Page 77 of Found By Him

Maggie chimes in. “Tyler’s right. I would be willing to bet Jack would want to be the one to take you home.”

“Who knows when that’s going to be? He can come see me when he gets done at work,” Gisella argues back.

I tamp down my frustration with Tyler for not texting me to let me know they discharged Gisella. Not wanting to wait any longer to make my entrance, I push the door open. “You’re in luck. He’s arrived.”

“Thank god,” Tyler huffs out. I wrap my lips around my teeth to hide my laugh at the annoyed look Gisella gives him.

“Now that your knight in shining...” Maggie pauses,taking in my black pants and black t-shirt. “Black has arrived, I’m going to head out.” She hugs Gisella. “I’ll text you soon to check on you. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Maggie. I’ll talk to you soon.” Gisella is sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, dressed in black yoga pants and an oversized purple T-shirt. Her hair is pulled up into a messy bun. Despite everything she’s been through, she looks breathtakingly vibrant and, most importantly, alive.

Tyler follows Maggie out after giving Gisella a hug and a similar speech about talking to her soon. His annoyance is quickly forgotten when it comes to her.

When we’re alone, I hold up the flowers. “I guess these can just come home with us, like the rest of them.”

Her eyes are bright. “My home or yours?”

“Yours.” Her face drops at my answer, but she doesn’t say anything.

I start to collect her belongings the best I can with one arm. “Should we get a wheelchair so you don’t have to walk?”

She steps over to help me, brow pinched in concern. I release a frustrated sigh as I struggle to pack her bag for her.

“Are you going to tell me what happened to your arm?”

“We can talk about it later.”

She’s asked me multiple times, but the last thing she needs is to worry or feel guilty about my injuries. What happened to Matt and Tyler wears heavy on her heart, and I don’t want to pile anything else on her, especially while she recovers.

She nods and finishes packing everything into her bag.

Once that’s complete, I can’t stop myself from planting a soft kiss on her lips. She relaxes into me and places a handgently on my chest. Having her touch me after way too long is more than I can bear. Breathing her in, I deepen the kiss. She tastes like mint, and her sweetness. She releases a soft moan and shuffles a step closer to me. I wrap my good arm around her waist, pulling her tight. When she starts to pull back, I reluctantly loosen my hold on her while not letting her go entirely in case she’s unsteady. I know I am.

She sighs against me. “I thought I would never do that again.”

My inhale is uneven as my hands find her cheeks and keep her face tilted to me. I don’t want to admit that I had that same fear. “Well, get used to doing that all the goddamn time.”

Her sweet laughter makes all the pain worth it.

She eventually agrees to the wheelchair, and with the help of one of the techs, we make our way to my vehicle. Frustrated I can’t assist her as much as I would like with my arm, I do my best to help her into the car and place the bag and flowers in the backseat.

When we turn out of the hospital parking lot, I take my first deep breath, thinking back to when I wasn’t sure if I would ever get to be with her again.

“Jack, you said we were going to my house. This isn’t the right direction.”

I glance over at her cute and confused expression. “I promise we’re going in the right direction.” I’m not just talking about where we are driving.

I have never been more sure of anything.

I wish I could watch her the whole way to my house. I steal glances whenever I can, not wanting to put us at risk.

Gisella is quiet for the rest of the drive home. When I pull into the driveway, she looks at me, even more confused.

I smile wide. “Let’s go inside.”

Once inside, I place her newest bouquet on the counter, and I guide her onto one of the barstools. “Do you want some coffee? Or something else?”

“Coffee sounds amazing,” she says on a sigh. As I prepare the coffee, she asks, “You said you were taking me to my house. I don’t want to be presumptuous, so I need you to tell me what this means that we’re here.”

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