“Oh, yes. So many men,” she continues to joke, unaware of the chaos in my mind. “Practically an orgy. Just imagine how disappointed I was when I woke up in an empty bed.” She keeps a straight face with only a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

“Must’ve been heartbreaking.” I mask my fear with humor. As long as she’s bantering with me, nothing is over. “So, that’s why you staggered over here? Trying to make your dream a reality? Should’ve grabbed some male nurses while you were out there.”

Another lip quiver, but she doesn’t break yet. “Darn. See, this is why I need you, Ben. How else am I going to plan a proper orgy?”

This conversation is so ridiculous, but when she says she needs me, I get a heady rush. Maybe that wasn’t part of the joke.

“I’m at your service. Anyway, I don’t really care what got you in here. I’m just enjoying the view.”

Holly’s hair is pulled up into a messy bun with random strands coming loose and falling around her face. She’s got on a shapeless hospital gown with a robe thrown over it that she’s left untied. In the faint light of the medical equipment, her skin glows an eerie blue.

And she’s so beautiful that it makes my bones ache.

Holly sticks her tongue out at me before sighing. “Yeah, yeah. I’m a sight; I’m sure.”

“You are.” I drag my lips across her knuckles again. “I call this look Sexy Hospital Holly.”

Her free hand covers her mouth, but I can still see her eyes crinkle and hear her snort of laughter. Got her.

“You’re weird.” She shakes her head and reaches out to finger-comb some hair off my forehead. “I love it.”

“I love you.”

Her hand pauses, hovering so close to my skin that the heat of it is a touch itself. She stares down at me, and again, I wonder if she heard.

It felt so good to say; I don’t mind repeating myself.

“I tried to tell you before the surgery, but you’d already passed out. So, I’m saying it again. I love you, Holly. I know I messed up and that you might not trust me right now, but I promise, if you give me another chance, I’ll never lie to you again. Starting now by telling you that I’m so in love with you that I’m happy my kidneys failed. I’m grateful. Because, without that happening, you never would’ve come into my life. And the idea of not knowing you hurts worse than any of this.” I nod at the machines before locking my gaze on hers.

Holly’s teeth sink into her bottom lip while she contemplates me. A moment passes, and then a smile breaks out across her face.

“I thought I’d dreamed you saying that.” She caresses my cheek before leaning down to give me a light kiss. “I love you, too.” Those priceless words come out in a whisper against my skin before she leans away to gaze at me with shining eyes.