Page 63 of Bleeding Hearts
“Hey, you can’t be here,” a guy calls as I search the labs.
“Sorry, I’m looking for Leo,” I say sweetly, and he blinks. “I’m his girlfriend. He’s always so busy, so I thought I’d surprise him.”
“Shit, I didn’t know he was dating.” He laughs and points down the hallway. “Last lab. He’s been set up there for ages. He barely goes home and acts like he doesn’t even have one, just surrounds himself with us and computers.”
I bet. If he is helping Risk, then he’s probably hiding.
I stride down the carpeted corridor, glancing into the computer labs as I go. They are hella impressive and full of students. The last one has a handmade “fuck off” sign on the door, and I roll my eyes as I push the glass door open.
There’s a familiar man sitting in a chair before five screens. The chair to the right has a blanket over it, and it looks like he’s been living here, so my guess was correct.
He turns, his eyes widening as he meets my gaze.
“Hi, Leo. I need your help. You helped Risk, and starting now, you’re going to help me end this.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ifelt rough for at least two days, and Lally never left my side. She helped me shower and wash my hair. She also cooked for me, made me drink plenty of water, and ensured I took my meds before I rested. We binge watchedCastle, which happens to be her favorite show.
It was perfect . . . you know, apart from nearly dying.
“I can’t believe you hung it up.” I sigh as I stare at the painting she mounted over her TV. It’s the one I painted of her on our date, which feels like it was forever ago, but it was only a few days past. So much has happened since.
Lifting her head, she drapes her arm more securely around me as she pulls me into her embrace. I never thought I would say this, but Lally is clingy, and I fucking love it.
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asks with a frown. “It’s an incredible piece of art. I should get you to sign it before you become all famous and shit.”
“Why? Are you going to sell it?” I grin, propping my chin on her shoulder.
Her arm bends as she pets my hair and drops a kiss on my forehead. “Never,” she vows. “You gave it to me. I keep everything you give me.”
“Liar,” I scoff as I turn forward.
“Want to bet?” She carefully lets me sit up and then slides from the bed. Following her, I perch on the edge as she walks over to her closet and pulls out a wooden box. Kneeling before me, she carefully opens it and turns so I can see inside. It looks like scraps of trash and receipts to me, but she selects one at random and holds it out.
“This is from the first time we went to the movies together.” She shows me the date, and my eyes widen as she puts it back in the box and pulls out something else. “The receipt when we went to that fancy dinner for my birthday.” Rummaging around, she chooses a napkin. “You doodled this while we were waiting for your brother and Evan.”
I reach inside and pull out a rock. “Ah, you remember when we went to the park when Alek demanded you needed more exercise and should try hiking? You threw this at me when I told you to speed up.”
Holding it in my fist, I gape at her, unsure what to say.
Shock roots me in place as she continues to pull out more and more items, telling me what each and every one is. It’s a collection, garbage to most, but she kept everything like treasures.
“You kept all this?” I ask softly.
“Of course. You gave them to me.” She shrugs.
My gaze sweeps over her face. “Even when you hated me, you kept it all?”
Shutting the box, she carefully sets it on the floor and takes my hands. “I told you that I never hated you. Even when I was lost, I put things in here rather than the trash. I think I might need a bigger box soon.”
“Why?” I search her gaze.
“I don’t plan on letting you go. We’ll have a lifetime of things to fill it with,” she answers like it’s obvious before she kissesmy hands, picks up the box, and heads to her closet, putting it back. Climbing from the bed, I hurry over to Lally and wrap my arms around her from behind. My heart hammers with so much happiness, I feel like I might explode.
“I’ll buy you one,” I murmur as her hand covers mine on her belly.
“Good, now sign your work, baby. I want everyone to know I was the first.” She turns and hands me a marker pen before sitting on the end of the bed.
