Page 96 of Afterglow

He’s never been able to resist when I say please, and it’s clear this time isn’t any different. His beard twitches up, and with an abundance of caution, he fills the space beside me. I lift my head so he can slide his arm beneath it, allowing me to rest into the crook of his shoulder and breathe in his warm scent.

“I’m so sorry, Leanne,” he murmurs against my hair with agony in his voice.

“No, I’m sorry,” I begin, but I’m stopped from continuing by a yawn so big my temples throb. I want to tell him I don’t need him to apologize, that I know he loves me and I love him too, but it turns out I do need rest and my body is forcing it whether I like it or not.

His lips brush my cheek and he whispers, “We can talk tomorrow. We have all the time in the world.”

And with those words and his warmth surrounding me, I fall asleep to a whispered “I love you” in my ear.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Bryce

Iwake to the pressure of a hand on my shoulder and lift my head off the pillow to see Becca leaning over us.

Us.

I’m on my side, pressed against Leanne’s back. The big spoon to her little one. I don’t remember us shifting into this position in the night, but I know I don’t ever want to leave this spot.

“Hey,” Becca whispers, trying not to wake Leanne, but she stirs in my arms nonetheless. I hold her a little tighter.

I offer Becca a bleary “Hey” in return. The adrenaline of last night caused me to crash hard and it seems it did for Leanne too. “I hope you went home and got some sleep.”

She shakes her head. “I slept in the on-call room. I didn’t want to leave either. I’ve been popping in every couple of hours. But Mom and Dad went home after I updated them that all was well. You two were really out.” Her smile is soft and content. “It looks like you’re all going to be okay.”

I sigh and nod. “There’s still a lot to say, but yeah, I think we will. I hope so at least.” Leanne stirs again and I press a kiss to her hair.

“You will,” Becca says, and the look in her eyes tells me she knows more than she’s letting on. “I’ll let you rest a while longer. I’m going to go home to shower, then I’ll be back to release her in a bit.”

“Thanks, Becca. For everything.” Emotion knots in my throat again. I came so close to losing her, losing them.

“Don’t thank me. It’s why I do this job.” She leans in and kisses my cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

As the door closes behind her, I let my hand trail up and down Leanne’s arm, stopping just above the temporary cast. She shivers and presses into me before turning onto her back, eyes slowly blinking open.

“Hey, blondie, how’re you feeling?” I ask, pushing a piece of wayward hair out of her face.

“Like I got hit by an elk,” she says, straight-faced, and I glare at her. “Too soon?”

“Definitely too soon,” I say. She chuckles and continues to roll until she’s on her side and can lay her head on my biceps. Her baby bump nudges my stomach and it soothes me further. “God, I was so afraid I was going to lose you,” I admit, holding her close. I hate that I can’t smell her shampoo over the antiseptic.

“I’m so sorry I put you through this, Bryce. All of it, I’m so—”

“Shh, Leanne. It was an accident. The most important thing is you’re safe and our baby girl is safe.”

She nods, catching my gaze with hers.

“I love you, Bryce.”

My breath hitches and I stutter out her name, my eyes falling shut.

“No, please look at me,” she says, and I obey her, my body willing to do anything to keep this woman. “I never should’ve walked away from you. I let my own insecurities come between us and I’m sorry. I was on my way to the ranch yesterday to tell you—that I love you, that I trust you never meant to hurt me, that I believe you love me, and that I’m sorry for hurting you too.”

I coast my thumb over her cheek and steady my breathing. “You don’t need to apologize. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me.”

She shakes her head and then cringes, lifting her hand to her temple.