Page 162 of Fierce Storm
“I’m going to try to make sure that’s true.”
I squeeze her arm as I walk past, only pausing again when I reach Keeley’s room, half expecting someone else to jump out to delay me even more.I just need to see her smiling face.
With a soft knock, I push open the door, my heart racing as my beautiful girl comes into view. She pouts when she sees me, putting her whole face into it, and I have to fight to hide a grin.
“It’s nice to see you too,” I joke, walking closer.
“I broke my ankle, Sal. My goddamn ankle. The doctor said I have to stay off it for weeks. No, not just off it. He wants me to keep it elevated for at least the first two weeks to make sure the swelling settles, and… You’re here?”
She throws her head back, letting out a fake cry and I move toward the bed. “Keels.”
“No.” She raises a hand to stop me. “Please go outside and come back in.”
“What?” I half chuckle, half scoff.
“Please.”
“As you wish.” With my smile trapped between my teeth, I turn around and head back out the door, pausing for long enough to compose myself, then I’m back inside again.
I open my mouth to speak until Keeley’s eyes widen with an excited gasp, hitting me with the smile I pictured when I first walked in. “You’re here.” She holds her hands out and I walk forward, taking them in mine as I stare down at her, my heart pounding in my chest.
I’d laugh at her change in demeanor if I wasn’t so worried about the whys.
“Of course I’m here.” I press a kiss to her knuckles before releasing her hands and brushing my fingers across her cheek. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
I want to ask her what happened, but if no one else has had any luck getting answers, I need to ease into it. So instead, I cup her face and lean in, taking her lips in a chaste kiss. “You had me worried.”
“It’s just an ankle.”
“Just an ankle?” I raise an eyebrow, and she laughs. “I may have committed to your re-do of my arrival, but I haven’t forgotten the first one.”
“Ugh. It’s just so frustrating. I did not need this right now.”
“When would have been convenient for you?” I ask, my lips pulled into a grin, making her giggle lightly.
“Okay, fine. I’ll try to be lessEaston.” I open my mouth to speak until she cuts me off. “Trybeing the operative word.”
“Trying is good. How are you feeling after surgery?”
“The pain’s starting to come back now that the anesthesia’s wearing off. It’s a dull ache at the moment. And my back’s sore too. And my shoulder.”
“From the fall?”
“Yep. It was a good one.”
“Easton didn’t exactly fill me in on what happened. Did you trip?”
Keeley winces before she turns away, no longer able to meet my eyes. I reach for her hand again and she squeezes me tightly. “There’s something I should have told you.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
What? She turns back to face me, and her anxious expression guts me.
“Please don’t be mad. And please stay. I need you here.”
Please stay?Jesus. What is she about to tell me?
