a light dinner and call it a night to make sure we were both mentally and physically prepared for this morning. Brandon insisted on walking me to my bedroom where he had given me a light, sweet kiss goodnight, then headed to his own room like the gentleman he was.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I had stayed up for hours fantasizing about what might have happened if we continued what we started on the beach. I switched between escalating what happened and imagining what it’d be like to go further with him and over-analyzing the reaction that I got from him. That look of sheer panic when I made the mention of not stopping.
“I wish you had too. You’ll just have to make up for it later,” I whispered, keeping my voice low enough so that none of the staff could overhear.
That was enough to pull a genuine smile out of him, but it faded when Dr. Shaw announced that it was time to put Brandon under. I tried to convey with my eyes all the things I felt before I backed away from him, murmuring a quiet, “I’ll see you soon.”
He nodded and I allowed myself to be ushered out of the room, both saddened and relieved for the fact that I wasn’t required to be present during the actual surgery. My mind began playing my made-up vision of Brandon in the car accident, covered in his own blood and I felt my stomach twist up in knots.
I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer for his well-being before heading down the hall to his bedroom to prepare everything I’d need to tend to him during the period of his bedrest and go over the packet of instructions again.
He’ll be fine. Dr. Shaw is the best money can buy. Everything will be fine.
----
S ix hours of busying myself with anything I could find that needed to be tidied, cleaned, or read, Dr. Shaw found me waiting by what was soon to be Brandon’s bedside. I stood up immediately, feeling like I was stuck in quicksand while I waited for him to say anything.
After a moment, his face lit up in a triumphant smile as he declared, “The surgery was a success. He’ll be out for another two hours then heavily sedated, but everything went perfectly.”
I let out a gust of breath so strong that I could have been holding it for the past six hours and plopped back down on the chair. After I was sure Shaw was out of range, I buried my face in my hands and let the happy tears of relief finally fall.
Chapter 12
A few hours after the surgery was completed, I found myself checking the IV bag at Brandon’s bedside while I waited for him to awaken. Dr. Shaw and a few others were still lingering around in the house for the very same reason, adamant on making sure he was stable before they even began to break down the makeshift surgery suite. Their attentiveness made it very clear to me that Brandon had been right when he’d said Shaw was the best.
After I wrapped up triple-checking that everything was in place, I plopped down on the nearby chair and, as if on cue, I could see Brandon beginning to stir. I moved as fast as I possibly could, quickly glancing down to see his eyelids fluttering and confirm that he really was waking up before I rushed to the door to call out for the doctor.
By the time his lids fully opened, Shaw was rushing into the room and placing a hand on his shoulder to stop the automatic reflex of sitting up.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Jensen?”
Brandon let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a sigh before jerking his chin up and down. When Shaw waved me over to join them, I immediately reached for the water and gently assisted him in taking a swallow. Once he’d had enough, Shaw repeated his question.
“I’m great ,” he slowly drawled.
Shaw and I chuckled and shared a knowing glance.
“I’m happy to hear that you’re feeling well, but I need you to remember to stay as still as possible, do you understand? Do not risk damaging the stitches.”
“Mmkay,” Brandon sleepily murmured before his eyelids began to droop.
Shaw’s spine
I didn’t want to admit it, but I had stayed up for hours fantasizing about what might have happened if we continued what we started on the beach. I switched between escalating what happened and imagining what it’d be like to go further with him and over-analyzing the reaction that I got from him. That look of sheer panic when I made the mention of not stopping.
“I wish you had too. You’ll just have to make up for it later,” I whispered, keeping my voice low enough so that none of the staff could overhear.
That was enough to pull a genuine smile out of him, but it faded when Dr. Shaw announced that it was time to put Brandon under. I tried to convey with my eyes all the things I felt before I backed away from him, murmuring a quiet, “I’ll see you soon.”
He nodded and I allowed myself to be ushered out of the room, both saddened and relieved for the fact that I wasn’t required to be present during the actual surgery. My mind began playing my made-up vision of Brandon in the car accident, covered in his own blood and I felt my stomach twist up in knots.
I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer for his well-being before heading down the hall to his bedroom to prepare everything I’d need to tend to him during the period of his bedrest and go over the packet of instructions again.
He’ll be fine. Dr. Shaw is the best money can buy. Everything will be fine.
----
S ix hours of busying myself with anything I could find that needed to be tidied, cleaned, or read, Dr. Shaw found me waiting by what was soon to be Brandon’s bedside. I stood up immediately, feeling like I was stuck in quicksand while I waited for him to say anything.
After a moment, his face lit up in a triumphant smile as he declared, “The surgery was a success. He’ll be out for another two hours then heavily sedated, but everything went perfectly.”
I let out a gust of breath so strong that I could have been holding it for the past six hours and plopped back down on the chair. After I was sure Shaw was out of range, I buried my face in my hands and let the happy tears of relief finally fall.
Chapter 12
A few hours after the surgery was completed, I found myself checking the IV bag at Brandon’s bedside while I waited for him to awaken. Dr. Shaw and a few others were still lingering around in the house for the very same reason, adamant on making sure he was stable before they even began to break down the makeshift surgery suite. Their attentiveness made it very clear to me that Brandon had been right when he’d said Shaw was the best.
After I wrapped up triple-checking that everything was in place, I plopped down on the nearby chair and, as if on cue, I could see Brandon beginning to stir. I moved as fast as I possibly could, quickly glancing down to see his eyelids fluttering and confirm that he really was waking up before I rushed to the door to call out for the doctor.
By the time his lids fully opened, Shaw was rushing into the room and placing a hand on his shoulder to stop the automatic reflex of sitting up.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Jensen?”
Brandon let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a sigh before jerking his chin up and down. When Shaw waved me over to join them, I immediately reached for the water and gently assisted him in taking a swallow. Once he’d had enough, Shaw repeated his question.
“I’m great ,” he slowly drawled.
Shaw and I chuckled and shared a knowing glance.
“I’m happy to hear that you’re feeling well, but I need you to remember to stay as still as possible, do you understand? Do not risk damaging the stitches.”
“Mmkay,” Brandon sleepily murmured before his eyelids began to droop.
Shaw’s spine
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