Page 45 of Another Round
Evie jumps off my lap with more energy than I expect with everything she’s been through. Tears of joy stream down her face. “Can we see him?”
“Of course. Come this way.”
She motions for us to follow her although Evie already is on the move. Clasping my hand and tugging at me to keep up. We wind through three short hallways to a small room where Gus lays on his side with his legs sticking straight out in front of him. His yelp of recognition and relief when he sees her makes her sob all over again. Fuck me if tears don’t burn my eyes too. Stupid dog.
I help lower Evie down to sit next to him. She nuzzles his ear and strokes down his body while I caress his head. “You can have all the cheese you ever want after this buddy.”
Evie nods in agreement with my promise. “Daddy’s right. You’re a good boy. A good, good boy.”
His tail thumps against the cushion with elation until his eyes fall shut and he drifts off. Sleeping soundly with his mum safe and loving on him. When Evie’s body slumps against mine, I know it’s time for her to go too. “We’ll come back tomorrow okay?”
After one more snuggle to his face she nods. Finally some agreement. She rises slowly with my support. Swaying a bit when she stands so I scoop her up again. Probably dizzy from the head injury as well as fatigue.
“Oh!”
We startle the doctor when I carry Evie around the corner. Surprise lining the vet’s face from her weak state. Yet Evie draws on her inner strength and lifts up.
“If something changes, call us and we’ll come right back.”
The physician nods. “He’ll probably sleep on and off the rest of the day, but we’ll let you know if we need you. He should be ready to go home in a few days if he keeps doing this well.”
I curl Evie tighter to me to end the conversation. “Thank you.”
She doesn’t protest. Snuggling in while I head back to the receptionist’s desk to call for an Uber. “See? I knew he’d be all right.”
No answer. I peek down. Asleep. I kiss her forehead and smile. Our world is good again. At least for now.
Abang hard enough to rattle the dishes on the tray next to the bed ruins my pleasure of her finally eating a full meal, and I jerk around prepared to do battle with the person who made her jump.
Nick.
Already a big man, he fills the rest of the doorway with his rage, pulsing hot and hard at me. That I could feel even through the driver’s text a few minutes ago that they were almost here.
“If she wasn’t pregnant with your child, I’d fucking kill you myself.”
Deserved. He should kill me for failing him, failing her, failing myself. “I know I fucked up, but I can’t be sorry. I love her too much to be sorry.”
“I love him too.”
Evie pipes up behind me and slides her hand around my waist. But he doesn’t give a damn about how she feels or how I feel. Only what I’ve done.
“Nick.”
Shae slips in front of her husband. Still beautiful as ever with only a few laugh lines near her eyes that I know really are from smiling. Which makes me happy to see her happy. Even if the man who makes her happy wishes I was dead.
“I need to make sure she’s okay.”
One sincere plea from his wife, one persuasive touch on his arm, and the man actually stands down. Stops snarling. Starts breathing again. Proof of the damn power these women have over us. I live because of Shae. I’m alive because of her daughter and the gift she gives me.
Nick’s hand automatically curls over Shae’s shoulder when she steps closer to us. Understandable but still a punishing kick to my gut. Ironic that he guards her from the man he used to trust to protect her. Protect both of them.
Much more forgiving than her husband, Shae includes me in her enormous hug with her daughter. Enveloping and comforting both of us after what we’ve been through. I pat her mum’s back a few times under Nick’s seething gaze and then pull back. Appreciating the sentiment but knowing how much she needs Evie and Evie needs her.
Although I keep my hand entwined with their daughter’s. To claim Evie for everyone to see and know and understand. Regardless of Nick’s rage or Shae’s pardon, they both need to accept she’s mine, and I’m not giving her up.
Evie’s gaze darts to me and then her father and back again. I smile. Letting her know everything is going to be all right. I’ll fight for both of us. Endure anything Nick doles out. Her eyes sink shut with my approval, and she snuggles into her mum. Probably well aware both her father and I are still standing due to her mother’s intervention. Neither of us willing to battle in front of her.
“I’m fine Mom. I promise.”
