Page 67 of Finding Home with You

Erin nods, her eyes never leaving mine.

“But I will never hurt you like they did,” I say, knowing I mean this with all of my heart. “And I will protect you, and our baby, from all of that.”

“But…” she stammers.

I shake my head, knowing that I have never felt this strongly about anything. “You have nothing to worry about, baby,” I tell her. “I will fix this for you and then everything will be okay. I promise.”

Erin stares up at me, the hope and desperation only intensifying as her eyes search mine. I smile at her, forcing my own fears about what happened today and what else Anthony might be capable of, away. Knowing that no matter what, I’m going to get this motherfucker.

And when I do, he’s going to pay for what he did to her today.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Erin

By the time the morning arrives I’m itching to get the hell out of the hospital and home to my own house. I’m dressed, my things are sitting on the bed, and I’m growing more and more annoyed that the doctor is taking his sweet time on rounds as I wait impatiently to be released.

Luckily I had some clothes at Ryan’s house or I’d be leaving this hospital wearing a gown and some dirty underwear. The paramedics had to cut my sweatshirt off me while I was in the ambulance, and that rendered it pretty much useless. And after catching a whiff of my leggings and my winter coat, I wasn’t about to wear them smelling like airbag dust.

Even though I’m ready to be home, I’m not leaving Boston without stopping at the prison. I’m not letting this whole thing slide by without letting my father know I’m done being fucked with.

He’s the reason I’m sitting in this hospital with a broken arm, pissed off and ready to have it out with him.

Eventually the doctor comes in, letting us know that I’m fine to go home, but that I need to take it easy for the next couple of days. He tells me I’m okay to go back to work once my winter break is over. When I glance over at Ryan I can tell by the look on his face that he’s not so comfortable with this news.

I raise my eyebrows at him, waiting for him to say what he’s thinking, and just like he always does, he voices his opinion; his bossy, sometimes sweet, but sometimes ridiculous, opinion on my life.

“You sure, Doc?” Ryan says, not looking at me because he knows I’m rolling my eyes. “She teaches little kids. You sure she should be on her feet all day?”

“Ryan,” I say, patting his chest with my hand, to settle him down, but also to tell him he’s being way too overprotective. “The kids are five, what can they possibly do?”

He shakes his head. “Who knows,” he says, shrugging his shoulders and taking my hand in his. “But I’m not taking any chances.”

The doctor laughs as he says, “It’s fine, Ryan, really. I do recommend that Erin take it easy for the next couple of days just because she’ll be sore given the accident. And that cast is going to have to be checked out to see if it’s ready to come off in six weeks, but other than that, you’re good to go.”

“What about the baby?” Ryan asks, looking at the doctor for some support with his craziness.

“What about it?” I ask him, smiling, but also holding back the fact that I want to roll my eyes. I should’ve known Ryan would be this way. All I can hope is we don’t have a girl because his level of protectiveness will be through the roof if we do.

“Well…” he says stopping, and I can tell he’s trying to choose his words wisely. I have to stifle the laugh that I feel beginning, knowing he’s about to say something ridiculous. “You’re pregnant,” he says, as his face flushes, obviously aware of how stupid he sounds.

I can’t hold back now, and I burst out laughing. “Women get pregnant all the time, Ryan, I’m not gonna break, you know.”

Attempting to make Ryan feel less silly the doctor says, “She’s right. Erin is fine to work, Ryan. Right up until she gives birth if she wants. I would recommend some pre-natal vitamins and she get herself an OB for regular check-ups, but apart from that, life can go on as normal.”

“See,” I say, nudging him with my shoulder and giving him a little smile. “It’s all good.”

“Like normal, normal?” Ryan asks, glancing between the doctor and me, and this time it’s me who flushes bright red, and my laughing once again returns.

“What my wonderful boyfriend is asking, Doc, is can we still have sex?”

“Erin,” Ryan says, shaking his head at the directness of my question, but that is exactly what Ryan was getting at.

The doctor smiles at Ryan and me. “Yes, sex is fine too,” he says, now looking only at Ryan. “As long as Erin is comfortable, there’s no reason why you can’t have sex right up until the baby is born if you want.”

“See, Ryan. We’re all good,” I say, pushing up on my toes and giving him a quick kiss.

I’m finally discharged, and I let out a sigh of relief as the doctor walks out of the room. I’m reaching for my purse and the plastic bag with my clothes just as Ryan snatches it out from under me.

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