Confessions of the Fragile Heart

Chapter 16

I woke up a hospital bed. The bright lights were too much for my eyes at first, but they quickly adjusted. I looked around the simple room. I was hooked up to a heart monitor and an IV. Denver was sleeping next to the bed. He had my hand in both of his. I tried to sit up. A wave of pain surged through my stomach and kept me down where I was. The heart monitor spiked when I moved.

"You shouldn't move; your rib broke and got too close to your lung and Adalyn. They did surgery three days ago," a voice told me. I looked at the door to see Teddy leaning against the door frame. His lip was still a little swollen, but besides that, he looked relatively normal. The heart monitor sped a bit.

"Teddy, you're still here," I whispered hoarsely. Relief swept through me. "Are you okay?" He laughed at me.

"You're the one in the ICU," he smiled slyly. My breath caught in my chest as tears stung my eyes. His expression changed to a serious one. He walked slowly over to the side of the bed that was clear. I remembered the punches that hit his chest. I sat up very slowly. I ignored the pain that entered my chest and successfully sat up. Teddy tried to help me but I waved him off. I released my hand from Denver's hold. I carefully and unsurely lifted Teddy's shirt. My fingers traced his abs and his bruised chest. He sighed and closed his eyes. I traced his sculpted muscles over and over again. His hand finally stopped mine. I pulled my eyes away from his stomach and looked into his eyes.

"Why did you do it?" he asked curiously. My eyebrows pulled together as I frowned. I was confused. "Why did you stop Denver from hurting me again?" He clarified. I blushed and looked at the sheets on the bed. His finger lifted my chin up so I was looking back into his eyes. I opened my mouth to speak when Denver started to stir. I turned my head and looked at him. He was waking up. I looked back to the other side of the bed, but Teddy was gone. He wasn't even in the doorway. I quickly closed my eyes as Denver sat up. After I felt his thumb stroke the back of my hand, I opened my eyes. I immediately regretted it.

"Leana, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," he frantically apologized. I shushed him and closed my eyes again. I heard him stand and leave the room, closing the door behind him. I reopened my eyes and stared at the IV in my arm. It was starting to burn. Sighing, I pressed the button for my nurse. She inserted a liquid in the IV. It cooled the area immediately. She also handed me a glass of water. I gulped it gratefully. The door opened while she was writing something down on a clipboard. My breathing stopped. It was Teddy. I heard the heart monitor spike up. I mentally reminded myself to breath. The nurse laughed softly into her clipboard. Teddy smiled at me. I tried to sit up even more. It hurt but I didn't care. I grimaced. Teddy walked next to me. He looked as if he was about to kiss me, but he stopped and sat down in the chair next to me. I reached my hand out and touched his cheek. He winched a little, but finally rested into my hand. The nurse left and gave us privacy.

"Why did you protect me?" he asked closing his eyes. He looked like he was in pain. I know he needed to hear the truth.

"I couldn't let it happen," I said softly. "Because I... I love you. I couldn't bear to see you hurt." His eyes opened and he looked at me.

"Please, don't ever do that again. Because of me, you got hurt," he muttered quietly.

"It wasn't your fault. It-"

"It was my fault," he interrupted me. I closed my mouth and listened to him quietly. "I shouldn't have come to see you. My parents actually told me to leave immediately, but I convinced them to let me say goodbye. I crossed the line at your house. I shouldn't have... kissed you. I knew Denver was there. I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I'm sorry." He explained. I smiled sadly and shook my head.

"No, I would've been upset if you left without saying goodbye," I mumbled. As much as it hurt, I twisted in my bed so my lips touched his cheek. I snapped back around and clutched my stomach as the pain shot through me again. My breathing increased and I closed my eyes. Teddy grabbed my hand and stroked the back of it. He hit the button for the nurse. She rushed in and sent a clear liquid down my IV. The pain dulled a little. I squeezed his hand lightly. He kissed the back of my hand. The nurses left after they were sure I was okay. I opened my eyes and looked at Teddy. He looked worried.

"You did it again," he shook his head sadly.

"Did what?" I replied confused. He kissed my forehead gently.

"Got hurt because of me," he answered. I smiled softly and shrugged. His face was inches from mine. My smile vanished as I stared into his baby blue eyes. His face got closer. My eyes fluttered. I could feel his breath on my lips. I breathed in the smell of his fruity gum. His lips were centimeters from mine. A light knock at the door jolted me away. Teddy stood and leaned against the wall. Denver walked in a few moments later. I pretended to be just walking up. I struggled to keep my heart rate normal. Denver's eyes flickered over to Teddy and back to me. Denver's face was full of remorse. Teddy looked at me one last time before he left, closing the door behind him.

"He was just saying goodbye you know," I said quietly, looking down at my hands. "He knew you wouldn't be able to stand him much longer, and he didn't want to start anything. So he was coming to say goodbye to me before he left for New York." I looked at him. He sighed and covered his face with his hands briefly before letting them drop.

"I didn't know," he answered truthfully. He didn't look at me right away, but eventually, he looked over to my weak body on the hospital bed. I cocked my head at him as my brows pulled together.

"What were you thinking? Were you thinking at all? Does he make you that mad? I know you don't like him, but you didn't even stop to ask why he was hugging me. Why would you start hitting him in the first place?" I raged. My ranting caused my side to start hurting. I closed my eyes and waited impatiently for the pain to subside. When I finally did open my eyes, Denver looked even more regretful. I knew he was sorry for hurting me. My voice came out low and hurt. "Why didn't you stop?" He sat in the chair beside me and buried his head in his hands.

"I know I shouldn't have," he started.

"Denver, look at me," I ordered. Sighing, he lifted his head.

"I know I shouldn't have... started to hit Teddy. I feel really bad about it. I know I should've stopped, but it's like I wasn't myself. It's like I was outside of my body and watching the whole thing. I meant to stop after the last hit, but you jumped in front of him at the last minute," he finished. "Leana, I am so sorry." I sighed and looked away. What I was going to say next would hurt me.

"Denver, maybe we just need to... take a break for each other for a while," I said with pain weaving through my voice. My eyes were closed. "Denver you've been acting a bit... strange lately. I know Teddy is my fault, but I think Hollywood has affected you." He gave me an empty smile.

"Teddy isn't your fault," he corrected me. "It's hard not to fall in love with you. I don't blame him. I just wish you didn't love him back." After a quick moment of silence, I looked at Denver.

"Denver, do you think we shouldn't have... rushed into things? Maybe we shouldn't have the baby," I said a bit hesitantly. His face contorted in pain.

"If that's what you want," he said barely above a whisper. The disappointment was obvious in his voice. "If you want, we can... put her up for adoption." My hand flew to my stomach. The thought made my head hurt. I quickly shook my head.

"I'm only six months; we still have time to think about it," I said quickly changing my mind. He kissed me gently. He ran his hand gingerly over my stomach. My hand covered his. I looked at his focused face.

"Did you want her at first?" I asked. He looked down at his lap and removed his hand.

"Honestly, no. I didn't want any part of a baby, but then I thought of my mom," he replied. I looked confused. He saw me and sighed. He looked down at his hands. "My mom got pregnant at a relatively early age. When she was 18, she had me. When my dad found out she was pregnant, he bailed. So I never saw him. I didn't want to be the jerk that he was." I rested my hand on his cheek. He looked up at me. I gave him a sad smile. That explained a lot.

"I'm glad you came," I said. He kissed my gently; then more aggressively. The heart monitor spiked. He chuckled softly in my mouth and pulled away. His head cocked as he smiled. He got down on one knee at the side of my bed. I went into shock. Was he about to do what I thought he was?

"Marry me Leana," he smiled. I was too shocked to say anything. My hand flew to my mouth. Tears stung my eyes. I stopped breathing. As embarrassing as it was, I passed out.