Smiles - Hell Rider's MC #3 -

Chapter 16

Please read.

This chapter isn't even 1000 words long, purely because I wanted to have an update so I could say this.

I've been having a lot of health issues lately. I'm not sure how much longer this book is going to be, I'm going to try and finish it out the way I intended but if this turns out to be a shorter story (shorter than 30 chapters) than that's why. I may come back to it and add more later on, but for now my health has been taking a toll on me and it's been hard to come up with new ideas to write.

I appreciate everyone that has continued to read this story even though the updates are rare. Thank you.
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•SMILES•
The sun on my skin felt lovely, the gentle breeze was greatly appreciated as I rocked slightly back and forth in a hammock outside.

There were a couple set up near some trees, and I had Key help me outside so I could lay in one. I could hear the birds singing, and the leaves rustling with the wind. My eyes were shut but I knew that Key was laying in the other hammock that was next to mine, not wanting to leave my side to make sure that I was okay. He was sweet when he wanted to be.

My body ached, but being outside was clearing the heaviness in my mind bit by bit. As I swayed back and forth slowly with the breeze my eyes were growing heavy, and I tried to fight off sleep for as long as I could before I finally opened my eyes with a sigh.

"What's wrong?" Key asked, lifting his head and scanning over my body to look and see if I was in any visible pain.

I waved him off as I started to sit up. "Just tired. I think going and taking a nap in my bed is better than out here for now," I told him.

Immediately he got down from his hammock and helped me down from the one I was in. The whole way back inside he was behind me making sure I didn't slip and fall, and also opened the door for me once we got there.

"Thank you," I shook my head at him with a small smile and continued on my way to my room.

People stopped to say hi to us as we walked through, a few asking how I was doing. I entertained them for a couple minutes before Key butted in and mentioned me heading to my room to get some rest, and the conversations were cut there. I was thankful for that though, because I could feel my need to lay down growing more and more.

As we made our way downstairs, we walked in a comfortable silence. The sound of my crutches and the faint laughter and chatter from upstairs were really all that you could hear.

I sighed in relief once I saw my bedroom door, ready to take the best nap ever.

Key opened the door for me and waited patiently while I made my way across the room. As I was sitting down he walked over to sit in my desk chair. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together while watching me closely.

There was something about his expression that made me hesitate. There was a glint of something that had me concerned, because it looked an awful lot like regret.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, slowly bringing my legs up onto the bed and stretching out.

He watched me do so for a few moments, then leaned back once I got settled. He sighed.

"How are you... mentally?" He asked hesitantly. He swallowed before continuing. "Are you struggling at all with what happened or with what's currently happening at all?"

I blinked in surprise and looked away, trying to gather my thoughts.

I wasn't really expecting to be asked that question right now. Was I really okay?

I sighed. "Once I'm healed I'll probably want to talk more about what happened. Am I okay right now? No. But I will be. Just thank you for being here for me and choosing to work through the issues we've had versus ditching when it got rough." I paused. "I'll probably need to lean on you a bit literally and figuratively once I'm off crutches because I have a feeling walking is going to be the worst while I'm still healing. Still want to stick around for that?" I smirked, although on the inside I truly wasn't joking around.

Key chuckled, the deep tones of his voice washing over me and causing goosebumps to rise on my arms.

He got up, walking over to my bed and sitting down on the edge next to me. Reaching out a hand, his thumb traced my bottom lip as his palm caressed my cheek.

"You can lean on me anytime you want."

We grinned at each other and I scooted over as best as I could and patted the new empty space beside me in invitation. He gave me a soft smile and got in carefully next to me.

He laid down and propped his head up a little on the pillows, and then reached out his arm towards me.

"Are you in too much pain to cuddle?" He asked, a small smirk on his lips.

I rolled my eyes and slowly laid down on my side, laying my head on his shoulder and throwing an arm over his waist. Surprisingly, for being a buff dude, he was actually very comfortable to lay on.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but it wasn't until I felt his fingers combing through my hair that my body slowly began to relax.

I was almost asleep when I felt Key's arm that was around me tighten slightly before he pressed a feather light kiss to the top of my head. Smiling to myself, I finally let myself fall asleep in his arms.
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If you didn't read my note at the beginning of the chapter, please go back and read it if you're confused as to why this chapter was so short. Thank you.