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Now, the pink sunrise is beginning to peek through the layers of coastal fog. Cash is still fast asleep in a chair across the room. I close my eyes, too, hoping for a few more minutes of rocky sleep before the sun’s fully risen. Less than a minute later, I feel a light squeeze around my hand. I assume it’s just another one of his sleepy muscle twitches until another, stronger one follows. I’m bolting upright before I’ve even opened my eyes.
“Hey, pretty girl,” he drawls sleepily, and I swear my heart could just burst.
I lean closer, clasping my other hand around his. My voice is tight but happy—so fucking happy. “Hi, Lochy baby.”
I drop his hand to balance on the bed rail as I bend over to brush my lips against his. I’ve never experienced such an effervescent feeling as I do now. Like one light touch has single-handedly brought color back to the world. Rushing back.
Lochlan slowly lifts his hand, and I lay my cheek in his palm. His eyes are sweet and soft, just like his smile as he brushes a tear on my cheek away with his thumb. “You’re shining, a réalta.”
Emotions knot in my throat, and I shake my head, unable to find words to describe this feeling.
“No fucking way,” Cash exclaims from across the room, and I just now realize he’s awake. “Are you two . . . ?”
Lochlan laughs proudly. “Hell yeah, I’m hittin’ that—”
“Lochlan!” I yell.
“Hey, it’s true—we’re knockin’ boots, baby.”
My cheeks are flooding with heat as Cash laughs. “Well, damn. I guess I owe Reggie five grand.”
“You were betting on us?” I ask incredulously.
“Technically, I was betting against you—”
“Oh, fuck off, Cash.” Lochlan huffs a laugh.
He throws his arms up in defense. “If it didn’t happen in the last five months, I thought odds were pretty good it wasn’t going to happen at all.”
Five months . . . I gasp. “You know about my birthday?”
Cash scoffs. “Yeah, me and everyone else.”
“Oh my god.” I groan then cut my gaze to Lochlan.
He shrugs with an amused smirk. “Don’t look at me. A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“You are so far from a gentleman.” I laugh.
“You would know.” He gives me a sleazy wink. I roll my eyes but fail to fight back my smile. Twelve hours ago, I didn’t know if he was going to live or die. Now, here he is, making me laugh and annoyed as usual.
Thank God these Fox men are hard to kill because this pain-in-my-ass playboy has become someone I can’t live without.
1. Play “Tourniquet” by Zach Bryan until the end of the chapter
Chapter 32
Somebody Call HR
Lochlan
5 days later
“I’m not complaining, but I really don’t think that’s appropriate clothing for a nurse.” My arm drapes off the bed, and I squeeze Stella’s ass in a pair of painfully revealing boy shorts.1
“And what exactly do you think I should be wearing? A slutty candy striper dress?” she asks with a scoff while changing my bandage.
“Is nothing an acceptable option?” I grin.
