Page 125 of This Life and All the Rest
“Look... I’m pretty sure they’ve all known, for the last four years, that I would gladlybang youin a heartbeat. Fuck, I’d probably havebanged youon the kitchen table in front of everyone if you’d let me. I was that hard up for you.”
I gasp, then swat his chest with my free hand, and shoot my eyes around the hospital.
“People are going to hear you!”
“Don’t care.”
He shrugs and yanks me into his chest, pressing a kiss to my lips before walking me backward into the elevator. The doors close and he pushes me against the wall, lifting my hands and pinning them at the wrists above my head.
He leans back and surveys me.
“I think I need to draw you like this. Pinned up for me, unable to run.”
“I’m not running,” I tell him, and he leans back into me, kissing my jaw.
“No?”
“No.”
Macon’s mouth covers mine, and my lips part immediately, welcoming his tongue. He releases my wrists and moves his hands to my hips, just as mine thread through his hair. I hum, pressing my body as close as possible to his, kissing him deeply.
A throat clears, and we spring apart, whipping our eyes to the open elevator doors. I didn’t realize we’d stopped. I didn’t even hear the door open. An older man stands at the door with his brow raised. He doesn’t look offended, just annoyed.
“Sorry,” I say to the man, and I grab Macon’s hand and pull him behind me off the elevator.
“I’m not sorry,” Macon says as he pushes past the man, and I have to stifle a giggle.
“You’re terrible.”
“You love me anyway.”
I don’t answer, but it’s true.
As we approach Dad’s hospital room, I can hear talking filtering out the door and into the hall. My footsteps slow to a stop. Claire is in there.
“We can leave,” Macon whispers, glancing from the door to me. “I don’t really want to see her, either.”
I actuallydowant to see Claire, but I don’t want to upset my father. I’ve got a few choice words to say to her and my dad is supposed to be in a low-stress environment right now. I think it over, then make up my mind. I can keep a lid on it while we’re here.
“No. Let’s go in.”
Macon doesn’t argue, and he follows me through the room.
The moment we step through the door, I can feel everyone’s eyes on us. Claire, Drea, Dad. Even Eric is here, and Evie is sleeping in Drea’s arms. I squeeze Macon’s hand and I don’t let go.
“Hey, guys,” I say brightly.
My dad’s attention drags from our hands to my face. He’s stoic at first, and then his lips curve into a sad smile.
“You’ve talked?”
“We have,” Macon answers. “I think we covered everything.”
My dad nods, then glances to where Claire is sitting. I keep my attention on Dad.
“Claire told us what she did,” Dad says, and my jaw drops. “Everything.”
I whip my eyes to Claire and find her staring at her feet with her hands fisted in front of her. She looks like she’s been crying, but I can’t bring myself to care.
