Page 47 of No Regrets

Hey. I just wanted to thank you for your statement. It meant a lot to me. D.

He thought about adding kisses or heart emojis or some other soppy shit he knew she liked but decided against it. Keep it simple.

Laying back in the hammock, he closed his eyes. For the first time in what felt like weeks, he might actually sleep more than a couple of hours. The amount of beer he’d drank today would help too. He was just dozing off when his phone pinged. Seeing Kelly’s name, he bolted upright, almost falling out the hammock.

You’re welcome. It was the least I could do. I meant what I said. Thank you for saving my life. K.

Dex stared at the screen, unsure what to do now. Should he text back? Should he just leave it? No, he couldn’t leave it.

You never need to thank me for doing that. I’ll always be there for you, no matter what.

He only had to wait just a few seconds for her reply.

Thank you. Good night, Dex.

Good night, Kelly.

Dex slid the phone back in his pocket and settled back in the hammock with a smile on his face. He was getting his girl back.

CHAPTER TEN

Kelly sat on the hospital bed waiting for Sophie. The cast was finally coming off. She couldn’t wait. Not that the cast had hindered her too much, but along with Claire’s help, she saw it as another step forward in recovery. Her wrist was healed good as new, and while she might not ever be as good as new mentally, she did know she was going to get her life back. Every day she felt a little stronger, a little more determined to be the survivor she knew she could be.

After speaking with Ryan two weeks ago, it was as if something had unleashed inside her. The team had risked so much coming to get her. She owed it to them to not let that be in vain. She smiled, remembering what Claire had said when they discussed it.

You don’t owe them anything, Kelly. You shouldn’t be doing this for them, you should be doing it for you.

Claire was right, of course, but right now in her head, making sure she was worthy of the team that had rescued her was fueling her. It gave her a purpose, a determination to get her life back.

“Are you excited to get this thing off?” Sophie breezed back into the treatment room; a small cast saw in her hand.

“Hell yes. Cut away.”

It took just a few minutes to cut it away and then Sophie began examining her wrist and taking x-rays.

“Alright, those images won’t take long to come through. I just want to double check and make sure everything looks good. It will be stiff for a while. I’ll give you some exercises to help mobility. While we’re waiting, can I take a look at some of those deeper cuts, see how they’re looking?”

Kelly grimaced, sitting back on the bed. She was wearing a sundress, so it was easy for Sophie to lift it up to examine her legs and abdomen, where the worst of the cuts were. She hated looking at them, but she would have to get used to it. Sophie had already warned her there would be scars.

Scars of strength and survival.

Claire’s words echoed silently in her ears.

“They’ve healed well. Keep putting the cream on and if you are going to start swimming, make sure you cover them for a little while longer.”

“Will do, doc.” Kelly smiled, averting her eyes from the wounds.

“You know, in time they will fade some. And you can always talk to a plastic surgeon down the road.”

“Thanks, but I’m not sure I want any more knives touching my skin.”

Sophie squeezed her hand.

“So, did you hear anything else from Dex?”

Kelly straightened her dress, sitting up. “No. Nothing.”

Sophie looked at her quizzically. “You sound a little disappointed.”

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