Page 60 of The Roommates

“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that.”

She huffed out a weak laugh. “I asked if you need a ride to your car.”

“No, but thank you. I’m staying here for a while.”

“Okay. Call me if you need anything.” She sounded sincere, and I knew she meant it rather than throwing the words out as a platitude.

“Thank you.”

With the phone calls done, I gathered up our bags, and waited an excruciating 15 more minutes until they finally brought me to Colin.

He was in a regular hospital room, his bed raised enough to have him half sitting. He looked pale, and a frown whispered across his face when he saw me.

Where was I supposed to start? “I’m so—”

“Your arm.”

I— what?

“What happened?” Colin asked.

I stared at him. “You’re lying there with a dented brain and you’re worried about my arm?”

He shrugged.

A hysteria-tinged laugh slipped past my lips. “Are you kidding me right now? I was an absolute ass to you. We’ve barely spoken in days. You could’ve fucking drowned, and you want to know how my arm is?”

“Well, yeah. It’s in a sling. How badly are you hurt?”

“God damn it, Colin. I swear I don’t deserve you.” I stopped next to his bed.

One corner of his mouth tugged up. “You really don’t. Why did you tell them you were my partner?”

He remembered that. Of all the things… “Wishful thinking.”

And now Colin’s frown was back.

I had to make this right. “I’m sorry for being dim. For not recognizing how you felt about me. For not admitting how I feel about you. I don’t know if it’s too late, but I love you Colin. I’m lost without you.”

“I should hit my head more often. The hallucinations are amazing.”

“I just poured my heart out to you.”

“I wouldn’t call it a pour. How’s it feel, by the way? To confess your heart’s desire and not get the response you hoped for?”

I worked my jaw.

Colin grinned. “I love you too. I didn’t stop feeling a lifetime of adoration in the last few days.”

I laughed. “All right. I deserved that.”

“I get a kiss, right?I love youcomes with kisses?” Colin asked.

It absolutely did. I pressed my lips softly to his, not wanting to hurt him, but I lingered, not wanting to pull away. How was this so perfect? And how did I almost walk away from it?

26

colin

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