Page 116 of Don't Look Down

“Yeah. He’s the only person I’ve ever let ink me. His work is immaculate.”

I hum in agreement.

“You should come with me to my next session. I’ll book something that’ll work with your schedule.”

“I’d love that.” He starts to shift beneath me, and I lift up so he can roll over. I rest my head on his lower abdomen. His hazel eyes meet mine, soft and heavy. “Aside from Andrew’s unexpected call, what else was on your mind earlier?”

Sky’s eyes roll. “How do you always know?”

I raise one eyebrow at him and wait.

He tips his head back and huffs. “Okay, fine. You know me.”

His mini tantrum makes me smirk. “Yes, I do. Now tell me.”

Face crumbling, his eyes fill with unshed tears. “We lost a patient today, and it hit really hard.” The look on his face crushes me, and my chest tightens with sympathy.

I slide up higher and pull him into my arms, and he nuzzles his face into my chest. “Oh, baby… I’m so sorry.”

“Goddamnit. I’m normally not a crier, but it was a rough one.”

“You’re allowed to feel sad. Your profession isn’t easy, Sky, and you’re allowed to feel those losses.” Tears wet my chest, and his shoulders shake as he softly cries. I trail my hand up and down his back.

“I just need a minute.”

“Take as many as you need. No rush.”

“Ugh, you’re the sweetest.”

Shaking my head, I kiss the top of his. “You are. I’m here for you, baby.”

A few minutes pass, and his tears finally start drying up. “I didn’t realize how bad I needed to let that out. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Do you want to talk about it?”

He sighs. “My patient was in a motor vehicle accident a few days ago. He’s been in a coma and on a vent since the accident, but was showing some promising signs of recovery. His prognosis shifted from poor to fair a few days ago. He coded in front of his family today. We couldn’t bring him back, Landon. And he was so young.” He shakes his head. “His life slipped through our fingers while his family watched. It was awful.”

“Fuck, I hate that happened.”

“I wish I could save them all, but I know it’s not possible.”

“You amaze me, you know that?”

He lifts his head, and his eyes are red-rimmed. “What? Why?”

“You’re so fucking strong, Sky. I could never do what you do. But you handle it with grace, compassion, and love. It takes a special kind of person to be a nurse. You’re amazing.”

He smirks. I cover his mouth before he can say a word, and meet his eyes directly.

“I’m serious, Sky. Don’t try to play this off with a joke, okay?”

The smirk leaves his face, and his eyes sparkle, but he nods, then presses a slow, tender kiss to my lips.

Our kiss is full of softness and gratitude and something more. Something that fills my heart to bursting.

44

Skylar

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