Page 83 of Embraced in Ink

She wanted him to be here. She wanted to tell him what she felt, wanted to know what he was feeling. She understood the need to give each other space. Right this very moment was the only time she had been in a room with a single person since the attack, and she had woken up in the hospital, dazed and calling for Marcus.

Her brothers had been there, telling her that Marcus had been in the waiting room, along with his parents, and had waited to hear that she was okay and was waking up before he left, giving her family the short time period that they had in the room with her.

He still hadn’t been by the house. And she couldn’t blame him for that. Things were complicated, and she didn’t even know if her brothers would let him in. They had been overprotective to the point where no one was allowed in, not even her agent or her manager.

Everyone was allowed to call her or text, but even Liam had stepped in and taken calls for her.

And while she had appreciated that, she kind of needed to do it on her own, as well. The Montgomerys, however, were known for being overprotective.

And she was a bit grateful for the time to think.

However, she missed her best friend. And she really wanted him back.

In her heart, in her soul, with her.

“Thinking about him again?” Zia said, her voice soft.

Bristol looked up at her friend and smiled softly. “Yeah, I guess I am. Why isn’t he here?” she asked, the words out of her mouth before she’d even thought about it.

Zia shrugged. “I think he’s giving you space and time to heal.”

“I could do that with him here.”

“Could you? Could you have truly figured out exactly what you needed and heal your heart and your body while stressing out and wondering what was going on between you?”

“That’s stupid. I’m stressing out now, wanting him here. Before this happened, he would’ve been the first person by my side, holding my hand.”

“Maybe. But it did happen. And you guys are in a different place now. Even though you said you didn’t want that, you are. And you have to face that.”

“But why isn’t he here?”

“He didn’t cut off communication completely. He didn’t leave you in the lurch. He’s giving you the time and space you need to heal, as I said. He’s not making this about himself. And I admire that.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Because you need to make sure you know exactly what you want before you give in to your next temptation with him.”

“I don’t know what I want.”

“Exactly. So, figure it out. Figure out exactly how you’re going to tell him you love him from the bottom of your heart. That way, you can both fall for each other, and everything will be fine.”

“I wish I could believe that.”

“I have to believe in happily ever afters. I have to believe in your happily ever after. Because if I don’t? Well, then I don’t really like my chances at all. And I’m quite self-centered, making this all about me.”

“There’s nothing self-centered about you, Zia.”

“That’s not what I hear,” she mumbled, but then gave Bristol a look, and Bristol didn’t comment on it. Zia needed time, and frankly, the other woman was right. Bristol needed hers, as well.

Bristol fell asleep soon after, needing time to heal, and she woke up a couple of hours later with Zia tucking her in and brushing her hair back from her face.

“Hey, sleepyhead, your blanket fell. I was just fixing it. And...” Zia trailed off.

“And what?”

“Your phone went off when you were sleeping.”

Bristol sat up and winced. “Ouch. I keep forgetting.”