London Falling (Falling #2)(72)

The phrase ‘long and healthy lives’ sent me to my knees on the cold laminate floor. Collier would live. He wasn’t taken from me. Unlike James, both he and Tripp were spared. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, I chanted over and over again until someone lifted me and helped me into a seat. The scent of cookies surrounded me as I sobbed and shook. The past day’s events came to a head. The two men I loved most in the entire world were going to live.

“He’s going to live,” I choked out.

“Yes, sweet girl. My boy and your friend are strong men with a lot to live for, you being a good reason for my son.”

I looked up into Collier’s deep brown eyes but they weren’t his. They were his mother’s. Eleanor’s smile filled me with light and her touch made my heart beat again. The man I loved was an extension of her and I could feel his presence being so near to her. “I love him,” I admitted.

“Of course you do, sweetie. What’s not to love? My Colly is special indeed.” She pulled me into her embrace. “And look how pretty she is…my boy’s girl. Oh, I hope we get raven haired grands. Wouldn’t that be lovely, Walker,” she addressed Collier’s step-father over her shoulder. It was interesting that she called him by his last name. Maybe it was a British thing.

“Absolutely, dear,” he said in a perfect English gentleman’s response. I was happy to see him in person. Made me certain his heart attack scare was mild. Had to be if he could fly overseas a short couple of weeks after having it.

Fear must really change you. If any other woman in the world hinted to me that I would have children with their son, I might have fainted on the spot. But when this woman said it, I just accepted it. If children were in my future because Collier wanted them, I’d give them to him. As long as he was alive, I’d give him just about anything.



Once I’d cleaned myself up, it was my turn to go see Collier. I let his parents go first because they didn’t get to see him prior to surgery, having just arrived at the hospital from the airport when he went in. I also wanted to get myself together.

Oliver had sorted through my suitcase and found a pair of jeans and a blouse for me to wear. I swear, the man thought of everything. Guess that’s what made him such a good personal assistant to my sister. Hell, I’d bet a great portion of her success was due to that man. He seemed on top of every detail at all times, personal or otherwise.

I made the slow walk to Collier’s room. His sister, Ella and her husband, Ethan had just left. Ethan held onto his wife as she cried, but they both seemed happier after having seen her brother.

I entered silently and sat in the chair next to the bed, clasping his hand in mine. It was cool to the touch so I used my breath and the energy from our hands to warm it. I pressed my lips against the soft skin and silently thanked whoever would listen that this man would be okay. He’d live another day to humor, love, irritate, and cherish me. All the walls I had built around being with him crumbled and slipped away, completely forgotten. After facing losing him forever, I’d do anything to ensure he stayed in my life.

Once I’d looked my fill, touched him enough to send him healing vibes and my love, I decided it was time to see my BFF.

The second I walked around the corner, I knew exactly which room was his. It was the one the laughter and giggles came from. I rolled my eyes and entered.

Tripp’s grin as he saw me was priceless. “Bridge, come join the party. These lovely nurses were keeping me company until you got here. Aspen and Hank just left.”

I shook my head as the two bubbly nurses turned to leave, all smiles, waving at Tripp sexily and swaying their hips to and fro.

“What am I going to do with you?” I asked and sat on the space he left.

“Love me?” he ventured.

“Well yeah, that is a given. How do you feel? Really?” I pointed a brow giving him my serious look, one he knew well after years of friendship and living together.

“Truth?”

“Truth.”

“I feel like I’ve had a man digging inside my body and playing pickup sticks with my organs.”

I laughed and he grinned. “Seriously, it hurts but it’s bearable. I’m not letting them give me much in the way of pain meds aside from Ibuprofen. I’ll deal with the pain,” he said firmly.

“Worried about a relapse?”

He nodded but didn’t say anything. With me, he didn’t have to. I knew his fears. We’d both been dealing with our demons and his were drugs and feeling out of control.

“Tripp, I don’t know how to thank--“

“Bridge, don’t.” He gripped my hand and interrupted me. “You’ve saved me a hundred times over. It seems drastic but Bond is the one for you. He’s made you happier and more alive in the past few months than I’ve ever seen you. I’ve tried to put that happiness on your face. Even when we thought we could cure each other physically, nothing worked. Friendship helped. Caring for one another definitely put a huge dent in the problems in both of our lives but him…“ He paused then shook his head. “He’s the shit, Bridge.”

“Yeah, he kind of is.” I held both Tripp’s hands and kissed each knuckle.

“I want that for you. No one in this world deserves to be happy like you do. You’re the most honest, kind, loving woman I’ve ever known, and he sees it too. He saw it the first moment he laid eyes on you. Hell, remember how you practically jumped him in the street after barely meeting him? That told me the connection between you was like lightening, something that went through the body from start to finish and ended in the heart. I just knew he’d be around for good. The way he has been looking at you, the man is head over heels in love with my girl and I couldn’t f*cking be happier.”