Page 63 of Restless Ink
Answers to the questions about who could have done this, and if it had, indeed, been done on purpose.
Jesus.
“I’m okay,” Thea whispered.
Dimitri blinked, then looked up at her, wanting to memorize her face all over again. He was afraid he’d lose her if he were away from her for too long. The agonizing wait in the waiting room while the doctors had been working on her had almost killed him. Same as the wait as he’d driven behind the ambulance. Adrienne had ridden with Thea because they were family. But, honestly, Dimitri wasn’t sure if he would have been sane enough to sit next to her and not growl or scream. No one had ridden with Carter as they’d needed the space, but Roxie and the rest of the crew had shown up soon after. Cousins and family from around the state wanted to come down, but so far, they were being held at bay until later. Too many Montgomerys in one place could be a bit much, even for him.
“I almost lost you today.” He held Thea’s hand, playing with her fingers as he tried to formulate his thoughts.
She turned her hand, palm up, and covered his fingers with her own. “I was so scared. So scared about Carter, everything I’ve worked for, and not seeing you again.” She gave him a shaky smile. “But they’re getting me my clothes, and I’m going to be released soon. So, I guess that’s something. We can wait to hear about Carter with the others. I don’t want Roxie to be alone.”
He looked up then, letting out a slow breath. “I love you so damn much, Thea Montgomery. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.” He stood up, leaned over her, and cupped her face. “I know it’s fast, I know everything in the world seems to be pushing us apart, but I don’t care. I love you. I don’t know when I fell, but I know it was soon after landing on you during Twister when we thought we could try to just be friends. Honestly, I probably started to fall when I saw you in the grocery store, afraid you were hurt but finding out you were just pissed off and in need of ice cream.”
She searched his face, and he leaned down, brushing his lips along hers.
“I love you, Thea. I know you might need more time, and I get that. I’ll wait. I’ll always wait for you. But I can’t go another moment wondering if I could lose you again without you knowing how I feel.”
She reached between them, putting her bandaged hand over his lips. “I love you, too.”
He swore his chest was too small for his heart just then. He kissed her fingers, and she lowered her hand. “Say it again.”
She smiled, tears filling her eyes. “I love you, Dimitri. I should have said it before this, you know, but I thought it was too soon, as well.”
“Nothing’s too soon. Not for us.” He kissed her again, careful of the cut on her chin. She was numb now, but he knew it would hurt her soon. “I’m just sorry I waited until we were in the hospital and you were hurt. I wanted to tell you last night, I thought I could finally say the words, but it didn’t feel right. Not with how we just wanted tobe.”
Thea’s uninjured hand came up to his face, cupping his cheek. “I get it. And this moment, right here? I’m going to remember this feeling. Yes, I’m going to remember everything else that happened today, but it’s not going to be all bad. There will be touches of light and warmth in the darkness, and I think that’s what I need.”
He kissed her softly, aware he needed to stop before someone walked in and found them in a compromising position.
“I love you. I’m never going to stop loving you. I thought my path was one thing, but it turns out it was just a curve for me to find you.”
She kissed the corner of his mouth. “Lots of curves and twists for us. And with everything else up in the air, I have a feeling we’re not through with them yet.”
As if on cue, his phone rang, and he closed his eyes, letting out a curse. “That’s Molly’s ring.”
Her face paled. “I know. You should answer. It could be about Captain.”
He looked down at the readout and shook his head. “We need to confront her together about what she’s done, but what if she did more than we think?”
Thea ran her hand over her head and winced since she’d done it with the bandaged one. “Answer anyway. Because there’s just no way Molly had anything to do with the explosion. I mean, that would make her insane.”
Dimitri gave her a look that spoke volumes, but since he didn’t believe Molly knew how to tamper with an oven or would actually do that, he hoped it was all just an accident, and his mind was playing tricks on him.
He answered the phone on the last ring, wishing he’d just let it go to voicemail. “Molly. I’m a little busy right now. What’s wrong?”
He knew something was actually wrong from the first sound of her voice. “Oh my God, Dimitri. It’s Captain. I can’t find him anywhere. I left the door open when I was coming in, and it’s so cold out. Oh my God. What if it snows? I can’t find him, Dimitri. Captain’s gone! Can you come home? Can you come find our boy? Oh God. Captain!”
Molly started wailing, and Dimitri was instantly up, his hand shaking as he tried to force his breathing to slow down.
Shep walked in at that moment, frowning at them, and Dimitri figured his phone’s volume was up high enough that both the other man and Thea had heard Molly’s words.
“Shit. Molly. Calm down. I’m on my way.” She cried some more, and he hung up. “I’m sorry, Thea. I need to go.”
She was already trying to get out of bed, but Shep put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her. “I’m coming, too. They’re signing me out, and I don’t want you to have to go over there yourself. Plus, I love that dog. Captain’s your baby.”
He kissed her softly, ignoring Shep’s warning look. Yeah, Shep’s baby sister had gotten hurt, and he was being overprotective, so Dimitri would let it slide this once. Considering he’d be tearing down the walls if Amelia got hurt, he understood. It was all caveman and would annoy Thea to no end, but he got it. He just wouldn’t say anything about it.
“You need to stay here. Let me find Captain, and you can get signed out. If for some horrible reason I can’t find him by the time you’re cleared, then—and only if you’re rested—you can come.”