Page 94 of Austin

I lean in to kiss his lips. “Wake up for me, baby. I need to see your eyes. I need you.”

His eyes flutter open and look into mine. Relief floods my body as more tears flow.

“Can you hear me?” I ask.

He takes a deep breath, opening and closing his eyes before nodding slightly. “I can get used to this. Maybe, when we get home, you can wear a naughty nurse outfit, and I’ll play patient.”

I playfully hit him in the hip.

Gregg laughs loudly. “Damn it, you’re alive. I was really hoping I’d get your car collection. You changed your will like I asked, didn’t you?”

Austin’s lips form a small smile. “You know I left everything to Julie. I couldn’t trust to leave everything to your lazy ass. You’ll have to marry her if you want any piece of it. Has she said yes yet?”

Gregg stands on the opposite side of the bed than me. “She keeps throwing shoes at me every time I ask her. You have a better chance of getting hitched than I do.”

“Looks like it,” Austin says.

“Wow, I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth.” Gregg scratches his head. He glances my direction with a smile and tugs on my hand.

“Blame it on her. She’s got me thinking differently lately.”

I lean in to kiss him, and when I feel his lips move with mine, I choke through my cries as I pull back.

Gregg walks closer to him. “I just wanted to see for myself that you were all right. And give you this.” He hands Austin a small bronze charm. Marina Sexton’s Christmas angel.

“Thanks, man. This … means a lot.” Austin clenches the charm in his hand and looks up to the sky.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Gregg says. “I need a smoke, a shower, and my bed. Text if you need me to bring anything up.”

Austin glances at Gregg with a nod and then looks back at me. “I got everything I need right here.”

I take a deep breath, squeeze his hand, and love the feeling when he squeezes back.

“Gregg,” Austin calls to his best friend as he’s heading toward the door. “Thanks for coming back for me tonight. You could’ve bailed with the rest of the crowd. I really appreciate it, man.”

“That’s what best friends do.” Gregg blushes as he clears his throat and gestures toward the hospital tray to the side of the bed. “Doing some light reading?”

I look over and see a copy of Pride & Prejudice and then eye Austin. That’s not exactly the type of book I thought I’d see him with.

“It was my mom’s. I’m named after Jane Austen,” he says proudly. “Bryce brought it. I think he’s been reading it.”

“Maybe he’s a closet romantic,” I suggest.

Austin looks surprised by my comment.

I merely shrug. “It’s possible.”

“On that note, I’m out.” Gregg walks out the door.

“Love you, man,” Austin calls out.

Gregg waves a hand in dismissal at him as he disappears from sight. I didn’t see Julie in the waiting room when I woke up, so hopefully, she went home to get some sleep.

Looking around the room, I take in the sterile white walls, the machines all around us that are constantly beeping, and the blood pressure cuff that is currently going off on Austin’s arm.

“Don’t look so sad,” he whispers in a ragged breath as he pulls me into him, forcing my body to curl up around his, and I’m careful not to hurt his injured head. “How’s my girl? Are you hurt at all?”

“Don’t worry about me,” I say as I tear up at the thought that he’s going to be okay. “It’s my fault you’re in here. I’m such a Pyle. I shouldn’t have been in the car. I shouldn’t have had your helmet on.”