I’ve been awake from the anesthesia for about a half hour when Dr. Jason Stone walks into my recovery room.
“Good morning, Griffin. How are you feeling?” Dr. Stone asks.
“I feel like shit, if I’m being honest, doc,” I croak.
“That’s to be expected. These first couple of days will be the toughest pain-wise. Be sure to get some rest and stay on top of ice and compression. I was able to successfully repair your meniscus. Everything else in your knee looked great. You’ll likely be out the next four to six months, Griffin. You’ll be non-weight-bearing for the next six weeks. Be sure to wear your immobilizer and use your crutches. Do you have any questions for me right now?”
I shake my head, and once he leaves the room, I cover my face, trying to keep my cool.
The pain curls around my leg and spreads up to the base of my spine and down to my toes. I refused their prescription for opioids, not wanting to risk taking them. But the pain is fucking real, and the extra-strength Tylenol isn’t cutting it.
I’m taking a deep breath to complete my box breathing exercises my therapist went over with me when Kenna walks into my recovery room.
She takes one look at me and winces. “How bad is the pain, baby?”
Baby. God, I’ve missed having her call me that. Hearing her term of endearment alleviates some of the pain I’m feeling.
“It’s rough, but nothing I can’t handle now that you’re here,” I answer.
I see Kenna hesitate for only a moment before she musters the courage to approach the left side of my bed. She places my hand in hers, and the feel of her soft skin against mine brings another wave of reprieve from the pain.
“You know, there’s one thing that would make me feel a lot better . . .” I start.
“Oh, yeah, and what’s that?”
I scooch myself over as best as I can toward the right side of my bed. “Come snuggle me, Sunshine.”
“G, I can’t. What if I hurt you?”
“You won’t. Besides, I think the anesthesia and nerve block haven’t quite worn off yet.”
“Fine, but you’ll tell me right away if you’re uncomfortable, right?”
“Of course,” I reply, though I would rather tear off my own leg than tell her to get out of my arms.
Kenna places her purse on the chair next to the bed before climbing into the bed next to me. She snuggles up to me on her side, trying to take up less space. God, I love how considerate she is. How beautiful and smart and kind and athletic and thoughtful and selfless she is. I love everything about her—the good and the bad. Fuck, I just loveher.
I can be myself, vulnerable even, with her in a way I haven’t been comfortable doing since Katie died. I need to have her close. Not just now, but always.
“Move in with me, Kenna.” I don’t even ask, I just state it.
“What?” she asks incredulously.
“I want you and Cadence to move in with me.”
“Griff, you’re talking crazy. The pain must be getting to you. W-we can’t. I mean, we’re not even together.” Kenna looks positively frazzled right now. She’s so fucking cute when her brows furrow and her top lip quirks up just the slightest bit.
“It doesn’t need to be a permanent change. Just while I’m here recovering, until I’m back in Colorado.”
“I don’t think I can do this. You make me feel so out of control, Griff,” she whispers into my neck as she tries to hide from me.
“Look at me, Sunshine,” I say as I grab her chin and meet her eyes. “We take this thing between us at your pace. You are in control. I promise not to push you. I just need the two of you close to me. Will you please consider staying at my house with me?” I look into her eyes, pleading she will say yes.
She sighs. “Okay, but only until you’re through with recovery and back in Colorado.”
Little does she know, she just signed up to stay with me for at least the next four months.
My Sunshine and my Little Ray are moving in with me. It’s time to pull out the Turner charm and woo my girls so we can make this living arrangement a little more permanent.
