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Dad clears his throat and backs away. “Good luck with the surgery.” He looks at me. “I’ll be waiting outside.”
I smile. “Okay. I’ll be there in a bit.”
Dad turns and walks out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him. I collapse into the chair next to Max and reach for his hands, putting them each to my lips. “How did it go with your mom and Shaye? I must have been in with Jules when they showed up because I still haven’t seen them.”
“I think they went to the chapel.” Max struggles to sit up. He lets out a deep sigh, running his good hand through his hair. “I think deep down they know he wasn’t coming back. But the shock of the news…” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t mean it’s any easier for them to swallow.
“I know. And I’m so sorry. I wish he was still here and that you had more time together.” I swallow hard. “And that none of this ever happened in the first place.”
Max’s mouth presses into a tight line. “Is this really what you want, Sloane? Does this make you happy? Knowing what could have happened to you today? To your friend? All because of me?” He cups my chin in his hand. “Do you really want a future like this? Because I can’t promise you the perfect life that you deserve. I can only promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy. But I get it if that’s not—”
I place a fingertip to his lips to prevent his next words from being spoken. “That sounds pretty perfect to me,” I whisper, tears pooling in my eyes.
“I don’t want to see you suffer like my mom and my sister.”
“Then you’d better be really careful.” I smile through the tears spilling down my cheeks.
“I’ve taken a lot of chances in my life. Made some pretty fucking stupid decisions, too. I never believed I had a good enough reason not to. But now…being with you…” The corners of his lips curl upward. “It’s the only thing that keeps me going. I don’t want to be that asshole guy anymore. I want to be the responsible guy, the one who takes care of the woman he loves, the one who will do fucking anything he can to protect her.”
I lean my head toward his and graze his lips with mine. “You are that guy. And that’s why I’m so crazy about you.”
He smiles, and my insides melt. Just like they always do when those lips curl into that mischievous smirk I’ve grown to adore. “Have you seen Tommy?”
“Yes. He’s with Eli now.” I rub the back of my neck. “He’s stable, thank God. But the doctors still have him under heavy observation. I’m so thankful Rocco and Kat got him here in time. I can’t imagine…” My voice trails off. “Tommy helped save me. He helped save you.”
“Yeah, and I’m gonna try to help him this time by making sure he doesn’t make any more jackass mistakes.”
“But his bills…what’s he going to do? He doesn’t have any money. And his mother,” I shake my head. “She’s useless. And in jail.”
Max laces his fingers with mine. “Do you trust me?”
Butterflies swarm in my belly under his heated gaze. I slowly nod my head. “I do,” I whisper.
“Then you know I’ll take care of everything, right?” A shiver zips down my spine as his fingertips graze the column of my neck.
“Yes,” I breathe, my eyes floating closed. How is it possible that even the most innocent touch from this man can make my knees buckle and cause my name to be a distant memory?
One of the trauma nurses, Marcie, walks in and my eyes fly open to find a playful grin on her freckled face. “Sloane, it’s time to prep this handsome guy for surgery. Your dad is outside waiting for you.”
I nod. “Thanks, Marcie.”
Max’s fingers tighten around mine. “I’m not done with you yet. Get over here,” he whispers as Marcie starts putting an IV together.
I dip my head, his warm breath tickling my cheek. “I love you, Sloane. I always have, and I always will. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I probably will make a hell of a lot more. But you’re it for me, and I won’t fuck up again. At least…” He smirks at me. “Not on purpose.”
I let out a soft giggle and stroke his cheek with my fingertips. “Great.”
“Just be ready,” he murmurs. “When the doctors put me back together, I’m going to show you how crazy I am about you.”
“Mmm. I can’t wait. My shower or yours?”