𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

54

Etta Valentine's POV

After I'd woken after yet another nap, I found Miguel already watching me. "Hey sleepyhead."

I smiled after yawning, drinking in the sight of him before tightness bound my gut in recollection of us not being together.

"Hey." I whispered out, moving my fingers against his. Connected just as they were when I woke up from my coma.

I went to sit up, hissing as the tenderness of my fragile body.

Miguel was on his feet immediately. "Do you need the nurse?"

I shook my head as I took the remote for the bed frame and pressed the incline button.

"What time is it?" I whispered, not having to ask Miguel for water as he leant forward and uncapped a bottle for me.

I bowed in thanks as he looked at his phone. "21:00."

My brows raised. "I really fell asleep for that long?"

He chuckled, a sound I didn't know I missed until this very moment. "Yeah. The doctors said it was normal for you to be tired more often. Especially since what you've been through."

I nodded, unsure of what to say or quite frankly, where I stood with him.

"You should've gone home." I said after a while, hating this silence between us.

Miguel shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere E...Not unless you want me to?"

I looked at my lap, feeling guilty for not replying straight off the bat but needing a moment to think.

Did I want him to sit by my bedside? The man who gave me the world, only to say it was all a mistake?

Yes. I did want him by my bedside.

Not because I'm willing to pretend nothing happened. Not because I'm accepting his apologies so quickly. And not because I'm getting back with him.

But because I simply need him.

And whilst he's hurt me beyond measure, I can't deny the way he acts as a medicine to my soul.

"You can stay." I finally said. "Just so long as you don't drool on my hand."

Sensing my offer for natural ground, Miguel smiled. "No promises."

I lifted my knuckles, fist bumping him as a small smile overtook my own lips.

But when Miguel's expression dropped and his features fell into tense lines, I stopped him before he could say what I knew was on his mind.

Because it was on mine.

I cupped his hand. "Don't." His coffee eyes swept over me before I continued. "That's a conversation I don't wanna have just yet, I'm not mentally ready to right now. So for the time being...can we just not put pressure on whatever's left between us? I need you Guel. I need you more than I want to need you. But if you can't-"

"Etts, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'll take whatever you're willing to give me. The fact that you've not kicked me to the curb for the shit I've put you through is more than I deserve so thank you E. I'm sorry, and I'll always be sorry for what I did. But I will always be here, for whatever you may need." Because I love you. I could read on his face.