I reach for the bar on the wall. "Now, get a grip on yourself." I mutter, shaking my head at the way my stomach is knotting. I manage to harness my nervous energy by the time I get to the fourth floor.
The doors open with a ding, prompting me to step off. On the wall across from me is a list of rooms, left wing, and right wing with the numbers of each. She's on the right.
I trudge down the long corridor, turning left into the Critical Care Unit waiting area. I catch a lucky break, squeezing through as another person walks out the locked doors.
It draws major ire from me, concerned her husband could do the same while she's here. "That can't happen again."
As soon as I walk around the corner, I can see the guard outside her room. I round it with a smile and find a sizeable man, wearing a stern glare for me. I hold my hand up, stopping short of him and the door.
"How's it goin'?" I nod. "I'm Harper and Landon's old friend, he told me she was here. Long nights deserve some hot coffee."
I'm a big guy, but when he stands, he towers over me. "Your name?"
"Ridge," my eyes flicker to the window where she's laying in the bed. "Ridge Willis."
"Ah, yes. Mr. Jennings texted a few minutes ago, I didn't realize he meant you would be here now." He offers me a polite smile.
I hold the beverage carrier up to him. "Like I said, I wanted to check on you both."
"Thank you, I appreciate the consideration and java." He takes a cup of joe and sits back down. I wander over to the chair by the window, never taking my eyes from her.
A rage slowly builds, emerging and racing through my veins. Anger is too simple of a word to characterize the rage in me right now. It's more palpable, almost tangible in the fact I feel as though I could weld it into harming him.
"Has she been restless all night?" I grind my jaw as she shifts in her bed.
His mouth mashes into a thin line. "Yeah, she hasn't rested at aall. She's been through a lot."
"I've been told. He'll get what he deserves, and I'll deliver it." I grasp the chair arm, digging my fingers in.
The guard chuckles, leaning toward me with his hand out. "Clarence."
"Nice to meet you." I take his hand, shaking it.
He inclines his head. "How long?"
"Oh, we grew up together." I answer flatly.
He grins, nodding. "So, you haven't told her."
"Excuse me?" I cut my eyes to Harper and back, frowning.
"That you're in love with her." He searches my face before looking away. "You better not wait any longer, she was close to being gone this time."
"As the saying goes," I drag in a deep breath. "if it were only that easy."
"I can see how it might be complicated. Still, you need to try, it could make a difference." He tilts his cup back, taking a gulp.
I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. There's no stopping me from gazing through the window on the door. I watch as she tosses and turns, restless. It speaks to my soul as I replay the highlights of our life together.
A hundred million times, I've went to her in my dreams, sharing with her what she means to me and the regret I have for not stopping him. I loathe my existence most days. My heart aches for the time wasted, time better spent worshipping at her feet.
"I'll do whatever it takes to make her mine, even if it drives her crazy. I'm not gonna give up until she's madly in love with me." The words fall off my tongue as easy as my heart beats for her.
The sun breaks the horizon on a new day and for the first time, its warmth on my skin springs hope within me. The cold, dark place I've lived for so long, runs to the recesses of the hell it crawled out of.
At least that's what I'm trying to convince myself of in the haze of my current state. I grimace as I push off of my right side, my body screams in protest from the movement. "Safe to say the pain meds are wearing off." I murmur groggily.
My eyes flicker to the chair in the corner, a stray beam of sun shines on it, helping me to focus on the body asleep in it. A mane of brunet hair juts out in every direction.
Tattooed covered biceps, I'm positive my hands wouldn't fit around and large, muscular thighs spill over it and the burly physique floods my mind with long summer days and sultry nights.
He's brawnier than I recall, with shoulders so broad, he probably turns sideways to get through the door. His face is pinched up, like he's uncomfortable trying to sleep in a chair three sizes too small.
Buried in a thicket of facial hair are the supplest lips. My lower belly tightens as I remember the small sampling, I've had in our hideaway barn, only the two of us know about.
As my lashes touch my cheeks, I'm swallowed by sleep once again. I don't mind the rest, but here, I know he's a dream. I hate it because I could literally feel his warmth from where he sat, watching over me.
And there it is. He was only a dream. My hearts greatest desire to have him near. I've prayed for moments like this for them to only come in my dreams and for once, it felt so real.
"Hey, are you awake?" Landon's voice penetrates the most beautiful dream and I struggle to open my eyes. I'd prefer to stay where I was, with him by my side, and I don't mean my brother.
I pry my eyes open, ending all thoughts of the man in my dreams. "Hello, Brother."
"Good morning, Sis. How are you today?"
I wince with every move, but the urge to look around him to the chair in the corner is hard core. "Sore, sleepy, and filled with scorn."
"Still, it's a step up from where you once were." He leans in, kissing the top of my head.
"Oddly enough, you would be right." My stomach knots as I stare at the empty seat. He wasn't here. It was all a dream and although an excellent one, my heart takes another blow it doesn't need.
"Scout will be in soon, Mom and Dad should be here anytime, actually." Landon glances at his phone, giving me another chance to check the corner and envision Ridge sitting there. Landon looks up, expectably, earning me a smile. "You look happy."
I lift my shoulders slightly, letting them fall. "I slept well."
"That's good, you needed the rest." He nods, grinning.
I drop my eyes, allowing the images of him to fill my vision. "I had the best dream, it helped."
"Well, maybe this will too." He sits beside me on the bed. "There's this place, it's perfect for you, but there's a catch."
My head snaps up. "What's the catch? Please don't tell me I have to vanish from here again."
"No, but you might want to when you realize who’s making the offer." His brows dip low.
"Well, don't keep me in suspense here. Tell me!" I beg, needing something good in my life. If this is good.
He swallows hard. "It's not far from Mom and Dad's. It's safe. The owner has a state-of-the-art security system, and it's hidden off the main road. I think we’re all in agreeance, it’s your best chance, you can get in and out easily with no one knowing. We can even take the back way to come stay with you and no one will be the wiser."
"Is there a question in there or should I tell this person yes?" My heart takes flight with the hope of being tucked away for a while so I can heal and rest.