Page 44 of Silver Linings
“Hey, Lil,” Gunner sighed as he sank into the chair next to her bed. He scrubbed his hand down his face, the rough stubble of his beard scratching at his skin. There hadn’t been time since Sage was born to shave it. “Jesus, you scared me bad. You’re not allowed to hide being sick from your husband. Don’t you remember saying in sickness and health? Stop being so damn stubborn.”
Her hand was warm as he slipped his fingers under hers. She was wearing the silicone band he’d given her at their courthouse wedding, and he absentmindedly ran his thumb across it.
“S-sorry.” Her slurred voice had his eyes jumping to her face.
“Lily? God, how are you feeling?”
“Sick.” Her face pinched and her eyes stayed shut. “It’s burning.”
“I’m so sorry. I should have seen something was wrong.”
“Dizzy.”
“Shh. Just try to rest.”
“Help me.” The whispered plea shredded him.
How? How was he supposed to help her? He had no clue, and he hated that feeling. Gunner placed one hand behind Lily’s shoulders and the other under her knees, lifting her while being cautious of the equipment she was hooked to. He slightly shifted her placement on the bed and climbed on next to her. She turned to him, her hand resting on his chest while her head snuggled into his shoulder.
“Is this okay?”
“Better,” she whispered, “Take care of her if I?—”
“Don’t even say it.” He wrapped his arms tighter around her. “You’re going to be just fine, Lil. And I’m going to take care of the both of you.”
Gunner felt her melt even more into him, and the fear strangling his heart released a fraction of its hold.
“It was nice of Gia to go get my prescription, but I still don’t understand why she had to take Sage with her,” Lily said as Gunner pulled his truck into the driveway. She was so happy to be home, but feeling weirdly dissociated from everything she’d been through since Sage’s birth.
“Because I need to get you settled and make sure you’re doing okay. You heard how excited Gia was for girl time with Sprout. It’s good for Sage to spend time with her before we leave.”
“She’s only a week old, Gunner. She’s not supposed to be out in public.”
“And she won’t be. Gia’s going through the pharmacy drive-thru. You think I really wouldn’t make sure she understood that before I let her take Sage?”
Gunner made his way around the truck and opened her door.
“You don’t always have to get my door for me, you know that, right?” she asked.
“I may not have to do it, but I always will.”
When he reached in to undo her buckle, she grabbed his arm.
“I’m so sorry my health messed up the move.”
“Lily, stop. So it pushed our trip to Texas back a few weeks. I’m okay with that, as long as both my girls are here to go with me. I don’t want to make that trip with just Sage.”
Before she could respond, Gunner had his arms under her legs and behind her back, carrying her up towards the house.
“Put me down,” she squirmed.
“You heard the doctor,” Gunner said, grinning widely. “I’m supposed to take care of you. So stop being so damn stubborn and let me.”
“I’m not being stubborn. It’s good for me to be up and walking around a bit.”
“No can do.”
Lily sighed and tightened her grip on his neck. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach, which they had absolutely no business doing as Gunner opened the front door and carried her in.