Not the Rebound Guy by Abby Knox (popular books of all time .txt) 📗

recovery and keep your mind off waiting to hear more from the doctor.”

I nod my head and open my mouth to speak, but the only thing that comes out is a sob.

“Hey,” he says. “Did I shock you?”

I try to answer, but I have no words. I think the panic has settled down, and now I’m just worried and sad and grateful. I nod my head, then shake my head as he hands me a tissue. I blow my nose. He pulls me into his lap.

“Hey. It’s okay. It’s scary stuff. Come here.”

I don’t want Grams to hear me cry; I have no idea if she’s in there and can hear us. I have to get it under control.

But something about being in Garrett’s arms makes me let all control go. I throw my arms around his shoulders and sob into his flannel shirt, my tissue already having disintegrated with use.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I say when I finally let all the crying out. The tears still come, but I’m at least able to speak.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he says, stroking my back.

The last thing I remember before surrendering to sleep is Garrett lifting me up and moving me over to the recliner, never making me let go of Grams’ hand.

I didn’t say it then, but that’s when I knew. That’s when I knew I loved this man.

Chapter Sixteen

Garrett

I sit across from my two favorite women in case one of them wakes up and needs anything. Watching Eliza, I notice how her forehead is tense even in her sleep. I wish I could take all this stress away from her to let her sleep.

Grams is going to be okay. Not because I’ve been through this before and not because I have any knowledge of medicine, but I just believe it. I’m a believer. She’s a fighter, and Eliza is a fighter, and I would die for both of them. If I did, I’m sure Eliza would revive me just to kill me again for putting myself in harm’s way, but that’s the way it is.

I love this woman with all my heart. In such a short time, I’ve come to know her so well so fast. There’s still a lot more to learn and a lot more to explore with her. I want to take her away and explore the whole world with her. I want to wake up with her in my arms and make love to her every night. I want to be with her through the rough patches, and I want to love her through all of it.

I just have to pick the right time to tell her. Of course, I can’t tell her these things while her Grams is sick in the hospital. Right now, we have to focus on helping Grams in any way we can.

I leave shortly before sunrise to go home and tend to the animals. I come back with breakfast biscuits and a jar of my own honey, and my guitar.

While they sleep, I strum out a new song.

Chapter Seventeen

Eliza

I wake to the smell of coffee, fresh bread, and the gentle sounds of strumming.

My eyes open, and Garrett is right there, facing me, picking quietly on his guitar, waiting for me to wake up.

“Good morning,” he says solemnly, making a move to set down his guitar.

“Good morning. No, don’t,” I say. “It’s nice to hear instead of these awful machines.”

He gently plays a song I don’t recognize, and I take a look at Grams. I could be mistaken, but I feel a gentle squeeze.

“Keep playing. I think she hears you,” I say. She squeezes again.

“Grams, do you hear me? Do you hear the music?”

Nothing, then. Just quiet breathing.

The nurse comes in then with the doctor and tells me they believe she can breathe on her own now, which is the good news. The bad news is, they’ve gotten tests back and determined that she’ll need surgery today. They also advise us to step outside while they remove the oxygen tube.

Garret brings the coffee and food into the waiting area outside after the doctor finishes explaining things to me.

“Don’t you have a job to get to?” I ask Garrett, weakly teasing.

“It’s Sunday,” he says. “And anyway, this is my job. You’re my job right now.”

I look at him. “You’re going to make me cry again.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I appreciate you so much.”

“Believe it or not, the animals and you are all I need.”

He lets me finish eating half a biscuit, which is all I can stomach at the moment, then asks if I’ve called my mom yet.

I take a deep breath. “I knew that was coming. I should probably do that now.”

“You want me to call her for you?”

I puff out a laugh, feeling fortified by the biscuits and coffee. “No. If some guy randomly calls her on my phone, she’s just going to have more questions, and I’m already tired. I’ll call her.”

Garrett holds my hand while I make the call.

To my surprise, Mom answers right away. “Eliza, it’s 7 a.m. on a Sunday.”

“Yes, it is. Mom, listen. Grams had a stroke.”

“What!? Where is she? What hospital? Oh my god. Are you there? What happened? What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything, what is that supposed to…wait. No.”

I literally stop myself from rising to whatever accusations she might be making right now. She might just be speaking off the cuff in a panic.

“Mom, can you come?”

“How serious is it? I mean, of course, I’ll come. What kind of a daughter do you think I am? You think I wouldn’t come to be with my mother when she’s sick?”

“That’s not what I said. Calm down.”

Garrett squeezes my hand, and I press his back.

“Tell me everything.”

“Grams went to Bunco, and then Linda came to find me and said she had one drink and then started saying she wasn’t feeling great and decided to sit down. Then she had a stroke.”

Mom asks more medical-related questions—deeply technical ones I can’t answer. “I don’t