Page 75 of Side Piece

I’ve been here for two hours. I’m checking my phone down the hallway when my heart jumps. I hear him. I probably need to let him know sooner than later that I love him.

He runs down the hall, and I hear his dad greet him warmly. “There’s the missing piece.” I wait in the hallway to give them a moment before I intrude.

49

Alex

He’s battered, and my heart is in my throat.

“You did not need to come all this way.”

“I did, Dad. What did the doctors say?”

“It’s a broken femur. It’s a broken leg, no big deal.”

“It’s a broken femur. That’s the strongest bone in your body. Had to hurt like hell. Your face is for shit, Dad. Busted and bruised. When can we spring you and head to dinner?”

“My blood pressure’s a bit up, so they’re keeping me just in case I need them.”

“How up?” Now I’m alarmed. I stand and put my hands in my pockets.

“Stand down, son.”

I rock back and forth on my heels. “Dad, that was a hell of a call from Mom.”

“You probably got the worst of it, son. I know she called you first. There was some blood, and the car is done. But I’m here, you’re here.”

“I am.”

“And she’s here.”

I turn my head around the room. “She is?” I’m shocked she came to the hospital without me. “Where is she? Did you meet her? Did everyone meet her? Oh, Christ. Were you all kind? I thought she’d wait for me.”

“After your sister roughed her up a bit, we repaired the emotional damage.”

“Was she left alone with you?” I panic a bit that my father unraveled everything we’ve been building by dissecting it.

“She chose to stay. All I did was ask her some innocent questions.”

“I’ll bet she smoked ’em.” I grin, knowing she can handle herself.

“She did. Son, she’s been here for two hours, charming the hell out of your mother and sister. And mocking me a bit to make me feel normal. The room eased up when she breezed in. I don’t know if it’s her or you reflecting off of her.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I think she feels the same way about you that you feel about her. She’s a stand-up girl. You might have met your match.”

“I agree, Dad. Where is she?” I need to bury my face in her neck and hold her.

“I suspect avoiding the cross-examination from your mother and sister.”

ALEX: Where u at? I’m here. Come to me.

I hear a text ding just outside of the room. I rush into the hall and see her leaning up against the wall. She takes my breath away. Her hair’s all beachy and down around her shoulders. I pull her to my arms, and her electric blue eyes are beaming. I’m so excited to see her. It’s only been six and a half days but feels like an eternity. I hold her close for a long time and then brush my lips across hers, inhaling her honeysuckle and rosemary scent deeply.

I say, “I can’t believe you came.”

“Why?”