Page 137 of Whenever You Call

It had been her voice I’d followed.

Her voice that had turned me away from a light I’d been drawn to, bringing me back to ones much harsher, pouring down on me from strip lights I wanted to tear my eyes away from, only to be encouraged by voices I hadn’t recognized to look up at them again.

Welcome back, Mr. Thomas. There are a lot of people here desperate to see you.

And thenshe’dcome into focus.

Her tear-stained, red eyes made me blink, hating whoever had made her cry. I’d wanted to tear into them and make them pay… until I’d realized I’d been the one to ruin her.

Even though she only ever tried to look happy as she stared down at me, I saw the distress hiding there behind her eyes. Her face had been the only thing I’d been able to focus on since waking up. I’d slipped in and out of sleep, too exhausted to do much of anything but blink in the right places or try to smile through my bust-up lips, but she hadn’t stepped away from me yet. Not once.

During the nights, I’d wake to find her sleeping on a high-back chair beside me, her fist pushed against her cheek, her breaths steady despite the dark circles around her eyes.

My voice may have been weak, but my love for her had never been stronger.

She hadn’t given up on me, which meant she hadn’t given up onus.

Even as I stared up at her from my hospital bed during the day, unable to find the right words to say anything, she stood over me smiling, telling me everything Bella wanted me to know and everything she couldn’t wait for us to do once I got out of here.

She sold me a future I couldn’t believe.

Even with a broken body and while feeling weak as shit, I wanted all of it. All of her. But what I wanted more than anything was to hold her again—to rid myself of every chemical smell around me and replace it with the scent of her shampoo, her skin, her perfume, her body.

I prayed for the strength to finally tell her, and on the fourth morning, I woke feeling like something had changed. As though my heart beat that little bit stronger, and my limbs felt that little bit tighter. My fingers twitched to move, and my heart demanded the woman I loved come closer.

When I turned my head to find her in her usual position in that uncomfortable chair, my brow creased, and my breath hitched at the sight of her. She was painfully fucking stunning. The sun was rising behind me, pouring light upon her face, making her look like a damn painting. She’d always been beautiful, but right there, worn out and emotionally spent beside me,forme, she’d never looked more perfect. Her tiredness didn't make me feel guilty, only grateful. Her loyalty didn’t make me feel unworthy, only like a god.

Out of everyone she could have had, she chose me, and I couldn’t waste another second of that gift she’d given me.

“H-Hannah,” I croaked, using my voice properly for the first time, the pain in my throat making me wince. “Hannah.”

Her eyes flickered open slowly, her pupils taking a second to focus before she blinked and lifted her head from her fist, looking up at me in wonder. “Logan?” she breathed.

“Hey,” I rasped through a soft smile that hurt.

She shot up from her seat faster than lightning, her eyes filled with stars and her cheeks flaming to life.

I fucking loved it when that happened.

“You’re back,” she whispered.

Raising a weak hand, I brushed it over the apple of her cheek. She leaned into my touch without hesitation, her eyes closing as her tears fell freely. When she looked at me again, her hands wrapping around my wrist to hold me against her, she took my breath away.

“God, I’ve missed you,” she sighed.

“I’ve… missed you, too,” I pushed out, ignoring the pain.

But Hannah saw it, and her brows pinched together. “Do you need some water or—?”

I shook my head carefully. “Just you.”

She reached out to cup my jaw with one hand while her other kept my knuckles pressed against her face. “Don’t you ever leave me again, Logan Thomas. Do you hear me?”

“Okay.”

“I’ve been so lost without you.”

“I heard.” I tried to smirk, but my face hurt too much, in desperate need for more medication to numb the pain.

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