Maddie nods her head, watching as I walk outside.
It’s torturous to stand out here and not know what is going on inside her room. I want to be there with her. I want to know if she’s okay.
After about fifteen agonizing minutes, they let me back in. The doctor is standing next to the bed talking to Maddie.
“I need water,” she says softly, a flicker of relief in her eyes when I come back into the room.
“I’ll get it,” I jump in, desperate to take care of her.
Dr. Talbert nods. “Do you know why you’re here, Madison?”
“I...I think...” She glances at me as if looking for reassurance. “There was an explosion.”
With all the awful outcomes the doctor prepared me for, even those words out of her mouth are like music to my ears. She remembers.
“That’s right.” He smiles. “There was an explosion at your hospital in Las Vegas. We brought you here to recover in Denver, and that’s where you’ve been the last few days.”
Maddie is quiet, letting everything sink in as he talks.
“You’ve got some pretty extensive injuries and we’re going to have to talk about recovery, but I’m sure you two are anxious tocatch up, so I’m going to let you rest for a bit and then I’ll be back. Sound okay?”
“Thank you.” She nods with a small smile on her lips.
Dr. Talbert and the nurses leave, and then Maddie and I are alone.
There are ten thousand things I want to say, but when I open my mouth to speak, nothing comes out. Instead, Maddie speaks first.
“You’re okay.” She shifts, adjusting her weight in the bed.
I let out a sharp laugh. “I’m okay? You’re the one in a hospital bed right now.”
“When I left the room, I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again.”
“I’m right here, baby.” I walk over and sit next to her on the bed, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”
“I’m not sure I’d call a psychopath with a bomb easy…” Maddie smirks, and then her face softens. “Roman, I never really got to tell you how sorry I am for what...”
I shake my head before she can continue. “I don’t want to talk about it. You have nothing to be sorry for. I am the one who should be sorry. I acted like a complete fool and I almost lost you because of it. I’m the one that fucked up, and I hope you’ll forgive me and give me another chance.”
“Of course I will.”
“I swear to God I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’ll let me.” I grin, kissing her forehead. It’s like I can’t stop touching her, like I’m trying to convince myself she’s real and this isn’t all a dream.
“I think I’ll enjoy watching you try.” Even lying in a hospital bed, she’s still got her feisty spirit. “Where is Ty?”
“He’s back in Las Vegas with Emmett. They airlifted you to Denver after the explosion and I came as soon as I could.” I putmy arm behind her and pull her toward me so that her head rests on my chest, careful not to jostle her too much. If all the movement hurts her, she doesn’t let on, snuggling into me.
“Your brother?”
I nod. “He came when he got word of the explosion. He’s looking forward to meeting you.”
“And Bauer?” She stiffens.
“He survived the blast, but he was arrested immediately. You don’t need to worry about him anymore.”
“I just can’t believe he would do something like that. He dedicated his entire career to that hospital.” She shakes her head in disbelief.
Well, half of his career. The other half was as a drug dealer.
