Kneeling back down, he took her hand, feeling it trembling in his. "I won't leave you."
She nodded once more as the paramedics rushed to her side, asking Ben to step back. He did but refused to let go of her hand. He heard terms like head trauma, contusion, and concussion being thrown between the paramedics. He thought once she opened her eyes, the worst would be behind them, but now after hearing her potential injuries, he was really fucking worried. He held himself together-something he had been perfecting over the last three years-for her.
Everything all for her. Forever. He wouldn't fail her.
They lifted her onto the gurney, and Ben escorted her into the ambulance taking his rightful place by her side, holding her hand tightly in his.
He took a deep breath. The doors slammed shut and the ambulance left for the hospital.
His Grace had found her way back to him.
She had found her way home.
31
Grace Stevens
Everyone said to know him was to love him.
But Grace saw it differently.
She loved him even when she didn't know him.
Ben Edwards.
Grace involuntarily swoony-sighed just thinking of him. Her cheeks heated and she felt warm all over. Her thoughts were interrupted. "I'm thinking we can release you tomorrow if the tests-"
"Shhh, he needs the sleep," she quietly scolded the doctor.
The doctor looked at Ben, who was sleeping on a chair in the corner of the hospital room. "Oh, yes, sorry," he whispered. "I think the test results will be what we want. Given what happened, two hits to the head, you're in great shape, a miracle for sure. I'm surprised your man over there didn't have any broken bones, because I'm guessing his body shielded you from the brunt of the fall. So, you should be able to go home tomorrow morning."
"Thank you." Grace smiled then looked back at Ben. He had a few scrapes up his arm and on his face, with nasty bruises forming on shoulder and knee, but otherwise, he was fine.
When the doctor left the room, she slunk down on the bed and curled onto her side, facing him. She could watch Ben all day, all night even. He was so amazing inside and out. He is mine. Destiny.
He stirred several times, trying to get comfortable, but she could tell that wasn't going to happen. The chair was too small for his frame. At six foot two, his torso barely fit in the old chair. She slowly climbed out of bed and tiptoed over to him, limited by her IV, but just reaching him. Taking his hand in hers, she called softly to him, "Ben? Ben?"
His head popped up in alarm. "What? Huh? Grace, are you okay? Is something wrong?"
"Yes, something is very wrong." She smiled gently to help ease his nerves. "I can't sleep, and I need your help."
He sat upright and was wide awake. Standing up slowly, he slid his hands into her hair at the back of her head and brought her closer to kiss her forehead. "How can I help you sleep, my love?"
"Lie with me." Grace turned and brought him with her as she went back to bed.
"I don't think I'm allowed to do tha-"
"I don't care about their rules. I only care about you. Please, babe, come lie down with me." She climbed back under the covers, leaving plenty of room for him right next to her.
Ben toed off his shoes, took his jeans off, and climbed in. As she snuggled into his side, both their bodies relaxed. This was the most peace she'd felt in what seemed like forever. Years had been lost, but love found them again. So much to have missed, but she didn't want to think about that. She just wanted to be with him again. Wishing she could undo the past three years, her heart pounded in her chest as feelings of betrayal filled it. She had betrayed Ben. Betrayed their love. Her head was clear enough to know she hadn't, but the deep regret remained. They could only move forward, and that's what she intended to do. She would live a full life loving him.
They woke up a short time later, and she already felt so much better from sleeping in his arms. As they stirred, he asked barely above a whisper, "Do you remember me?"
Grace kept her head on his chest, looking down in the same position she had woken up in. Her heart broke just a little, hearing him ask that, hearing the pain in his voice, in his words. She rubbed her hand under his T-shirt to comfort him and for her own selfish reasons. "I could never forget you."
His hand was running along the side of her body up and down, over again, as he held her close to him. He smiled from her response. "I thought I'd lost you."
Grace squeezed her eyes tight to shut out recent memories and to concentrate on the second chance she'd been given. She grasped him tighter and he did the same to her. She wasn't sure what she felt more. Anger, grief, desperate sadness, pain, or even thankfulness. "I love you, Ben. Thank you. Thank you for never giving up on me."