Without a Hitch(106)

“The doctor said your throat would hurt for a while from the tube they stuck down there.”

I slide my gaze to hers. “How long?”

“Have you been here?” she clarifies, so I nod. “Three days.”

“What…”

“Happened? I really think I should get a doctor.” I squeeze her hand and shake my head no just as I tip my face closer to the bottle for another drink. “Well, I’m probably going to get this wrong, but from what I understand, it’s like appendicitis gone wrong. There was a tear, some yucky stuff tried to leak into your guts, and you got a bad infection. They think your little bender held off the pain you would normally feel with something like this, and that made it so much worse. It all happened so fast.

You—You could have died, Lochlan. When you collapsed at the gala, I thought I’d lost you.”

She breaks down then, and I move to reach for her and have to stifle an agonizing groan when I twist. It feels like shards of glass are cutting me open. The only thing more painful is watching the sadness in Tilly’s expression. For me. She cares so much. It’s all there on her face.

She uses her sleeve to wipe her eyes and nose. It’s bloody disgusting and simultaneously makes me want to kiss her entire face.

“Don’t move,” she admonishes. “You had emergency surgery, and you still have some sort of drain sticking out of your belly to help get rid of the infection. If we hadn’t gotten you here…” She breaks off and tugs her hand free so she can press the heel of each hand into her eyes. I almost laugh at the realization that she’s physically trying to hold in her tears to protect me, but then I see it.

My ring. My grandmother’s ring. On her finger.

“You said yes?” My tone is full of the awe I’m feeling but also sadness that I don’t remember the event. My princess who dreams of weddings all day and night deserves the most epic of proposals.

She freezes and slowly, almost comically, lowers her hands. That’s when I notice she’s shaking her head no.

“You said no?” I lick my lips as panic clutches my chest. She said no? Why is she wearing the ring?

“Oh, god! I’m so sorry. No, Lochlan. You didn’t ask.” She starts twisting the band like she’s in a panic to rip it off.

“Stop.” At least I can still make demands.

But she doesn’t even pause. “Oh, shit. It’s stuck. I’m so sorry. I’ve been living on coffee and donuts. Then your dad brought Taco Bell last night.” She pauses and flashes a devastating smile. “I thought he was too posh for Taco Bell, but that man housed fourteen tacos. Fourteen!”

A mixture of a chuckle and a groan shakes my shoulders but nearly splits my stomach in two. “He loves that shit.”

She goes back to manically trying to get the ring off. “Maybe if I soak my hand in some ice?”

“Tilly.” She searches for the ice bucket. “Tilly.” A grin grabs hold of my entire body when she doesn't stop. “I love you.”

The ring pops off and flies across the room, followed quickly by a red-faced Tilly. “Oh my God.

Oh my God. Where did it go?” She’s on her hands and knees, crawling across the floor, and I can’t contain the laughter even though it hurts.

“I’m supposed to be the one down on one knee, darling.”

Her chin drops, and she pushes back to rest on her heels. “What?”

“Come here.” I lift the arm that doesn’t have wires sticking out of it and wave her over.

Very gracefully but very hesitantly, Tilly pushes to her feet and crosses the room. Her eyes flash when she spots the ring and dives to pick it up. When I don’t immediately say anything, she starts blabbering with the ring held tightly between her fingers.

“Your mother stuck this on my finger so I could ride to the hospital in the ambulance. Then she made me keep it on so I could stay in here with you. Then your dad told me to keep it on so it didn’t get lost. Then Nova made me keep it on in case anyone questioned our relationship. Then…”

“Then I asked you to keep it on.” My words are losing power behind them, but they still pack the punch I’d intended.

“What?” she gasps.

“My memory is still a bit fuzzy, but I remember your promise. I remember that you were willing to give up your biggest dream so we could have a chance. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.

But the problem is, I can’t let you do that. Love shouldn’t come with restrictions. I know that now.

And the truth is, I want you tied to me. I want you to be my decision-maker when I can’t do it. I want you to be my partner in life, in love, and in business.”

Tilly shakes her head, but I push on with a shaky voice. “I had that ring in my pocket because my parents knew something it took a little longer for me to figure out.”

“They did?”

“They did. They knew I was already hopelessly in love with you, and when I could get out of my own way, I’d need to make you mine as soon as humanly possible. So, I’d like you to wear it, but not as an engagement ring. It’s my promise to you that one is coming someday soon. When I can do it properly and give you everything your romantic heart has ever desired.”

“You want to promise yourself to me? Lochlan, we should talk about this when you’re feeling better. There’s so much we need to discuss. So much I need to know…”