Page 34 of Finding Home (Willow Valley #1)

THIRTY-FOUR

EVERETT

T his weekend with Chloe was exactly what I needed before today.

After our date, we ended up in my bed where she upheld her promise to wear something better than the dress she wore out and came into my room in a very sexy negligee that I almost ripped off of her.

She slept in my arms, and we spent Sunday relaxing together watching TV and reading before I picked up Lila from Grandma’s.

We haven’t told Lila about us yet, because I knew that today was going to be rough enough.

I dropped Lila off at school and headed straight to Grandma’s to pick her up for our trip to West Bridgejaw for her surgery.

Due to her age and the reasoning behind her surgery, they’re keeping her overnight, but I’m sticking around the hospital until she’s out of surgery.

Chloe’s going to take Lila to see the horses after school, hoping that we can keep her as distracted as possible.

I’m not sure Lila fully understands what’s going on, she’s still so young, but my girl’s a little empath and I know she can tell how nervous I am about today, no matter how hard I try to hide it.

Chloe pointed out little ticks of mine over the last two days, my inability to stay still for long periods of time, staring off into space, even that I’d started drinking more water.

Last night, Lila climbed into my bed asking to cuddle, and I think she was asking more for me than herself.

The nurses prep Grandma and take her back while I sit in the waiting room, trying to think of anything but what could go wrong.

A mastectomy is major surgery, and while from all the research I’ve done, there usually isn’t any major blood loss, when you factor in age and everything else, you never know what can happen.

My phone rings, Chloe’s name flashing across the screen, and I answer.

“Hey.”

“Hey. Any update?” she asks.

I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “No.”

“How are you holding up?”

I sigh and tap my fingers across my thigh as I settle deeper into the stiff and uncomfortable waiting room chair. “Okay, I guess.”

“Everything’s going to go fine. You know it’s going to take more than this to get your grandmother,” she says. I hear the slight laugh in her voice, and I can picture perfectly the way her lips are turned up slightly and the little hint of sparkle that I guarantee is in her eyes right now.

Even miles away, Chloe is managing to make me relax, and little pieces of my anxiety fade.

“You and Lila with the horses?” I ask.

“No. It’s raining, so I brought her over to Mom’s and they’re currently making fall decorations. Lila seems to be having a blast, but I think Mom’s having more fun. She used to love doing these DIY decorations with us as kids, and then we grew up and they became uncool and I think she’s missed it.”

“Well, thank her for keeping Lila occupied. I appreciate it.”

“Oh, Mom practically begged me to bring her over. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to pull me aside and ask about you at some point, though.”

I chuckle. “And what are you going to tell her?”

“That you’re a giant teddy bear in the wrapping of a grumpy gremlin.”

I throw my head back, a belly-deep laugh leaving me. I garner a few looks from others in the waiting room, and I wave my apology.

“A grumpy gremlin. Think we can do better than that, North.”

She hums. “I guess you’re sexier than a gremlin. Troll?” she muses .

“Seriously?”

She laughs, and the corners of my mouth pull up.

“Okay, grizzly bear?”

“Better.”

Silence fills the line for a minute before she asks, “What should I tell her? I know you said I’m yours, but what does that mean?”

“What do you want it to mean?” I ask.

“I want labels, if I’m being honest. I don’t like being in some unknown area. I want exclusivity.”

I growl and lower my voice as I lean forward in my chair. “If you didn’t get from me telling you that you’re mine and that no other man will touch your skin that we’re exclusive, I’m making it very fucking clear right now, North. There will be no one else for you.”

“And you?” she asks, and I hear the small tremor of vulnerability in her voice.

“I haven’t been with anyone else since our first night together, and as long as you’re mine, I won’t be. You want labels, Chloe, conventional labels? You’re my girlfriend.”

“Good.”

One of Grandma’s nurses comes out of the double doors and makes eye contact with me.

I nod and tell Chloe I’ve got to go and will call her back as soon as I can before pushing out of the chair and meeting the nurse.

The relief that floods through me when she says that surgery went perfectly is palpable.

She leads me back to Grandma’s room, and I settle into a chair beside her bed as I wait for her to wake up.

I must have fallen asleep at one point, because I’ve now got an awful kink in my back. There’s no longer light streaming through the window of Grandma’s room.

“Not sleeping well?” Grandma’s voice pulls my attention to her bed .

I sit up straighter and run my hands down my face. “It’s been a week,” I say, not elaborating, but she offers me a knowing smile.

“You did make a stir in town,” she says.

“How are you feeling? You sound like you came out of the anesthesia okay,” I say, wanting to move on from the questions I’m sure she’s bound to ask, and knowing Grandma she’s going to use the I’m in a hospital bed route to get answers from me, and because she is who she is, I know I’ll cave to an extent.

“I’m okay. I’ve been up for a while.”

I grab my phone and see that it’s already six o’clock.

Before I have a chance to ask her anything else, she says, “So you and Chloe Maxwell. I’m guessing her sunshine worked on your grumpy ass.”

I shake my head and run my hand down half my face, trying to hide my grin at her antics. She’s lying in a hospital bed after major surgery and giving me shit about my behaviour and asking about the girl I’m seeing.

“Chloe’s…” I start, but I’m not sure what to say.

Special doesn’t seem to be enough. Chloe has this quality about her that I can’t put into words, and if I’m being honest with myself, it scares the crap out of me.

To feel this draw to her so quickly is unusual for me.

It took a long time for Renee to finally wear me down enough to actually go on a date.

She then made it so she was always around and we fell into a relationship.

With Chloe, she isn’t forcing anything. I’m the one that approached her to move into my place, but I think that even if I hadn’t, I’d be finding ways to see her. I’d be hanging on to her every word, wanting to learn more about her and hoping I get the opportunity to hear her laugh.

“Something you weren’t expecting,” Grandma says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I let out a breath. “Yeah, something I wasn’t expecting,” I agree.

“I like her for you and Lila. I think she’s exactly what the two of you need.”

“Lila’s grown attached.”

She nods and cocks her head. “And have you?”

I run my hand through my hair. I haven’t known Chloe long enough for it to be rational to be attached to her, but I feel it growing. That feeling has rooted itself deep inside me, and I don’t think any amount of digging will ever remove all of the roots she’s planted inside me.

Calling her mine was an instinct I couldn’t fight.

It was this primal feeling of wanting to claim her, but I know the thing that made me snap and finally say the words out loud wasn’t just the primal feeling, but the connection I’ve been growing with her.

That connection was like a match to the fuel that was the primal possessiveness.

It ignited and burned hot and fast, turning into a flaming jealousy I couldn’t ignore.

“It hasn’t been long, but there’s something there,” I finally admit.

Grandma’s smile is one I haven’t seen on her in a long time. “You should get home to your girls. I’ll see you back here tomorrow,” she says, dismissing me.

I push out of my chair and kiss her cheek, making sure she has everything before I head out to my truck.

I spend the entire drive back thinking about Chloe and what she’s growing to mean to me.

She brings out this feeling I can’t even describe.

It’s not just territorial and protective.

She’ll do things that make me feel like I’m almost melting.

Melting doesn’t even accurately describe the feeling.

It’s as though seeing her has every nerve ending on fire while also being doused in water at the same time.

I don’t stress about everything as much, I get to focus on her and being present in the moment rather than in my head.

The more I think about the girl with the vibrant blue eyes, silky blonde hair, and an infectious laugh, the more I’m realizing I may have allowed her behind my walls in a way that means she could hurt me, and that’s something I’ve protected myself from for a long time.