“Reagan Hastings. His girlfriend.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize how right they feel. How stupid I’ve been.
“Well, if you’re not family then I’m sorry I can’t give you any information.” She purses her lips.
“I should be in there from when he broke his finger. Please check.”
Back when we were off and on, Moose broke his finger and at the time he told me that he put me as his emergency contact since he has no family here in Lake Starlight. I’m crossing my fingers he hasn’t deleted me over time.
She types some more and then nods. “Oh yes, I see you here. Okay, let me have a look at what’s going on.” Her eyes move back and forth while she reads something on the screen, and then she looks up at me. “He’s been moved into emergency surgery to have his appendix removed.”
My stomach clenches. “Will he be okay?”
“It’s a pretty routine surgery.”
“Will you keep me updated?”
She nods. “I’ll have the doctor come see you when the surgery is complete.”
I nod a bunch of times and walk over to one of the waiting room chairs and take a seat, rocking back and forth. Panic wells up in my chest, but I do some slow breathing like I used to do when I’d get overwhelmed with my mom’s health issues, in order to push the fear back.
He has to be okay. He has to. I can’t lose him.
I still.
It’s too late, I realize. I’m already in love with him and whether I push him away or not, I’m going to care what happens to him.
I vow to myself then and there that if, no when, he makes it out of this, I’ll be the woman he needs me to be and open myself up to him, no longer pushing him away.
A few hours later, a man in his early sixties wearing scrubs comes out and calls my name.
I rush over to him. “Is he okay?”
He nods. “He’ll be fine. We were able to remove the appendix before it ruptured. He’ll be sore for a few weeks, but should make a full recovery otherwise.”
My hand goes to my chest. “Oh thank God. Can I see him?”
“I’ll have someone come get you once he’s been moved out of recovery and into a room.”
I nod. “Thanks.”
He walks away and I sit in the closest chair. All I want is to see Moose. I have so much to say.
It’s morning before I’m told I can go and see him. I follow the charge nurse’s directions to his room and knock softly on the door.
When I step inside, he’s lying in bed, eyes closed. His color isn’t great, a little pale, and it’s weird to see him in a hospital gown, but otherwise, he looks pretty good. His eyes flicker open when I reach the side of the bed and his baby blues look a little glazed from the painkillers.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whisper with tears in my eyes, bringing my hand up to cup his cheek.
He reaches up and circles my wrist in his huge hand. “Can’t get rid’a me that easy, honey.”
I smile down at him and the impulse to get the words out, everything I need to say to him overwhelms me and so I do. I just blurt it out so that the words are out there and I can’t second-guess myself or take them back.
“I’m sorry I tried to push you away again. It’s just… my feelings for you scare me. What if I fall for you and you see how messed up I still am from everything with my mom and can’t deal with it? What if you get bored with me and want to move on? What if something happens to you and I lose you?”
“Told ya, I’m not goin’ anywhere.” He shifts his position and winces.
I nod. “I know, I know.” I take his huge hand in two of mine. “I realized something when I was waiting for you to get out of surgery. It doesn’t matter what all my fears are—it’s too late. I’m already in love with you. Even if all of those things happened, it’s too late. I’d still suffer.”
His eyes get soft and he squeezes my hand. “Took you long enough. I already knew you loved me. Was just waitin’ for you to figure it out.”
My mouth drops open and he chuckles then winces again.
“You knew, did you?”
“Hell yeah. Why do you think I wouldn’t let you push me away?” He reaches out and his hand goes into my hair. “And I love you, Reagan. Have for a long time. Just glad I don’t have to hide it no more.” His voice isn’t as strong as it normally is, but I can tell he means the words.
The tears that were building in my eyes drop free and he uses his thumb to wipe them away.
“I’m gonna be the man you need me to be, which includes not lettin’ you push me away because you’re scared. We’re gonna be happy, honey, I promise.”
I nod and lean in to place a chaste kiss on his lips. He tries to deepen it, but I pull back, not wanting him to tear his incision.
“Thanks for fighting for me,” I say.
“Honey, some things are worth fightin’ for.”
Later on, I’m leaving the hospital to go home and shower and change before I return to sit with Moose. I had my back to the window in Moose’s room but apparently a summer rainstorm must’ve moved through because the pavement is wet but it’s no longer raining.
I make my way through the parking lot to my car when something catches my eye. Off in the distance, there’s a rainbow in the sky. The colors are bright in contrast to the somewhat gloomy sky behind it, and I can practically see the entire arch. It might be one of the best I’ve ever seen.
Emotion clogs my throat, and I struggle to swallow.
I know with every part of my being that this is a sign that I’m on the right path.
In fact, I like to think that my mom guided me into that tattoo shop that day and back into Moose’s arms.
Thanks, Mom.
We hope you loved Reagan and Moose’s story! Explore the series, our readers are head over heels for, The Baileys!
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About Piper & Rayne
Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
Also by Piper Rayne
The Baileys
Lessons from a One-Night Stand
Advice from a Jilted Bride
Birth of a Baby Daddy
Operation Bailey Wedding (Novella)
Falling for My Brother’s Best Friend
Demise of a Self-Centered Playboy
Confessions of a Naughty Nanny
Operation Bailey Babies (Novella)
Secrets of the World’s Worst Matchmaker
Winning My Best Friend’s Girl
Rules for Dating your Ex
Operation Bailey Birthday (Novella)