Page 70 of Wildest Desire

Mom puts her hand on my head and pulls me closer to her. “I know. I promise this pain you’re feeling will all be over the second she wakes up.” Kneeling in front of me, she puts her hand on my cheek and just looks at me for a moment. “And when she does wake up, you never forget to tell her every day how much you love her,” she says.

I take her hand from my cheek and hold it in mine, then lean forward to give my mom a kiss on the cheek. My phone rings in my pocket, so I take it out and cancel the call without even looking to see who it was.

“Give me your phone,” Travis says, putting his hand out as it rings again. “Hand it over.” I place my phone in his hand and watch as he walks away from us.

“I guess you're now on leave from work,” my mom tells me as she stands up. I look over at Travis talking on my phone. “Now that you’ve finally forgiven him, he’s not going to fuck it up,” she adds with a little laugh. I know he won’t mess anything up and I’m glad he took over, because my mind isn’t in the right place to focus on work.

* * *

“Lexi Jackson’s family?”a woman calls out, and Itrip over my feet trying to get to the nurse. She points atDanand then at me.“Brother?”

“That’s me,” Dan tells her.

“At the moment, we can only allow the immediate family,” she apologizes. I look at the nurse, dumbfounded. Does she really think she's going to stop me from seeing her? “Don’t be alarmed with all the wires and the beeping of the monitors. They’re there so we can keep an eye on her.” She looks at Dan the entire time she's talking.

“This is her boyfriend. Can’t he come in?” Dan asks her.

“I’m sorry, but no. Not until she wakes up.” The nurse looks over at me, then back at Dan.

Dan looks at her, then over at Jon, then back at the nurse. “Only one person can be with her until she wakes up?” he asks.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” she replies. She doesn’t look sorry.

“Well, I am her support person, and I’m saying he will be staying with her tonight.” I look at Dan pointing at me. There is no way I’ll ever be able to thank him enough for this. “I'll be back to see her in the morning,” he tells the nurse.

“Thank you,” I tell him. There was no way I could have gone any longer without seeing her. Putting me first is the kindest thing anyone other than Lexi or my family has ever done for me.

“If you would like to follow me.”

I look back at the nurse walking away from us. I have to jog to catch up to her since she’s already half-way down the hall. Stopping in front of Lexi's room, I look in the doorway. For the first time in my life, I have no words. She’s so pale, and wires are coming out from everywhere.

“Please don’t touch the wires. Keep talking to her even if she doesn’t respond. She can hear you. Sir, are you listening?” she asks.

“Yes, don’t touch the wires, and talk to her,” I reply without taking my eyes off Lexi. Walking into the room, I stop by the bed. “Can I touch her?”

“Of course,” the nurse tells me while she looks at the monitors and fiddles with the tubes and lines.

Placing my hand on Lexi’s, I lean in closer. “Hello, beautiful,” I say, placing a feather light kiss on her lips. “How about you wake up now? We’ve been waiting to see those beautiful eyes.” Breathing in her scent, I pause at her neck and allow my lips to linger just another second. I pull the chair closer to the bed and sit there holding her hand. “Everyone’s here. Dan, Jon, Tanya, Mom, Jackie, and some of the girls from your work. Oh, and you’ll be happy to know that Travis and I are talking again.” The doctor walks in looking at the monitor, writing something down. “How long until she wakes up?”

“That’s up to Lexi. There were a few times we thought we lost her, but she must have something worth fighting for.” She gives me a look that says, she’s here for you.

“She’s a fighter,” I say, looking back at Lexi.

* * *

Feeling a hand playing with my hair, I lift my head off the bed and look up into the most gorgeous eyes I’ve ever seen. “I must be special… You’re not on the phone,” Lexi whispers.

“You’re awake.” I stand up and move closer to her. “You’re awake,” I whisper against her lips. I can hear her wheezing as she breathes.

“Water,” she whispers in a raspy voice.

Looking at the table on the side, I go to get the cup but then wonder how would be best for her to drink it. “I’m just going to ask if I can lift the bed.” I go over to the door, but stop as the nurse walks into the room.

“Good morning, Mr. Knight. I see you finally woke up.” She gives me a smile. “Lexi told us not to wake you,” she tells me, walking over to Lexi.

“I’m only going to say this once.” I look at the nurse. " I don’t care what she says, her health always comes first. So, if you have to wake me up or kick me out of the room, then do it.” There is no way Lexi is putting herself second to me. “Fuck her health, she always comes first,” I add, looking at Lexi as the nurse brings her bed up into a sitting position.

“Tell me when it gets uncomfortable,” the nurse tells her.

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