“Lind is running around outside burning off steam. They offered to watch her and give us a moment.” I sat down, placing the bag on the tray beside the bed. “We haven’t been alone in a while. I miss it.”
“I’d be willing to have you sleep in this bed with me if only to feel your skin against mine,” Alex confessed as I smiled at him.
“It’s not very big.” I joked, knowing that he’d get no rest if we did that.
“We’d make it work. I’d sleep on rocks if it meant you’d be with me.” He kissed me before digging into the bag as I watched. “How was lunch?”
“Lindsay continued to charm everyone. She and I are officially in love with your family. You must keep us now.” I made my tone light but meant every word that I said. We went through a lot in a short time to be here together, not to mention the years I struggled alone. Alex was worth all of that.
“I wasn’t considering that. Not before all of this and certainly not now. You both complete me.” He grabbed his burger with a smile, biting into it.
“Same,” I murmured, placing my hand over the sheet covering him. “How do you feel?”
“Better. The meds are great, and they keep coming. I think it will be different when I leave but they might give me a good prescription. At least I don’t need physical therapy to get back to normal.” He was going to heal all on his own.
“I’m so relieved. That could have been a lot worse.” My mind started to race with the possibilities and he covered my hand with his.
“Stop. It wasn’t worse. We’re going to bounce back and get even stronger from this.” Alex reached for a fry and I nodded with watery eyes.
“I know. I just keep seeing it.” I confessed as he squeezed me.
“Will you stay home and take care of me when I go home?” Alex asked, and I imagined walking that hallway to the loft again. I knew that it would show no signs of what happened, and I needed to get over the incident, but I shivered at the thought.
“Absolutely. I think everyone will want to help us.” He took another bite and nodded as I relaxed my shoulders. We’d sent Rosie to a friend’s house during this time after she came to visit Alex, crying as she hugged him. It was too chaotic, and we had a lot of people to take care of Lindsay if needed.
“How do you feel about going back there?” Alex asked as I sighed.
“A part of me wants to move but it is such a beautiful place. I have to get past that incident, at least for now.” I looked at him as he nodded somberly. “Nobody is out to get me anymore. We’re safe.”
“I’ll make sure of that.” Alex promised. He finished his food and we had a little time to kiss, whispering to each other in between. It felt a little like before and I was in the bed cuddling with him when people started trickling in. Maybe I could sleep here. Lindsay led the pack and gaped at me.
“Mommy. That bed is too small for you.” I laughed along with Alex as she ran over and sat in the chair closest to us. “Did you eat your food, Alex?”
“I did, and it was delicious. Thanks everyone.” He smiled around the room and everyone murmured back. I realized that Stan wasn’t here and when I opened my mouth to ask why not, he strode into the room with a smile.
“I just spoke to the detective and we’re clear. It was self-defense.” I pressed my face into Alex’s neck, wanting to cry. This was over. I took a glance at my daughter and she was frowning around at us and hugs and happy tears were exchanged.
“I’ll tell you later,” I whispered to her as she nodded. I wrapped an arm around her while I pressed against Alex, slightly uncomfortable but gloriously happy.
I stayed at the hotel with my parents most of the nights when he was in the hospital. I even took Lindsay to the room the Alex’s family shared for a sleepover, complete with snacks and movies. It wasn’t just a room but a suite with two bedrooms. Lindsay fell asleep on the luxurious couch and I locked everything up and went to bed in the empty room with the door open.
It was a bonding time built around the circumstances and I felt more welcomed by them with ea
ch day. When the week was up, and we returned to the loft, I was right about the help. Everyone chipped in with cooking and helping in other ways, allowing me some down time with the love of my life.
We still couldn’t wait until he was better, and we were completely alone. We needed to make up for the lost time.
Chapter Twenty
Alexander
I went back home after a week in the hospital. Of course, Soledad and Lindsay were there to help me, but we had family helping us as well. Alli left after the second week to get back to school but Mom stayed, and I sensed her getting comfortable.
I knew that Soledad was uncomfortable the first time she walked down the hall into the loft. She was focused on helping me on my crutches, but I watched as her eyes darted to the place where Keith died. It was clean, and you could never tell it happened, but it would forever play in her memory. Her parents and my mom kept her distracted by helping around the house. They cooked, cleaned, and played with Lindsay so Soledad could rest. I was off work for a few weeks and she joined me, still working part-time with the team. We settled into a nice routine and I started to walk around as soon as I started healing.
We also took the time alone to make love in our room. We couldn’t be as flexible as before and she had to ride me most of the time, but I loved watching her. Her body was sexy, and her tits rocked with the movement as she’d move slow or fast, depending on who was home with us. We conveniently got a lot of alone time and used that time wisely, fucking as hard as she was comfortable with. I couldn’t wait to put weight on my leg and feel her in every position again and I held her every night, trying to reassure her that everything was going to be okay.
The word got back to the office that I’d been shot thanks to the news. I was relatively well-known in the city with my business success and my name was everywhere. It was Keith that was the unknown and Millie asked what happened when she spoke to Soledad. “I don’t know what to tell her, Alex. It’s my past that put your name out there.”