Page 137 of Torn
She is.
“I still care about you, Syd. And I hope you find whatyou’relooking for.”
“Just get out.” She pushes my arm, right over the raw, torn-up section that’s covered in bandages, and I see stars from the pain.
Fuckin’ bitch.
Silently, I climb out of the car, my body still stiff from pain, and walk to the front door as Sydni backs out of my driveway and peels out down the street. Kenzi opens the door for me, then closes it when I get inside. Diogee and Kitten are waiting with her, the dog wagging his tail and howling at me while the kitten rubs all over my legs. This is how I want to come home every day, only without being beat to hell.
Kenzi stares up at me, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Can I hug you?” she asks tearfully. “Or will it hurt?”
I snake my arm around her and pull her against me. “You better hug me, Angel,” I whisper, burying my face in her hair and breathing her in. “I don’t care if you crack another rib. Just don’t let me go.”
“I was so worried about you.” She gently wraps her arms around me and rests her head against my chest. “I couldn’t get near you with Sydni there, and Tesla had your phone. I didn’t know she knew about us.”
“Yeah, I told her. I’m sorry about Sydni, Kenzi. I didn’t know how to get rid of her without causing a scene.”
Sniffling, she shakes her head. “It’s okay. I’m just so glad you’re okay and you’re home now.”
“You have no idea how much I missed you.”
She peeks up at me. “Yeah, I might have a good idea.”
I lean down to kiss her but she pulls back from me and looks down at the floor.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as worry settles in my gut. She’s never backed away from me before. “Why are you pulling away from me?”
“I saw Sydni kissing you, Tor. I know you were hurt and not even really awake, but I wasn’t there much. Sydni was.” She swallows hard. “I need to know if that kept happening.”
My chest tightens. “Absolutely not. I couldn’t stop her from coming every day. My head was fucked at first from the concussion but I definitely did not kiss her. I could barely move, Kenz. I just told her in the car two seconds ago that I appreciate her visiting and driving me but that we are completely over and I’m in love with someone else.” I wish I could tell her about the ring and how Sydni assumed that it was for her, but I refuse to wreck anything to do with my proposal to her just because Sydni is an idiot. I have no idea when I’ll be proposing. It could be two months or two years, but I wanted to have the ring in case I decide to be spontaneous. I don’t care if we’re engaged for years, I want her and the rest of the world to know I’m serious about spending my life with her.
“I believe you. I’m sorry I even asked. It was just beyondupsetting to see her touching you and I wasn’t able to even talk to you.”
“I wanted to call you from my room but I didn’t have your number memorized. I just sat there staring at the phone like an idiot.”
“Oh! Why didn’t I think to call your room after visiting hours? I totally forgot there was a phone there. I’m so stupid!”
I laugh and kiss the top of her head. “No, you’re not. We were both stressed. I just want to put this crap behind us.” I take her hand and lead her over to the couch so I can sit and rest. My back is already starting to hurt again. “Thanks for taking care of these guys for me.”
“Don’t thank me. I love them.”
“We love you, too. More than you know.”
She smiles at me and I wish I could push her back on the couch, kiss her everywhere, and make love to her for hours, but with my wrist and my ribs being all messed up, I can’t. Lying in the hospital all banged up sucked, but it sucked even worse not being able to be close to her.
I lean back against the couch and let out a sigh. “It’s so good to be home. I’m going to be home for at least a week before I go back to work. Maybe two.”
She kneels on the floor in front of me and takes my boots off for me, and it’s a mix of sweet and sexy as hell watching her do it.
“You need to rest,” she says. “Your brothers all said they would take care of the shop for you.”
“Good. Do you know what I want?”
She puts her hands on my legs and looks up at me, melting me with her big green eyes. “Tell me.”
“I want you here with me every day while I’m resting.”
“Ooh. Can I play nurse?” Her playful, sensual voice wakes up my cock, which thankfully escaped getting road rash.