Half Empty (First Wives, #2)(62)

“Life only gives you what you can handle, and you’re one tough woman, even with all the feels going on inside your head.”

She let him pull her into his arms. “I’m selfishly glad you’re here,” she told him.

“Me too.”





Chapter Twenty-Three

Wade entered the ICU with Trina for the first time. He’d stayed in the lobby during their previous visits, but since he was Trina’s personal magnet, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

Several of the staff did a double take when he walked in, and a few began to whisper to each other. He smiled and followed Trina.

Outside the door of Avery’s room, Rick filled an uncomfortable chair, with a book in his hand.

“Oh, good,” Rick said as he shook Wade’s hand. “How long do you plan on staying?”

Trina walked into the room, leaving Wade behind. “As long as we need to.”

“I could use half an hour. Jeb said he’d be back by ten for the night shift.”

Wade looked around the busy unit. “They’re okay with this?”

Rick nodded. “They’re used to it. As long as you don’t get in the way.”

“They were strict the first night here. Ten-minute visits at the top of the hour.”

“Avery’s stable now, and we pulled several strings.” Rick stretched. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

Wade took a deep breath, walked into Avery’s room, and forgot his smile.

“Sweet Jesus,” he said under his breath.

Trina had warned him, but he didn’t imagine the blonde pit bull could ever look this bad. The bandages on her face were pristine white, while her skin sported every color of the rainbow.

“At least pretend it’s not that bad,” Avery said as her one unswollen eye landed on him.

He painted on an instant grin.

Avery rolled that same eye.

“Oh, darlin’. What can we do?”

There was a male nurse in the room, putting something in Avery’s IV.

Her voice was muted due to what looked like something stuck up her swollen nose.

“How about a hamburger?”

Wade was ready to call a personal chef.

“No can do. Surgery is scheduled first thing in the morning,” the nurse told her.

“That means I can eat until midnight,” she argued slowly.

“Jell-O and juice.”

“Killjoy.”

“What surgery?” Trina asked.

“I’m getting a nose job.” Avery tried to smile.

“She started bleeding, which is why her nose is packed. The surgeon wanted to get it taken care of tomorrow.”

“Is she ready for that?”

“No,” Avery argued. “But blood tastes like crap, so bring on the fix. I want this over with so I can get out of here and find the bastard who did this and kick their ass.”

Wade smiled at the fight in her.

“I think you’re going to have to stand in line,” Trina said before looking at one of her legs, which was propped up on pillows.

“That will have to wait, then.”

“How is the pain?” Trina asked.

“Better now that they gave me this button.” Avery lifted her one good hand to display said button. She pressed it several times in a row.

The nurse laughed. “You can press it all you want, it will only deliver a small dose every hour.”

“Stupid thing is broken.” Avery let it go in her lap.

“Someone is chatty enough to leave the ICU,” the nurse said.

“As long as the nurses in the next unit are as cute as you,” Avery teased.

“I told you I have a girlfriend.”

“I told you I don’t care.”

Wade was laughing now.

The nurse glanced at him and then Trina. “Yup, she’s not sick enough to stay here.”

“That’s really good news.”

Avery sighed. “Man, I feel like shit.”

“You’re awake enough to tell me that, so I feel better,” the nurse said.

“Masochist.”

“Wade, this is Doug, by the way. I told him I’d introduce you,” Trina said.

Wade stepped forward and extended his hand. The man had to be in his late twenties, maybe early thirties. “My pleasure,” Wade told him. “Thanks for taking such great care of our girl.”

“I’m a huge fan.”

“You’re a masochistic, hamburger denying, cute fan,” Avery corrected.

“That’s more than I got out of her when we first met,” Wade told Doug.

Doug laughed. “I, ah . . . I had my girlfriend bring over my guitar. Any chance I can get you to sign it?”

“Absolutely, bring it out.”

“That’d be awesome. I’ll go grab it. Thanks, Mr. Thomas.”

The professional nurse one minute, fan guy the next, hustled out of the room as if Wade would change his mind.

Avery turned toward Trina. “Did Bernie stop by earlier?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Did I say anything bad?”

Trina patted her hand. “No. You were fine.”

“Remind me to ask how you two met once you’re out of here,” Wade said.