I kissed him one last time before backing toward the door. The nurse came in then, assuring me they’d monitor him all night and that West had already arranged for Dad’s personal doctor to be there first thing in the morning.
Relief broke through me, and I stepped into the hall.
West was leaning against the wall across from the room, legs crossed, hands in his pockets. He straightened when he saw me and I walked right into his arms, letting him hold me.
My dad’s words echoed in my head, about living, about being happy. About Lisa. About companionship.
I knew that everything West and I had shared that weekend, including his flannel shirt and his truck, had been a beautiful illusion. He wasn’t really my husband. This wasn’t forever. He wasn’t mine.
But in that moment, none of it mattered.
Because I knew one thing for sure: West might not always be my husband, but he would always be my friend.
And right then, I desperately needed a friend.
Chapter Forty-Six
WEST
The sun was just breakingover the horizon when Blue and I walked out of the hospital. Marcus was already waiting with the SUV, parked right at the curb where he’d been all night. We climbed into the back, neither of us saying much. The drive was quiet, and before long, he pulled us into the garage of the penthouse.
I walked Blue upstairs, helped her out of her clothes, and laid her down in my bed. She looked so small against the sheets, her lashes heavy, her body finally giving in after hours of fear and adrenaline. I stretched out beside her, running my fingers slowly through her hair until her breathing evened and she drifted to sleep.
I must’ve fallen too, because when I blinked again, the light spilling in was brighter, harsher. I reached for the remote on my nightstand, tapped the button, and the curtains slid shut, cocooning us back in darkness.
Sleep wasn’t coming back for me, though. My body buzzed with too much tension, so I pulled on workout clothes and headed for the gym.
When I came back, I expected her to still be curled in bed. But the bedroom was empty. So was the bathroom.
“Blue?” I called, my chest tightening as I started through the penthouse.
I found her in the library, sitting cross-legged on top of the pool table, a book in her lap. Relief hit hard enough that I laughed under my breath.
She pulled the book down and tilted her head at me, confusion written all over her face. “For the life of me, I can’t figure out why this pool table is in here. It’s not even comfortable. Am I supposed to read a book on this thing?”
The corner of my mouth lifted. Humor was a good sign. “You called your dad?”
She smiled, and the weight in my chest eased. “Yeah. He’s sleeping, but better. His doctor saw him first thing. Warned him that his disease won’t let him live at the pace of a normal man. As much as he’s enjoyed himself lately, he has to slow down.”
I nodded, licking my lips, swallowing the relief down like medicine. There was more I needed to say, things I should’ve done, but selfishly, I didn’t want to break the moment.
“So… is that really your secret sex dungeon in the locked room next door?” She asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
I smirked and walked toward her. She slid off the pool table, wearing one of my shirts that hit just above her knees, bare legs peeking out like some sort of invitation I couldn’t refuse. I scooped her up, carried her down the hall, and stopped in front of the locked door.
“You think you can handle what’s in there?”
She swallowed and nodded, even though her eyes betrayed her nerves. I set her down and traced my finger down her throat, slow enough that she knew I saw it.
“Go in,” I said, lowering my voice to a growl. “And get on your knees.”
Her eyes widened, a flicker of uncertainty in them. She tried to play it off with a shrug, but her hand gripped the doorframe tight enough to make my pulse kick.
I keyed in the code, the lock clicked, and I pushed the door open. She stepped inside, the automatic lights flickering on one by one. Her head turned slowly, scanning the room and I held my breath, waiting to see if she’d bolt.
“Toys?” she asked, her voice climbing a full octave.
A grin spread across my face. Because it wasn’t ropes or cuffs or leather straps. It was Legos. Hundreds of them. Towers, cities, pirate ships, an entire working train line weaving through it all.
