Page 44 of Exclusive

“My face hurts, but I’m gonna be okay.”

His smile faded, joking now aside. “You sure? That was pretty scary.”

“I’m sure. Tell Sandra I was feeling good enough to tell you that you have ketchup on your face.” He swiped at his mouth, and I grinned. “Just kidding.”

He smiled for real. “Sending you respect for that one.”

Carrie offered his arm a squeeze. “I’ll text you any updates. Go home and get some sleep.”

He nodded, held his arm up to say good-bye, and took off. My heart squeezed at that gesture, and not just Ty’s. When Carrie returned to my bedside, I took her hand and held it. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She shook her head. “Last week was stupid. I was stupid. I just get in my own head sometimes and…”

“Retreat.”

“Yeah. Old habit. And then when you were hurt and they cut away, all I wanted to do was make sure you were okay. Sit right here until you were.”

I stared into her eyes. “I’m dead serious about Kacey. Not what it appeared to be.”

She scoffed. “We don’t have to talk about that now. You’re hurt.”

“I’ll live. Plus, Iwantto talk about it and make sure all cards are on the table, okay?”

“Okay.”

“There’s nothing there.” I raised a shoulder. “We used to hook up before I moved to San Diego. Nothing since. We were never a couple,even if I occasionally thought we could be. Then I met you. The world changed forever.”

She nodded, seeming to take it all in. “I should have let you explain.”

“Yes. You should have.”

She smiled. “So…am I even allowed to sit here? I can camp out in the hall. I probably deserve it.”

“I want you right here.”

“Good.” She took my chin, turned my face to hers, and leaned in for a gentle kiss that, quite simply, made it all better. Pain? What pain?

A thought struck. “Wait. Don’t you have a broadcast to anchor?”

“Aww.” She shook her head. “You really were hit hard. It’s close to one a.m.”

I frowned. “You should be in bed, young lady!”

She laughed. I loved the sound of it. “I told you. That’s my seat over there.” She touched my cheek. “And I meant it. If you’ll have me.” She swallowed, nervous, which was so crazy to me I couldn’t see straight.

“Yeah. Of course.” I looked at the less-than-comfortable-looking recliner, warmed. “You’re really gonna stay all night, though? You really don’t have to. I’m a big girl. I took a punch and everything.”

“Your nurse brought me a blanket. I’m looking forward to snuggling beneath it.”

Everything squeezed. She was actually planning to stay in the hospital with me. In a chair. “Of course they did. You’re famous.”

“And milking every moment of it today.”

The next morning, she wasn’t the only famous one. “What is going on?” I said quietly to myself, staring at my phone as the sun came up over the skyline of San Diego. I had hundreds of emails, dozens of text messages, and more notifications on social media than my brain could properly process.

Carrie stirred in her chair next to my bed. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you, but for some reason, the world is trying to get in contact with me.”

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