CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sawyer
I’ve been through a lot of shit in my life. I’ve voluntarily walked into a war zone. Slept in some of the worst places imaginable. I’ve been chained up like an animal, whipped and beaten within an inch of my life.
I’ve kissed death a thousand times.
But as I sit here in the hospital waiting room, knowing someone is slicing into my wife, I’ve never felt more fucking terrified in all my life.
There’s a silent terror locked inside of my chest, making it impossible to breathe. It claws its way through my insides and tries working up my throat.
I feel like I’m going to be sick.
I swore to my kids this morning that everything was going to be okay. I swore to Grace that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, and I have yet to ever break a promise. I went as far as threatening serious harm if my wife didn’t come back to me.
Unfortunately, the rest is out of my control, and I’ve never felt more fucking helpless.
I sit with my head down, elbows resting on my knees. My hands shake and palms sweat. Piper, Barbara, and dickhead sit across from me. Other than a simple hi to the mom and Piper, I’ve ignored them. Mainly because I’m worried I’ll unleash all of this pent-up rage on the asshole next to them.
I’m so caught up in my head that I don’t register the sound of several footsteps until they’re standing in the same room as me.
“Want some company?”
My head snaps up at the sound of Kayla’s voice, and I get to my feet when I see the waiting room filled with my closest friends—family. Everyone from Kayla and Cooper, Julia and Jaxson, Cade and Faith, Nick and Katelyn…even Sarge and Mac are here.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, hating how gruff my voice sounds.
Jaxson walks over, clapping me on the shoulder. “We’ve lived through hell together once already, we weren’t about to make you live through it again alone.”
The fucker makes me want to cry like a pussy.
Cade clasps my hand, clapping me on the back. No words needed.
Cooper follows after him.
“How are you holding up?” Julia asks, hugging me around the waist.
“Other than wanting to beat the shit out of something, not bad,” I lie.
“Well, I could go find Dr. Sissy for you,” Kayla offers. “You could beat the shit out of him and I could kick his wife’s ass. That would be fun, and a good way to release all this aggression.”
The girls snicker while Cooper looks over at her, unimpressed.
She shrugs. “It was just a suggestion.”
Probably more for her benefit than mine. She’s been dying to lay into Jenny for years. It still shocks the hell out of me that those two married, and they’re both as pathetic as their marriage.
Glancing over, I see Barbara and Piper staring at everyone and decide to introduce them, knowing Grace would want me to. “Guys, this is Barbara Weston and her daughter Piper.” I don’t need to state more than that since they know who they are.
Jaxson and Julia introduce themselves first then everyone else follows suit. Even though I didn’t introduce them to Weston, the girls say hi to him anyway.
“And I’m Mac, Grace’s father,” he says, chest puffed out as he glares at Weston.
After introductions, everyone finds a seat while we settle in for a long ass wait.
“Did they say how long?” Cade asks.
“Too fucking long,” I mutter.
Faith wraps her arms around my one, offering comfort. “Everything will be okay.”
I nod, even though I don’t have much faith at the moment. The whole situation sucks and it’s not just my wife I’m concerned about. I want Lucy coming out in better shape than how she went in, too.
Minutes turn into hours and hours turn into excruciating pain. Fear eats at me from the inside out as I get the feeling something is wrong.
I begin pacing again for the millionth time. “What the fuck is taking so long? I swear to god, if both of them don’t come out of this I’m…” I trail off at the sound of footsteps and turn around to see Dr. Schaefer walking toward us, decked out in scrubs, sweat dotting her forehead beneath her sky blue cap.
The Westons jump to their feet as she approaches. My heart thunders in my ears, icy terror rushing through my veins as I wait to hear what she’s about to tell me.
She looks between both of us, a small smile—that better be a fucking good one—forming across her mouth. “Everything went very well with both surgeries.”
All of the air leaves my lungs in one breath, my legs threatening to buckle beneath me with relief.
“Thank God.” The girls wrap their arms around my waist while the Westons share in their own celebratory hug.
“Now we wait and hope Lucy’s body does not reject the transplant. We have already started doing everything in our power to prevent that from happening.”
“Where’s Grace? I want to see her,” I demand. I can’t be away from her for another second. I need to see for myself that she’s all right.
Dr. Schaefer nods. “She’s slowly coming to in the recovery room now. I’ll bring you to her,” she says before looking at the Westons. “Give Lucy a few more minutes. I’ll come and get you as soon as we get her settled.”
“Thank you,” Barbara says.
As I look to the group, Julia waves me away. “Go on, let us know once she’s settled in a room and we can pop in quick to see her.”
With a nod I begin to follow Dr. Schaefer when Piper calls out to me. I turn around to see her walking up to me.
She surprises me by wrapping her arms around my waist. “Thank you again,” she whispers. “Please tell Grace I’ll be in to see her as soon as she can have visitors.”
I hug her back. “I will, you tell Lucy the same for me.”
She nods against my chest then steps back, leaving tear marks on my shirt.
I follow Dr. Schaefer, my legs not moving fast enough.
“She may be a little disoriented still since she’s just coming to, so be prepared for that. Usually, we would have no visitors until we move her into a room. However, I have a feeling had I said that to you my day wouldn’t have ended on a good note,” she adds with a small smile.
I grunt. “Smart move, Doc.”
She chuckles, not offended in the least, and leads me through a set of double doors marked ‘hospital staff only’ before taking me down the hall to a room on the right. She stands outside the open door and gestures for me to walk in first.
As soon as I enter, I come to an abrupt halt at the sight before me. My Cupcake, lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines with tubes coming out of her. A nurse is beside her, monitoring her vitals.
The surgery may have gone well but she looks…sick—weak—and I don’t fucking like it.
Dr. Schaefer puts a hand on my back. “Go on. She’s fine. Like I said, she’s just coming around.”
At the sound of her voice Grace slowly looks over at me, her beautiful, warm eyes tired as the softest smile curves her lips. “Sawyer,” she whispers, so low I barely hear her. She turns her palm up where it lays on her lap.
With a painful breath I walk over and sit down next to her bed. Taking her cold hand with the IV in it, I clasp it between my own and bring it to my mouth.
“Hey, Cupcake,” I finally manage to say, the words thick as they work their way past the burn in my throat.
“Lucy?” she croaks, her eyes falling closed before forcing them back open.
“Lucy’s good. Dr. Schaefer says everything went well. Piper said to say hi and everyone is out in the waiting room, the whole group. They came and waited with me.”
“Hmmm, that’s so nice,” she muses softly. Her fingers move against my lips, her eyes never leaving mine. “Thank you.”
Another excruciating breath leaves me, my eyes starting to burn as much as my throat. “I didn’t do shit, baby, but you’re welcome.”
Her weak smile spreads, yet she’s too tired to say more.
Standing, I lean over and kiss her lips, resting my forehead on hers. “You did so good, Grace. Everything’s going to be okay, and it’s all because of you.”
I feel like shit when a sudden wetness leaks from my eyes onto her face.
“Love you,” she whispers, her lips barely brushing mine.
“Love you, too, Cupcake. Always.”