Indestructible: Reinforced

Chapter 68

Chapter Sixty-Eight

     September 2012

     Present Day

     Josh and I went back to the hospital, and I kept my hands in the front pockets of my hoodie as we stood and talked to Mom and Dad when we bumped into them on our way to Avy’s room. Josh wanted to ask Dad for my hand in marriage. I kept saying it was medieval and that we were in the twenty-first century, and that it was redundant because he’d already asked me, but he wouldn’t have any of it. I kept mocking him for it, but I secretly liked it.

     I wanted to let Avy in, so that she’d have time to get ready to back me up if Dad said no and made it difficult. And I really hoped she wouldn’t mind, I didn’t want her to think I was stealing her thunder, it was all just bad timing.

     Josh and I finally got away from my parents and we headed to Avy’s room. Drake was just leaving it, and he smiled at us as he closed the door behind him. “Don’t you look too happy to be coming to a hospital?”

     I squeezed Josh’s hand and tried not to grin too much. “Just happy baby Chris is here with us.”

     “Yeah, I’ll bet.” He narrowed his eyes at us as he walked past as and headed down the corridor. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s why you’re happy this morning.”

     I blushed and knocked on the door. Josh bent before I opened and whispered in my air. “Soon enough we won’t be fornicating.”

     I smacked his arm and pushed open the door. Avy was brushing her hair and she beamed at us when we walked in. “Hello, you two.”

     “How are you, mama?” Josh kissed her on the cheek and sat down on the chair. He pulled me onto him and I settled on his lap. There weren’t any other chairs around, but I doubted he’d have let me sit anywhere else even if there’d been. “Feeling better?”

     “Wish I could leave.” She sighed and looked around her. “I don’t like hospitals.” She looked back at us. “Jake came to see me a little while ago.”

     My news could wait. This was juicy stuff. “And what happened? How much damage did you cause to the poor fellow?”

     “None.” She shook her head. “I’ve gone soft, Gaby. I cried and we hugged and I forgave him. After asking for Drake’s permission of course.” She scowled. “Since when have I become that person? Why can’t I be badass again?”

     “People grow.” Josh said in a calm voice in mock-wisdom. I giggled and he wrapped his arms around my waist. “You’ve learned to let go of all the angst and the pain that you’ve been holding within-no, this sucks. You’ve gone soft, yeah.”

     Avy laughed. “You’re awfully chipper for a guy who didn’t get much sleep and had his ass dragged to a hospital first thing in the morning.” She narrowed her eyes at us. “A quickie in the bathroom?”

     “No.” I blushed. “But, we have some news. And I really don’t mean to spring this on you right now. I mean, it’s your day and all, but-“

     “Just tell me.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Please, I’d really love it if someone took some of the attention away, I’m really not in the mood to be under scrutiny.”

     I sighed in relief. “Well, in that case,” I tucked a strand of hair behind one ear and shifted so that Avy could see Josh as well, I curled my arm around his neck and smiled at hm. “Josh proposed.”

     Avy gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh my God!”

     “And I said yes.”

     She gasped again and clapped her hands infront of her face. “Oh, this is the best news ever!” She hopped off the bed and spread her arms. “Oh, I’m so happy!”