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She opened her mouth, probably to argue, but Rhett simply raised an eyebrow, a look I knew well that invited an argument and the promise he would end it.
“Pancreatitis,” I blurted, pulling both of their gazes to me. “The abdominal tenderness and aching was similar to what I remember Archer complaining about. I never handled pain well, so add in the stress of thinking I was dying, a slew of emotions, and voila—puking.”
I shrugged, hating that I had allowed myself to get so focused on death and failure that I hadn’t properly taken care of my body or the situation I’d thought I was in.
A simple discussion with the doctor, bloodwork, and imaging had cleared my mind of all anxiety. Never again would I allow my brain to grab hold of worry and run away without proper management. Nor would I live in denial when facing the truth might not be as bad as I’d expected.
“No more hiding what you’re feeling,” Skylar stated with a stern, mother-like voice while glancing between the two of us. “Emotionally or physically, both of you, because I swear to all things holy—if there are such things like angels and demons—wait. Demons can’t be holy…can they? No, definitely not. But anyway.” She shook her head while getting back on track. “We need to talk all the words, share everything we have going on inside our hearts and minds. Got it?”
“Speak,” Rhett murmured, the twitch of his lips causing mine to curl upward.
“What?” Skylar asked.
“We need to speak all the words.”
Skylar reached over my bed and backhanded his chest. “Don’t be an asshole.”
Rhett grabbed her hand and lifted her knuckles to his lips, their gazes locking.
Weakness slid through my legs, and I wondered how Skylar held hers upright beneath Rhett’s potent stare. Fuck knew I couldn’t.
Her lips parted.
He grinned.
A heavy exhale left me depleted and completely at rest. Pleasantly buzzed from pain meds. Smiling like an idiot.
“I have some words,” Rhett murmured, his low tone a sexy rumble that fluttered my heart even though he wasn’t addressing me.
“Oh?” Skylar asked, the simple word breathless with desire.
He lay their clasped hands atop mine and Skylar’s once more, topping the stack with his free one in a protective hold.
“We’ve been offered a second chance, and I have every intention of taking advantage of that gift. If that means opening myself to the rawness of emotions, I’ll do so every minute of the day. Life is too short.” His voice broke, and he swallowed hard. “We aren’t promised today, so I’m going to love you both with all I have like it’s the last sunrise, the last night beneath the stars.”
Tears slid down Skylar’s cheeks again, but her face shone with an angelic light that pierced through my heart. “Every day to the fullest,” she whispered.
“Why don’t you two get started,” I said, grinning like a loon even though mental weariness readied to knock my ass out again.
“Not without you,” Skylar said, turning toward me.
I glanced at Rhett. “I have to stay here a couple nights, so how about you take our angel home, shower together, crawl into bed naked, make love like it’s your first time, then get some rest.”
Skylar blinked, and I could imagine the explosion of thoughts going off in her head.
“You don’t want us to wait for you?” she asked with a hushed tone instead, reminding me of how she’d always mentioned Rhett when we’d touched after first meeting.
I grinned, but my blink seemed to take forever as my limbs grew heavier. “Show him what it’s like to have your undivided attention while I rest up for when I’m home and it’s my turn to love on you again.”
She giggled and pressed her mouth to mine in a kiss but quickly straightened, her lips flatlining.
“What?” Rhett asked, and a beautiful pink hue bloomed on her cheeks.
“I…um…well, it’s not a good time? For that?” She shifted on her feet, her face flushing a deeper shade of red. “It would be really awkward. Um…gross.”
Rhett’s steady gaze on her heated to the point even I shifted on the hospital bed. “Nothing about you is gross, Skylar,” he spoke quietly, not inviting argument. “And it will only be awkward if I allow you to think too much.”
“Oh God,” she whispered, tearing her focus off his face for mine. “He’s so…”