Songbird(39)

She was sliding. Endlessly. No handholds. No way to hang on.

Chapter Seventeen

When Emily opened her eyes, she knew something wasn’t right. It was too quiet, too peaceful, and there was no pain. She wasn’t even lying down, but then after glancing down, she wasn’t exactly standing either.

For the love of God¾literally¾don’t let this be one of those out of body experiences people talked about when they died.

A chuckle had her whipping around, well, as much as one could when she had no sense of physical being.

Sean. Standing there with a big ole smile on his face, worn jeans—his favorite pair—boots and a threadbare T-shirt. Looking just as gorgeous and as full of life as he’d ever looked.

“You’re not dead, Emmy,” he said.

“Sean,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes. Her nose stung, and her throat ached.

“Hey, love,” he said in a husky voice. “Still causing trouble, I see.”

She smiled through her tears and then threw herself into his arms.

Oh it was the best feeling in the world. It wasn’t a dream. She could feel his arms around her when she thought never to feel them again. He even smelled just like he always did.

She pulled away and looked up into his eyes. “Kiss me.”

His mouth lowered to hers. This was a gift like none she’d ever expected to receive. How many times had she begged God for just one more time in Sean’s arms? One more chance to tell him how much she loved him and how much she missed him.

“I love you,” she whispered into his mouth.

He gripped her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing a pattern over her skin. “I love you, Emmy. I’ve always loved you. Now we need to have a talk.”

She groaned. “Don’t spoil things. I don’t want to talk. I just want to be with you.”

His eyes were so serious. He cupped her cheek and held her face between his hands.

“Taggert and Greer need you, Emmy.”

She shook her head, only focused on the miracle of seeing—of talking—to Sean again. How could she even think of leaving him?

“I had three wonderful years with you, Songbird. Three years I’ll cherish for eternity. I don’t regret anything. You weren’t to blame for my death.”

She looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Emmy, look at me.”

She raised her gaze again, overwhelmed at the love and understanding she found in his eyes.

“You weren’t to blame. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was my time. It’s not your time.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“I’ll always be with you. Wherever you are, I’ll be.”

She rested her head on his chest, savoring the connection to him that time and his death hadn’t erased.

“I love you.”

His hands slid over her back and into her hair. “I love you too. Always. Taggert and Greer love you. They always have even if they wouldn’t admit it. They need you, Emmy. They can’t lose us both.”

He tilted her head back up so she looked at him again.

“I’ll never leave you. Do you know that? I’m always here.”

Tears slipped rapidly down her cheeks as she stared wordlessly up at him.

“I don’t want to say goodbye,” she choked out.

He smiled. “Then don’t. Say you love me and then go back. I’ll be waiting for you. When it’s your time, I’ll be there.”

“Oh Sean. I do love you so much.”

She threw her arms around him and held on desperately. This time…this time she knew she wouldn’t see him again until it was her time.

“I know, Songbird. I know. I never doubted for a moment that you loved me. Now go. Taggert and Greer are worried. They’re scared of losing you, and you’ve been a very difficult patient.”

He smiled a little as he said it and stroked her cheek with one finger.

“Do one more thing for me.”

“Anything.”

“Sing.”

She swallowed then nodded. Sean leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She closed her eyes and basked in his love. When she opened them, he was gone.

Chapter Eighteen

They wouldn’t leave her alone, and it was seriously pissing her off. She’d been poked and prodded in places that didn’t bear mentioning. Awareness was slow to come and with it the realization that Sean was no longer holding her, kissing her.

She retreated from that reality and let herself be surrounded by the beckoning fade.

“Goddamn it, Emily, don’t you dare leave me. You fight, damn it. Don’t you f**king give up.”

Greer. What was he doing here? And why was he so angry with her? It wasn’t like she shot herself.

They need you, Emmy.

Sean’s gentle reminder echoed softly in her fragmented mind.

She sighed, or at least she thought she did.

“Emily, I swear to God, I’m going to kick your ass.”

She smiled. She couldn’t help it. So like Greer to threaten to kick her ass if she died on him. Where was Taggert? Wasn’t like him to miss out on a chance to snarl and bellow.

“Emily, please. Fight, baby. Don’t leave us.”

Ah there he was. He sounded… She flinched away from the grief she heard in his voice. He thought he’d already lost her. Just like he’d lost Sean.