Page 107 of Take My Name
“He let me name two: Cluck Skywalker and Princess Lay-a.”
I grin, his nerdiness from high school showing. “Very cute and fittin’.”
“I thought so. Except Warren hasn’t let me play with ’em since the last incident.”
I arch a brow. “Do I even wanna know?”
“To be fair, Bodie started it.”
“Of course he did.”
“The chickens are already crazy on their own but add in a drunken game of tag where we run around the coop until one of us trips makes ’em extra crazy.”
The corners of my lips twitch. “I’m startin’ to understand why Warren no longer allows it.”
“He acts like we hurt ’em when it was ’em who kicked our asses.”
I open my mouth, but then a groan grabs my attention.
“Are y’all seriously talkin’ shit about my chickens while I’m unconscious?”
I jump to my feet, the chair scraping across the floor, too in shock to be subtle or quiet. “Warren?”
“Shoulda known talkin’ about ’em would wake you up,” Silas taunts, grinning wide.
“Mhm. Stop flirtin’ with my wife.” Warren glares.
I can’t stop smiling and crying happy tears.
“How do you feel?” I ask, softly rubbing over his hand.
He grunts, trying to reposition himself. I reach for his pillow, helping him sit up more. “Like I got kicked in the fuckin’ chest by a twelve-hundred-pound horse.”
“Smacked your head too,” I clarify, readjusting his blankets.
He winces as if he just realized it hurts.
“Glad you’re awake, man.” Silas pats his shoulder. “Gonna send a text to your family so they know.” Silas reaches for his phone on the table. “And I’ll tell your nurse.”
“Can you tell his mom and aunt too? They’re in the waitin’ room.”
“Sure thing. Be right back.”
Once we’re alone, I sit and lean in closer. “You scared me.”
“Sorry ’bout that.” His voice is strained, and he seems a bit out of it, but overall, he’s talking normally.
“Everyone’s been worried sick about you.”
“I have no doubt. My family’s gonna be insufferable now.”
“How long have you been listenin’?”
He reaches for me, grabbing my hand and linking his fingers through mine. It sends a wave of electricity down my spine, and I beam at him.
“Since the moment you started talkin’,” he says, making me wonder if he heard everything or since Silas entered. “My brain was still too foggy to comprehend I needed to open my eyes and move my lips to speak.”
“Don’t worry about talkin’ if you’re too tired. Rest as much as you need,” I reassure him, keeping my eyes on his.
