We spend the day in our pajamas with Maria. Hart told Peaches I wouldn’t be in today and she only nodded. Hart rented ‘How To Lose A Guy in Ten Days’ online and we finished. The movie was hilarious.

My fingers run through Hart’s long hair on my lap. He’s out like a light, falling asleep halfway through the film. The boy’s snoring could bring down the rooftop.

“You okay, sweetie?” Maria asks from her recliner.

She’d been silently working on a crossword puzzle. Her question forces my stare from her son’s face up to hers.

“I think so,” I whisper, trying not to wake Hart.

“You know, honey, you can tell me anything. My son loves you and I’ve never seen that boy attach himself to anyone.”

I tilt my head in silent question.

“Growing up it was always his job to protect his sister and me. When Belle died, he spent all of his hours watching over me and keeping his father from beating me.” She pauses for a beat, placing down her pen. “He’d step in front of him and take the blows. Then I sent him straight into active war. He’s never openly loved someone as he does you.”

My fingers continue to comb out Hart’s hair as I listen to her, soaking up her message. The tears well up in my eyes. It’s the truth, and I know it. This man asleep in my arms would do anything to protect me. It’s taken me time to realize it, but I know beyond a doubt he would.

“Last night…last.” I stumble over my own words. “Last night I told him everything.”

Maria only nods and smiles. “And look where he’s at right now.”

She gestures with her head to her sleeping son in my lap. The tears spill over this time. With my quivering, free hand I raise my shirt, exposing the hidden secrets to Maria. I still don’t have the courage to look down or run my palm over the scarred flesh. I picture my torso like Hart makes me feel and that’s all I need.

Just like her son, she doesn’t flinch or offer up her sympathy. Her kind eyes stare into mine until I dig up the courage to speak.

“I was set on fire at age four and lived in foster homes. I ran after some abuse. There were several towns and terrible situations. I wandered aimlessly, traveled all over the United States until I found the homeless shelter here and Peaches.”

She’s silent for a long time before she speaks her next words. “And that journey brought you to Hart.”

That simple reply strikes me at my core. My purpose and reason to roam this world is the sleeping man in my lap, who would do anything to protect me and the ones he loves. His list is short and to be on it is more than an honor.

My lower lip trembles when I speak. “Thank you. Thank you so much for giving me the world.”

Maria smiles gently. “Honey, it’s you who has given me the world. My days are numbered and to know my boy will be taken care of means everything to me.”

“I promise, Maria. I’ll cherish him for all my days.” On instinct, I bend over and kiss his cheek.

Maria picks up her pen to finish her puzzle. I’m not quite sure how many answers she actually gets down, but it’s one of her favorite past times. Just like her son, no one can tell them to back down. Powerful and determined minded souls who never give up.

I finish watching the next show that popped up on the screen. I have no clue what it is or even the plot line. The scenes just flash before my eyes as reality hits me hard. It’s a sucker punch to the gut. I have it all for the first time in my life.

I notice the time after an hour passes by. It’s time for Maria’s medication and for her to be put in bed. I peer down to the sleeping Hart. If I had to guess, he didn’t sleep one wink last night after the bombshell that exploded between us. I do my best to wiggle out from underneath Hart without waking him. Once I’m standing up, and he’s still snoring soundly, I make my way to Maria and gently wake her up.

Her eyes are dull, yet acutely aware of everything that’s going on around her. I pick her up the same way Hart does. I don’t make it look as effortless as Hart. However, she’s still light in my arms. I manage to get her dressed in pajamas and tucked in bed. Her medication is labeled clearly for each day and the exact time of day. Immediately, I recognize Hart’s scribble and smart-ass comments on the bottles and notepads.

Maria swallows down the handful of pills. Hart has explained to me it’s mainly for pain control, not healing.

“Do you mind reading with me?” Maria looks up to me. “It’s something Hart and I do every night.”

I bite my bottom lip. “I’d love to, Maria.”

She pats the bed next to her. I take her sign and lie right next to her. She begins reading, and I know the characters all too well. The story line has me drunk on it. I’m still far from reading but have no fear knowing that this woman who gave me Hart will not judge me.

We take turns reading. Each time she helps me sound out a word with no judgment. We read until her eyelids fall thick. Once she’s sound asleep, I creep out of her room to check on Hart. He’s just as sound asleep as he was when I left him.

My ass hits the floor, and my legs cross. I grip the pen in my hand and grab the notebook at my side. I study his peaceful sleeping face for a long time before I have the ability to gather a thought. I’ve written songs before in my own language, but this time the words resemble real words on the page.

The tune to the song beats wildly in my heart, and I let the words flow on the page. It’s his song. The man who taught me to live and breathe again. My hand cramps by the time I’m finished and yet I still find myself staring at his beauty.

When my ass goes numb and my legs tingle, I slowly rise and make my way to the couch. I grab the blanket from the back of the sofa and cover Hart. He doesn’t rustle at all. I head into the kitchen and grab a glass full of water, swallowing it down easily, then check on Maria while flipping off all the house lights.

It’s a bit creepy going to sleep in this vast house when everyone else is already sound asleep, but I fight away the nerves knowing I’m finally home. I snuggle in with him on the couch and it’s as if Hart senses me, wrapping me up in his arms. It only takes a matter of seconds before my eyes grow heavy and sleep takes over. The scent of Hart making my dreams as sweet as ever.

The ache in my neck is intense and getting worse by the second. When moving, I feel like screaming out in pain. It takes me long moments to finally pry my eyes open. Hart. I come face to face with Hart staring at me and smiling. I blink several times remembering we fell asleep on the couch and we’re still there holding one another.

“Thank God, I’m about to pee on you.”

“Uh? Am I still dreaming?” I whisper.

“I have to piss, and if you don’t move, I’m peeing on you.”

I burst out laughing, nearly peeing myself and then roll off the couch onto the floor. Hart darts down the hall, straight into the bathroom. My laughter rings loudly throughout the house. Hart reappears moments later, and I’m still rolling on the floor laughing.

Hart pounces on me, rolling me over to my back.

“Don’t you dare talk about my morning breath,” I warn him. “And did you wash your hands?”

“One, real men don’t wash their hands, and two, I’ve never been so close to peeing on someone.”

“Hart.” I barely get his name out through my laughter.

“It started out as a case of massive morning wood, but then the sensation to pee was intense. I was left with one option.”

“Peeing on me?”

“Yes.” He rolls us over until I’m lying on top of him.

“Why didn’t you just wake me up?”

“You’re too gorgeous when you’re sleeping and don’t talk back.”

I sit back on his crotch, pressing my palms on his chest, and then go in for a killer titty twister, not stopping until he squeals like a little baby. We wrestle around on the floor for a long time until it’s time to get Maria up and eat breakfast.