Page 120 of X My Heart

“Hey, Shorty,” he says, a slow smile tugging on his lips, those brilliant blue eyes flashing.

“Hi,” I whisper when he takes off my oxygen mask. We keep staring at each other, not saying anything. After a while, he leans in and kisses me, a soft kiss that fills my heart.

“What time is it?” My voice is raspy.

He lifts up on his arms and checks the time on his phone. “Around five in the afternoon. You have been sleeping for eighteen hours straight, babe.”

We keep staring at each other. He caresses my cheek, his calloused thumb moving over my forehead. Those ice-blue eyes still make my heart skip a beat.

“I thought I’d have so many things to say.” He lets out a strangled cry. A single tear escapes from under his closed lids.

“I know,” I tell him, taking shallow breaths.

“But when I look at you, I know you know every answer to my questions, don’t you?”

I can only smile. “Yes.”

He takes my hand in his, locking our fingers together. “I love you,” I tell him.

He closes his eyes. Tears start to flow, and sobs escape him when I hold him tight.

“Let go, Hunter.” I trace the line of his jaw with my nose. My knuckles move over his parted lips, the warmth of his breath tickling my skin, and he opens his eyes. “You have to promise to let me go. You will always have my heart, as I have yours.”

“You are my once-in-a-lifetime,” he says and kisses me. His tears fall on my cheeks, mixing with mine. “Cross my heart,” he whispers. And I hold him while he cries, until he falls asleep, and I know it is almost time.

“Catch you in my dreams,” he drawls, his voice hoarse, and I open and close my eyes, promising him I will.

Hunter

I hand Drew a new wheel for a bike we picked up in San Diego. “Here you go.”

He takes it from me. “Thanks, man.”

I slam my fist against the frame. “Fuck,” I growl, holding onto the bench until my fingers start cramping up. “I want to …”

Drew stops working on the bike. “You can tell me, Hunt.”

“I want to take a whole bottle and swallow all the pills. I want to crash my bike if it could mean she would stay here. I want to fucking murder someone.”

Drew tries to take my hand, but I slap his fingers away.

“I don’t understand how this could have happened? I know she’s been sick for years, but fuck I only just found her. Why is she deteriorating so fast? It’s like she’s been holding on for so long, like her heart can’t take it anymore,” I say, pacing back and forth.

His eyes are sad as he watches me fall apart.

“I don’t know what to do.” I kick my Vans against my dirt bike. The lump in my throat gets bigger until I topple over with my hands on my knees. “I need her, Drew.” I grab his hand, and he pulls me into his chest, and I let myself go. Burying my face in his shoulder, I sob. “Why is she leaving me? Why is she leaving?”

“I don’t know,” he answers, kissing the top of my head.

My legs give out and I fall onto the floor, taking him with me. Drew still has his arms around me. “I-I-I h-hate her for leaving me,” I stutter, letting the tears flow. I lean my butt against the workbench, focusing on his calm eyes.

“I know, man. I know,” he whispers, his voice breaking. He looks to the ground probably trying to hide his tear stained face. Leaning my head against the metal leg of the bench, I scrub my knuckles over my stubble. “I hate that I can’t save her,” I husk out.

“I know, Hunt.”

“I’m so angry, so fucking angry,” I repeat staring into his red rimmed eyes.

Drew lets me vent and holds me for what feels like hours, thank god for my brother, my best friend.

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