Mine *don't read: being rewritten*

Chapter Twenty-Five

(Riley's POV)

"Hunter, I--"

"Please, just come here," Hunter cuts me off. He opens his arms, but I don't move. "They've been telling me that need rest, but all I really need is you."

I walk over to him, and he grabs my arm. I climb into the bed with Hunter. His arms wrap around me, and he kisses the top of my head.

"I'm sorry."

"No," he says. "I know we need to talk about it, but not now." I nod.

"How long have you been up?" I ask.

"A while. I don't really know why they wouldn't let you in."

"You're gonna be okay, right?" I say quietly.

Hunter chuckles lightly. "Of course I'm going to be okay, Riley Ann."

It's quiet for a few minutes. But it's a very comfortable silence. Hunter is the only person that I can have this kind of silence with. I think he's asleep, but then I feel his lips on my forehead.

"Talk." Hunter pulls me closer so all I can feel is his chest against my back. His arms wrap around my waist; his hands lock on my stomach.

"About what?"

"I don't know. Tell me what I missed." I feel him shrug, and I wish that I could see his face. I bet his eyes are closed because he's really tired right now, even though he would deny that he is. And there's probably a small smile on his lips because he has me back.

I roll over and look up at him. I was right. His eyes are closed and there's a little smile on his face.

"Well," I start, "a boy asked Sammie out, and she said yes. She's going on her first date this Friday." I draw little circles on his chest with my fingertips, right over his heart. "Bryce has been asking about you nonstop." I laugh a little.

"Have you been thinking of me?" He can barely get the words out of his mouth. He bites his lip, his eyes still closed, awaiting an answer.

But I don't answer. He already knows it, and he knows that. So I lean up, and press my lips to his.

"You know the answer," I whisper. Hunter nods.

"Keep going."

I tell him stories from work and stupid little things that Hannah did. I look up at him to see that his entire face is relaxed, and his breathing is even, and I know that he's asleep.

I want to kiss him, but if I move too much, he'll wake up. So I kiss his collarbone and whisper, "I love you, Hunter."

I lay with Hunter - I don't really have any other choice. If I get up, he'll wake up, and I don't want him to. He needs to rest. His doctor comes in after about fifteen minutes.

"You can probably go," she tells me.

"No, I can't."

"Just get up, he'll be fine." She shrugs. She doesn't know Hunter.

"No. Watch." I move over a little bit in the small bed, and Hunter groans, pulling me back into him.

"Don't leave me," he mutters in his sleep.

"I can't get up, because then he'll get up. I've learned from experience."

She laughs. "Okay." She goes back to reading his chart, and leaves a few minutes later.

"Riley Ann, don't go. Please, just wait," Hunter says in his sleep. "Listen to me."

"Okay," I whisper.