Page 80 of Pretty Thing

I shrug. “No one told me to stop.”

He clicks his mouse and taps his chin.

“I guess with the holidays this is the first checkup the nurses scheduled. How are you finding PT?”

“Better, I don’t need the crutch.” I tap the cane Felix got me. “I just use this.”

He nods.

“We’re going to get you out of that boot and into a lace-up support instead. You can take it off for sleeping and showering. It will give you a lot more freedom,” Dr. Walker says.

Felix’s hand tightens on mine. I glance over at him, but his facial expression is unreadable.

“Let me see your arm.”

I hold it out. I’m not sure what he is looking for, but he mumbles to himself.

“Any pain?”

“No, but the itching sometimes is enough to drive a person crazy.” That gets a smile. So, he does have a personality. “Physio for it is going well. I’m much stronger, and I don’t get worn out like in the beginning.”

“Excellent. This can come off in three weeks.” He turns and gives me his full attention. “Any other issues?”

I really want to say, aside from my parents being dead—no. But I don’t.

“No. No issues,” I say, glancing at Felix while the doctor goes over my next steps.

With Felix around, the nightmares have all but disappeared, and I feel halfway normal. I’m still trying to figure out what normal is, but Felix gives me hope, and right now that is what I need.

By the time we get to the car with my new ankle brace, I’m concerned. Felix is being unusually quiet.

“Is everything okay? It feels like you’re far away.”

He starts the car, and we sit there staring out the frosty windshield as it heats up. Reaching out, I cup his cheek. He leans into me, making my heart swell.

“It’s just…soon you won’t need me anymore, and…” His eyes meet mine, and I can see the worry in them. “Then what?”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s face it, Eden. I’m only in your life because of this horrible and tragic moment. Soon I’ll be the only thing that reminds you of that day and what you lost. You won’t want me around. As long as you need me…you have a reason to want to see me.”

“Felix…it’s not like that.” I try to get closer and end up grabbing his jacket, forcing him to look at me. “You are so important to me. That won’t change.”

Somewhere between the hospital and the holidays, Felix stopped feeling like someone who survived the crash with me and started feeling like someone to live for. When the change happened…I can’t say, but I feel it as surely as I do his touch.

“Are you sure?” He cups my cheeks, and there is a desperation in his blue eyes that stills my heart. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” He presses his forehead against mine and closes his eyes. “People don’t usually keep reminders of the worst day of their life around forever.”

The longing in his voice cuts me to the core. I’ve spent so much time sitting in my own sorrow that I’ve taken Felix’s strength for granted. He is hurting too, even if he doesn’t show it often.

“You’re not going to lose me,” I whisper, and mean it.

He has become everything and more to me. I’m teetering on the edge of feelings I’ve never had before. I’m terrified to analyze them, but I can’t picture going forward without him.

Felix suddenly kisses me. My body lights up, and I moan, opening for him. His tongue invades my mouth and teases me as my heart pounds hard.

His phone rings, pulling us out of the moment. I have no idea how much time has passed. With an annoyed groan, he sits back. All I want to do is grab him and kiss him again. His brows furrow when he looks at the caller ID.

“Who is it?”