Chapter 29
The recovery room is cold and I shiver as I attempt to pry my eyes open. I try to move but instantly regret it. The pain shoots through my shoulder and I whimper. The nurse is at my side instantly. She checks my vitals and offers me a syringe full of something sure to take this agony away. I welcome the warmth as it spreads through my blood stream. She asks me my pain level and I don’t even care anymore. She laughs and says the medicine is working.
“I almost forgot,” she turns back around and smiles at me. “This really handsome man stopped by and asked me to give this to you.”
I smile when she hands me a rock. “Thank you.”
“What does it mean?” She looks up from my chart.
“I don’t know. He’s been giving me rocks for a couple weeks. He’s always so proud of himself when he hands me one.” I stare at my new rock and my heart beats a little faster. He’s mine and I want to keep him.
“You’re a lucky woman. He caused quite the stir when he walked in here. The girls all went a little crazy for him. He still had his IV in so the nurse with him threatened all of them to behave.” She laughs and I’m confused.
“IV? Was it Lorenzo?” I’m confused. Maybe the drugs are working overtime.
“It was Chance. They’ve got him in a room on the orthopedic floor so you can be in there with him once you’re more awake. Try to relax and we’ll get you moved as soon as the surgeon signs off on your orders.”
My brain is scrambled. Was Chance in the car with us? I try to remember but it’s all a blur. “Wait. I’m having a hard time understanding.”
“That’s normal, honey. There’s a Joshua Seymour outside if you’d like some company.” I shake my head yes and she smiles at me. “I’ll go get him. Try to rest.”
The minute I see Joshua, I relax. I don’t remember what happened. Bits and pieces are coming back to me but I’m still so tired. I reach out to him and he takes my hand and smiles down at me.
“You had us all worried. Glad to see those beautiful eyes open.” Joshua sits by my hospital bed.
“The nurse said Chance was in the hospital. What’s going on? I thought Lorenzo was in the car with me. Where is he?” I’m fighting sleep.
“Lorenzo is still in surgery. The surgeon says everything is going fine, they’re just taking extra precautions to fix his arm so he has a chance to race this season. Chance was able to see him before surgery. He was a little out of it but he was able to answer questions.” He rubs my arm and looks at the clock. My eyes follow his and I notice it’s after two in the morning.
“Was Chance in the car?” I shake my head trying to clear it.
“No. We were at Harley’s wedding when we got the call about your accident. He’s ok. He got really upset seeing you here and thinking about his past. His blood pressure went pretty high so they’re just keeping him overnight to be on the safe side. I just left his room and he’s sleeping soundly. Rachel is with him.” I can tell he’s trying to protect Chance.
“Rachel is with him,” I repeat as my brain starts to function. “He panicked being in the hospital, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” Joshua’s eyes dart around the recovery room.
“It’s ok. I know about his parents. They told me about him and what happened to his parents when I got to the foster home. He told me he didn’t remember them but I know that’s not true. You aren’t breaking his confidence. Shit, my shoulder hurts so badly.”
Joshua waves the nurse over. “Can you give her something for the pain? She’s really hurting.”
“I can give you another injection of morphine. The doctor wrote for a second dose. We need to try to get your pain under control before you head up to your room.”
“Ok,” I shake my head yes. I’d take another dose of anesthesia if they’d let me have it. When she begins injecting it into my IV, my eyes get heavy. “I’m going to take a nap. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m right here,” I hear Joshua say as I fall into a deep sleep.
“Yes,” I whisper. Chance is sleeping soundly in the bed across the room. I’m up for the third time since surgery. The pain is too intense to sleep for more than a few minutes. I’m exhausted but it’s comforting knowing he’s right here with me. “Yes, I’ll move in with you.”
He stirs and I wonder if he’s heard me. When he doesn’t respond, I smile. I just wanted to try the words on for size. They felt right coming out of my mouth. Am I crazy for making this decision now? Will Ray kill me for leaving her? Will this hurt Lorenzo?
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” His voice is raspy and it’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard. “You need anything? Pain medicine? Me?”
I smile. “Pain medicine and you sound great. But it’s too early for medicine and you need some rest.”
“I’ll rest when you’re ok.” He stands up and drags his IV pole with him. “It’s dumb I’m even here. I should be waiting on you.”
“Joshua said you scared the hell out of him. He said he thought you were having a heart attack. He was really sweet down in recovery. I felt really protected.”
He leans down and kisses me gently on the mouth. He takes extra care not to put any of his weight on me. “Remind me to thank him tomorrow.”
There was a moment, when the lights from the oncoming car blinded me, that I wondered if I’d ever see Chance again. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. You scared me twice tonight. Once when you left the party mad at me and the other when the EMS driver called and said he needed to notify next of kin. No more fighting about stupid shit. I don’t care if Lorenzo loves you. All I care about is whether or not you love me.” He kisses me on the forehead, the cheek and then the tip of my nose.
“Yes,” I say with a huge grin on my face. He wrinkles his forehead and stares at me. I laugh and then grab at my collarbone. Laughing is not my friend.
“Yes,” he repeats like he knows what I’m talking about. I see the second he realizes what I’m talking about. “Yes?”
“Yes,” I smile. “Maybe it’s the morphine.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m charming and you can’t imagine one more night without me.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re so humble.” That makes him laugh. “We’ll have to wait a few weeks so I can heal. I can’t move anything with my whole chest wrapped up like this.”
“Fuck that, I’m rich. We’ll hire someone.” He laughs at me when I roll my eyes.
“I’ll call the Boston paper tomorrow and turn down the job.” I yawn.
“Do you want the job?”
“Yes. But, I want you more.” My eyes start to close.
“Then we’ll both go to Boston. They guys will be fine and I can fly back and forth when I need to.”
As I fall into a hard sleep, I swear I hear him say he’d go to Boston with me. When I dream tonight, I’ll dream of the Red Sox, Old South Church, Beacon Hill and all the gorgeous sites I won’t see every day because there’s no way I’d let him give up his family for me.