Page 51 of Someone to Call My Own

Her words were like a knife to my heart, and I jerked to a stop. I might’ve left the hospital had Memphis not placed his hand on my shoulder. “It doesn’t mean anything,” he assured me. “Who knows where his mind went during anesthesia. Maybe he’s saying goodbye.”

I swallowed hard, wanting to believe him. I plastered a smile on my face and nodded. I opened the door to Emory’s suite, and Memphis went inside first. I stayed back for a second as I tried to bolster my courage.Please let this be real. Let Emory be the one I finally call my own.

“Hey, Em,” I heard Memphis softly say. “How are you feeling?”

“High,” he slurred. “Where’s Jon? Did I dream him?”

Tears of relief burned the back of my eyes as I stepped into the room. “I’m right here, Em.”

When Memphis first came into my room, it felt like déjà vu. For a few heartbeats, I was back in that hospital room five years ago expecting to see River walk through the door. Memphis’s blinding smile was what snapped me back to the present day. It was nothing like the expression he wore the last time. Once again, I looked over Memphis’s shoulder in search of the man I loved.

“Hey, Em,” Memphis said. “How are you feeling?”

I looked at my cousin as I struggled to process my thoughts. “High,” I slurred. “Where’s Jon? Did I dream him?” Had I dreamed up everything that happened since the accident?

“I’m right here, Em.”

Tears of relief and joy slid down my face as I raised my hand off the bed and reached for him. “You’re real. I didn’t dream you.”

Jon came to my side in quick strides and lowered himself into the chair by my bed. He took my hand in his then kissed it before holding it to his cheek. “Some people might call me a nightmare,” he said.

“Huh-uh,” I said. “Not me.”

“Give it time,” Jon replied softly then kissed my hand again. “Did they tell you the great news?”

“The basics,” I said. My voice wasn’t quite as sluggish, but I sounded anything but alert. “I think they’re waiting for me to be fully awake. My nurse said that Dr. Rosenau would stop by later.” I shifted my eyes between Memphis and Jon. “According to your dopey smiles, it went okay.”

“Better than okay, Em.” Jon leaned over and kissed my forehead just beneath the bandages they had wrapped around my head.

“I’m really tired still.”

“Well, damn. I thought we’d leave here and go clubbing tonight,” Memphis remarked.

“Let me take a nap first,” I replied. My eyes felt so heavy that I could barely keep them open. “On second thought, we better make it tomorrow.”

“Rest, Em,” Jon said tenderly. “I’ll be here when you wake up. You have some amazing friends who showed up and waited with us all day. They want to say a quick hello once you get moved to your room. Is that okay?”

“I’ll always have time for Josh and Gabe.”

“They didn’t come alone, baby. They brought half of Blissville with them.”

“They did?”

“Yep,” he replied. “John, Deanna, Adrian, Sally Ann, Kyle, Chaz, Mere, and Harley have been hanging out with us all day.”

“I love your friends,” Memphis said. “You have an amazing life here.”

I kept my eyes locked on Jon’s when I replied. “I’m very lucky.”

“You’re also very tired,” Memphis told me. “Do you want them to come back tomorrow when you’re feeling a little more alert.”

“No!” My reply sounded loud in my brain, but it was a hoarse whisper when the word passed through my lips.

“How about you take a little nap first then,” Memphis said.

“It’ll probably be another hour before we move him to his regular room,” the nurse informed us. “He might feel a little more alert then.”

“Close your eyes and rest, baby.” Jon leaned over and pressed his lips to my ears. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”