my hand as she wakes. As she’s about to take off her oxygen mask, I stop her. “No, Cass. Keep it on. How are you feeling? Scale of one to ten.” She squeezes three times, coughing twice. “Fuck. I’m so sorry. I never should’ve left Inferno.”

Shaking her head, she mimes writing with her free hand. After a quick glance around, there’s no paper or pen that would work, and I pull out my phone for her to type in my notes app. When she’s done, she hands it to me.

It wasn’t his fault. I forgot about it when I was in the back room. It was an accident. How is he? How is the shop?

“You are my number one priority right now.” She frowns and taps the screen again for emphasis. I sigh and give in. “Inferno is at your brother’s, and I haven’t checked about the shop, but last I heard, it isn’t looking good. There is likely smoke damage, and I’ll call the insurance tomorrow to see what can be done. Fuck, Cass.” I kiss her palm and place it on my cheek. “I love you so fucking much. I’ve never been so scared in my life.” She tries to speak but I growl, “Stop. Your lungs need to heal.”

Cass chuckles, making her cough a couple times. She takes the phone and types again.

I’m sorry you were scared. I hope you know I am so in love with you, Travis Harrison.

Tears sting my eyes as I lift out of my seat to kiss her forehead and whisper, “You’re mine, wildcat.” As I’m about to sit, I tell her, “Pop is here. Want to see him?” She nods and I make my way to the door, opening it. “I’ll give you two privacy. I’ll be in the waiting room, but I’m not leaving tonight.”

Pop moves to the side of her bed and leans in to whisper something. She nods and he insists, “We’ll add you to her emergency contact list, so if she’s here for a while you won’t have any trouble. Go home and take a shower, son. It’s been a long day. I’ll stay with her until you get back.”

“Are you sure? I can?—”

“Yes. I’ve got your girl.” He winks and I can’t help the small smirk tugging at my lips; she ismygirl. I leave them be and rush home for the fastest shower of my life.

cassidy

. . .

My chest is tight, not only from the smoke. Travis was here. I wished with all of my being that he would come after putting out the fire, but with how quickly he arrived at the hospital, the men he trusts with his life are still at the shop. Travis? He came for me.

We’ll have our work cut out for us once everything is cleaned up. I’m grateful I still have my other jobs in the meantime. I didn’t have a chance to talk to Pop about it, but with the damage at the shop, the situation seemed to have resolved itself. At least for now.

“I’m so glad you’re okay, Cass,” Pop says softly. “As soon as I got the call from Cay…” He lets out a long breath. “Travis screamed at his chief. He needed to make sure you were okay. I know when you were kids he was—how do I put this lightly—a fuckboy, I believe you called it?” I laugh, but it hurts. “Shit, I’m sorry, sweetheart. I won’t make light of it. I don't need to cause you any discomfort. But I hope you know he’s not the boy he was. He’s a man so in love with you. He beat me to the hospital, and they wouldn’t let him see you, wouldn’t give him an update. I’m surprised they didn’t call me; I thought I was your emergency contact, or at least Caleb.” My eyes blow wide. “Don’t tell me. Zack?” I nod. “Shit. I’ll have to see if they contacted him. He’s the last person who should be here right now. Will you be okay if I step away for a few minutes?” I nod again and Pop kisses me on my temple. “I’ll be right back.”

I’m in hell. Protocol would be to contact him; he was number one on my list. I can only hope he didn’t pick up, but then why did Pop or Cay not get a call?

Several minutes pass and my heart begins racing, enough that it triggers the monitors. A nurse I don’t recognize rushes in, making me even more nervous. The last thing I need is some inexperienced new girl to fuck up my oxygen or IV. Except, that’s exactly what she does before I can remove my mask to stop her. I’m hit with a blast of the corticosteroid and pain med cocktail they have me on, and everything goes black.

I’m groggy as I wake to Pop and Travis at my bedside with… Zack? This has to be a dream; some fucked upWizard of Ozscene that didn’t make the cut in the original.

“She’s awake!” Travis yells toward the open door, then asks me, “Scale of one to ten, baby. How are you feeling?”

Zack groans when he hears Travis call me baby. He shouldn’t be here, and I don’t want him to be. I try to piece together what happened when Pop quietly echoes, “How are you feeling?”

I squeeze a hand two times, unsure if it’s my father or Travis. It must be Travis, because he mutters, “Fuck,” under his breath. “Where is her doctor?”

Moments later, a blurry figure enters with a white coat. It’s either Dr. Morrow or Dr. Baker—my hope is the latter. Their voice is a bit muted, and I can’t tell which one it is. I’m able to make out Pop saying, “My daughter forgot to remove him as an emergency contact. He refuses to leave, and because she wasn’t awake, he had a right to be here.”

Travis lets out a feral growl. I reach for him, unable to keep my eyes open. He squeezes my hand and whispers, “I’m right here, Cass. I’m not going anywhere. Do you want Zack to go? Squeeze once for no, two for yes.” I squeeze twice. “She wants him gone.”

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