Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“No, we’re good.” Austin glanced over at Jameson as he added, “Dad was being a real tool. It was so embarrassing. I don’t even get why?”
“It’s a long story, but he was wrong to do what he did tonight.” Jameson rested a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you, Momma,” Chrissy whispered.
“I know, sweetie, but I’m okay. I’ll be up and out of here in no time.”
Jameson reached over, and his hand found mine. I let out a shaky breath as I squeezed it. “Thank you for bringing them to me.”
“They’d have my ass if I didn’t.” Jameson chuckled, but his smile faded as he said, “You scared me, woman.”
“I scared myself,” I admitted, managing a slight wink. “But I’ve survived worse.”
Before he could respond, the doctor came in with a clipboard in his hands and a tired smile. “As I thought, your CT scan shows a pretty severe concussion. I’d like to keep you overnight so we can monitor you for any changes.”
Panic flooded Chrissy’s eyes as she gasped, “She has to stay?”
“I think it’s for the best,” the doctor replied.
“Just for tonight, sweetie,” I said quickly, brushing the hair from her face. “They just want to keep an eye on me.”
“Can we stay with you?”
“No, sweetie. You need to go home with Nana and get some rest. I’ll be home tomorrow, and you and Austin can come see me first thing, okay?”
“And you promise to be home tomorrow?”
“I’ll do my very best.”
“Okay, boys and girls. Let’s give your mother some breathing room.”
Mom stepped over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “Call if you need anything at all.”
“I will. Thanks, Mom.”
With that, the kids hugged me goodbye and followed their grandmother out of the room. Once they were gone, Jameson sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, “How you doing? Really?”
“Not that bad, actually. I think the pain meds are finally starting to kick in.” I inched up on my pillow as I asked, “What happened with Brian?”
“He’s been handled.”
“That’s all I get?”
“For now,” he answered flatly.
It was clear he didn’t want to talk about it, but I had to know. “Did Shep get the video?”
“He did, and the footage was there, including your piece of shit ex running you over with his truck.”
I ran my hand over the enormous knot that was protruding from the back of my head. “I can’t believe he did that.”
“I can’t believe you pushed him like you did.”
“I needed to get proof.”
“Fuck, Devin. I told you I’d handle it.”
“I know, and I should’ve listened. Maybe then, the kids wouldn’t be scarred forever.”
“They’ll be fine.”
“But…”
“They will be fine, and you will be, too.”
Emotion washed over me, and when Jameson noticed I was suddenly on the verge of tears, he said, “Alright, that’s enough for tonight. You need to get some rest.”
“I hate all of this so much.”
“I do, too, but we’ll get through it. You’ll see.”
Jameson leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead, letting them linger there for a moment. I closed my eyes and let his warmth engulf me. After a few seconds, I looked up at him and said, “You know when you’re driving out on the interstate and it’s raining really hard, and it’s hard to see and loud, and then you go under a bridge and everything goes silent.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re my bridge. You always have been.”
“Damn, woman. You trying to gut me over here?”
“Just trying to tell you what you mean to me.”
“Love you, too, babe.” He cocked his brow. “Even when you almost get yourself killed.”
“Just trying to keep things interesting.”
“You definitely do that.”
“You do, too.” I eased down on the bed and tried my best to avoid the knot on my head as I curled into my pillow. I let out a little yawn as I whispered, “Thank you for looking out for the kids.”
“I’d never let anything happen to them.” He leaned back, giving me that small, crooked smile I loved so much. “Now rest, baby. I’ve got you.”
I closed my eyes, and I didn’t even fight it. I let my exhaustion take over, and I fell fast asleep. And I did it knowing that Jameson would be there looking out for me.
23
CREED
There is nothing quite like sleeping in a hospital chair, especially when you’re six-four and there’s nowhere to put your long-ass legs. It was like Chinese torture, but I didn’t fucking care. There was no way in hell I was leaving Devin. So, I white-knuckled it, and after a few long hours, I was finally able to drift off.
The next morning, the doctor came in early, and after a thorough examination, he decided to discharge Devin. He and the nurse stepped out to grab the paperwork, and the door hadn’t had a chance to close before Preacher and Grim walked in.