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Jack

T he last few days have been the most challenging of my life. Every day, I’m filled with worry about Gisella’s health and anger at what happened to her, partly at the men who did this and partly at myself.

All while dealing with my own injury. Breaking both bones in my forearm and bruising a few ribs has made everything significantly harder.

I’ve hated leaving her for even a moment, but she’s getting stronger every day. Unfortunately, work doesn’t stop just because I’m preoccupied. Nate and Ian have been doing everything they can to handle business, but I know they can’t do it forever. We were stretched thin even before this.

I’ve only had to leave Gisella for a few hours at a time over the last couple of days, but any time away is excruciating.

I called reinforcements and asked Tyler and Maggie to stay with her today so she wasn’t alone. And she’s been begging to see Tyler so she can apologize, even though I have told her numerous times that no one blames her for what happened. She also told me she wants to send Matt baked goods as an apology once she’s out of the hospital. I hate that she feels even an ounce of guilt in this situation.

On the way back to the hospital, I stopped at a local florist for a fresh bouquet. I had already taken the bouquets I had brought to her room earlier in the week to my house, disposing of the ones that were starting to wilt.

I know it’s ridiculous to get so many, but she loves flowers, and I wanted something beautiful to be there waiting for her when she finally woke up.

As I approach her room, the door is cracked. Slightly raised voices filter into the hall.

“Tyler, stop being ridiculous. I want to leave. I’m sick of being here.”

“I get that. But can you wait until Jack gets back?” Tyler sounds exasperated, as if they have been having this conversation for a while.

“But they discharged me! Take me home.”

Maggie chimes in. “Tyler’s right. I would be willing to bet Jack would want to be the one to take you home.”

“Who knows when that’s going to be? He can come see me when he gets done at work,” Gisella argues back.

I tamp down my frustration with Tyler for not texting me to let me know they discharged Gisella. Not wanting to wait any longer to make my entrance, I push the door open. “You’re in luck. He’s arrived.”

“Thank god,” Tyler huffs out. I wrap my lips around my teeth to hide my laugh at the annoyed look Gisella gives him.

“Now that your knight in shining...” Maggie pauses, taking in my black pants and black t-shirt. “Black has arrived, I’m going to head out.” She hugs Gisella. “I’ll text you soon to check on you. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Maggie. I’ll talk to you soon.” Gisella is sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, dressed in black yoga pants and an oversized purple T-shirt. Her hair is pulled up into a messy bun. Despite everything she’s been through, she looks breathtakingly vibrant and, most importantly, alive.

Tyler follows Maggie out after giving Gisella a hug and a similar speech about talking to her soon. His annoyance is quickly forgotten when it comes to her.

When we’re alone, I hold up the flowers. “I guess these can just come home with us, like the rest of them.”

Her eyes are bright. “My home or yours?”

“Yours.” Her face drops at my answer, but she doesn’t say anything.

I start to collect her belongings the best I can with one arm. “Should we get a wheelchair so you don’t have to walk?”

She steps over to help me, brow pinched in concern. I release a frustrated sigh as I struggle to pack her bag for her.

“Are you going to tell me what happened to your arm?”

“We can talk about it later.”

She’s asked me multiple times, but the last thing she needs is to worry or feel guilty about my injuries. What happened to Matt and Tyler wears heavy on her heart, and I don’t want to pile anything else on her, especially while she recovers.

She nods and finishes packing everything into her bag.

Once that’s complete, I can’t stop myself from planting a soft kiss on her lips. She relaxes into me and places a hand gently on my chest. Having her touch me after way too long is more than I can bear. Breathing her in, I deepen the kiss. She tastes like mint, and her sweetness. She releases a soft moan and shuffles a step closer to me. I wrap my good arm around her waist, pulling her tight. When she starts to pull back, I reluctantly loosen my hold on her while not letting her go entirely in case she’s unsteady. I know I am.

She sighs against me. “I thought I would never do that again.”

My inhale is uneven as my hands find her cheeks and keep her face tilted to me. I don’t want to admit that I had that same fear. “Well, get used to doing that all the goddamn time.”

Her sweet laughter makes all the pain worth it.

She eventually agrees to the wheelchair, and with the help of one of the techs, we make our way to my vehicle. Frustrated I can’t assist her as much as I would like with my arm, I do my best to help her into the car and place the bag and flowers in the backseat.

When we turn out of the hospital parking lot, I take my first deep breath, thinking back to when I wasn’t sure if I would ever get to be with her again.

“Jack, you said we were going to my house. This isn’t the right direction.”

I glance over at her cute and confused expression. “I promise we’re going in the right direction.” I’m not just talking about where we are driving.

I have never been more sure of anything.

I wish I could watch her the whole way to my house. I steal glances whenever I can, not wanting to put us at risk.

Gisella is quiet for the rest of the drive home. When I pull into the driveway, she looks at me, even more confused.

I smile wide. “Let’s go inside. ”

Once inside, I place her newest bouquet on the counter, and I guide her onto one of the barstools. “Do you want some coffee? Or something else?”

“Coffee sounds amazing,” she says on a sigh. As I prepare the coffee, she asks, “You said you were taking me to my house. I don’t want to be presumptuous, so I need you to tell me what this means that we’re here.”

I pivot back to watch her, my eyes locking onto hers, wanting to make sure she really hears what I’m about to say. “You aren’t being presumptuous. You live here now.”

A shocked laugh pops from her full lips. “Now, who is being presumptuous? This normally starts with a question like, ‘Would you like to move in with me?’”

I round the island as I shake my head. “The problem with questions is that they allow the other person to say no.”

She raises an eyebrow at me, head tilting with playfulness.

“There’s only one answer, Gisella.”

“Oh, really?” she teases.

“Yes, really.” And then my lips are meeting hers, stomach swooping when she kisses me back with just as much passion. This feels so right. And there’s nothing more I want than to keep her right here by my side forever. When I pull back, she bites my lip, eyes searching mine. I groan, adjusting myself as I move away from her. We’re both injured. I need to have restraint.

Her lips quirk into a conspiratorial smirk. “I’ll move in on one condition.”

As I doctor her cup of coffee, I ask, “What’s that?”

“We play bingo at the senior center every Saturday.”

I grimace as I carry the cup to her. “Twice a month.”

She narrows her eyes. “Three times a month. Final offer. ”

I pinch her chin gently. “Fine, three times. But I get to decide how we spend the Saturdays we don’t go.”

My heart skips a beat at the grin that spreads across her face. “Deal.”

Burying my hands in her hair, I pull her up to kiss her deeply. My tongue slides along hers as a moan escapes her throat and goes straight to my dick. “I love you, Gisella.”

“It’s Ella,” she whispers with a grin.

“Not to me, you aren’t.” As I kiss her again, she hums a sound of contentment.

“I love you too, Jack.” Her sweet declaration tickles my lips. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

She’s wrong.

I don’t know what karma is paying off for me, but what I do know, without a doubt, is that I’m the lucky one.