Tiffany:
I blinked a few times, emerging from the veil of anesthesia. Scanning the room slowly, I saw lots of balloons, flowers and a giant stuffed animal like the frog one I had tried to win at the carnival, but cuter. My head felt heavy, and I was rather groggy. So my reaction wasn’t very quick when Harry’s face swam into view.
“Hey, baby. How do you feel?”
“Tired.” My throat felt dry, and it wasn’t easy to speak. Harry poured me a glass of water and held my head so I could take a few sips. Newly rehydrated, I tried to speak again. “Did it happen yet?”
Harry put the water down and took my hand in his, then stroked my hair with his free hand. “Yes. Dr. Russel said it was a huge success. Looks like you’ll be on that stage after all.”
I offered a soft smile. I was too tired to smile bigger. “Is Mom here?”
“Yeah, she went to the cafeteria. Want me to go get her?”
“No, stay with me a bit longer.” My eyelids felt heavy.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?” I asked as I closed my eyes, hearing Harry respond as he squeezed my hand.
“Promise.”
I must have dozed off because when I woke up the second time, Harry was no longer holding my hand, Mom was. “There’s my brave girl!” My mom said like I was back in kindergarten again and got a vaccination shot without crying. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here before.”
“That’s okay. Harry was with me.” Feeling far less groggy, I tried to sit up. Mom adjusted a pillow and raised the bed so I’d be more comfortable. I looked around the room, hoping Harry was seated in the corner, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“He’ll be back soon. I sent him to get some real food. The cafeteria doesn’t have much. It was the first time he’s left your side since the surgery.”
“Oh,” I said softly, hoping my mother wouldn’t find our affection to be too overbearing.
“He’s great, Tiff. I think you complement each other nicely.” I knew she meant it and realized that although my mother had failed attempts at love, that didn’t mean she didn’t want it for me.
“Thanks, Mom.” I smiled, feeling what Brit referred to as that nauseating love feeling. It meant so much to have people want me to be with Harry.
“He was telling me about all the restaurants he wants to apply to. They’re all in New York.”
“Yeah,” I said softly, absorbing what she was saying. “So, I guess I’ll have to visit a lot on the weekends. Don’t change my room to an office any time soon.”
“Tiffany. Come on. You had the surgery. It’s time to come home, for good.”
“No. I’m one year away from graduating. I can’t move back yet.”
“Tiffany, you have your knee back! You don’t need to waste time in business classes. You have real talent!”
“Mom… I watched the DVD you gave me. I know what you see when I dance. But this is my life, and I have to do things my way. I will go back. But let me have one year to get my degree and walk down that aisle before I return to the stage. I want to look back and say I did it all. I’m not staying here for Harry. I know he’s applying for jobs in New York, and I’ll only be a few months behind him. Let me have this time because once I step on that stage, I give everything I have to them.”
My mother looked at me thoughtfully then placed a finger beneath my chin, her eyes filled with pride. “When did you become so smart?”
“I had a pretty good role model.”
“But you will come home now, though, right? You’ll stay at home to recover? That was our plan. Dr. Russel already gave me the list of very good rehab specialists.”
I swallowed, knowing this was the best way. The problem was I hadn’t told Harry any of this yet. “Yes, I’m coming home with you. My professors said I could take my finals online so I’m good.”
My mother pursed her lips. “And what about lover boy?”
“What about me?” Harry walked in with two bags of take out, his face lighting up when he saw me awake. “Hey! You look nice and alert!” Harry flashed his dimples at me then turned to my mother. “Claire, I got your grilled chicken wrap, and Tiff, if you’re hungry, I got you a veggie wrap.”
My stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten anything since last night. “With fries?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I think that’s my cue to leave. Harry, thank you. I will dine on this in my hotel room.” She took her bag and gave Harry a hug. “Tiffany, I’ll be back in the morning. Sleep well, my love.” She kissed my forehead and gave me a wink before tossing her purse over her shoulder and walking out the door.
“She likes me,” Harry said, smiling as he opened my container of food and stole a fry. “We’ve been bonding while you were sleeping. I think I have to cook for her next dinner party, but other than that we’re golden. What were you guys talking about?”
I pushed out a breath, a lock of blonde hair flying away from my face. “How she wants me to stay with her while I recover.”
“Yeah, I figured you staying with me was a long shot.” He set up my dinner on the tray by my bed. He was quiet, and disappointed, but surprisingly calm.
“So, you’re not mad?”
“Mad? No. In fact, it’s probably for the best.” He shrugged as he folded a napkin, placing it beside the plate of food.
“Why is that?” I asked, feeling my own pang of disappointment. “I thought you were anxious to take care of me.”
“Oh, I am. But my methods of rehabilitation are a bit unorthodox.” He took off his glasses, blew on the lens, and cleaned them using the edge of his shirt, giving me a peek at his taut abs.
“Oh? How so?”
“Well, having been through something similar before, I know how hard it’s going to be for you.” Harry placed his glasses back on and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “That would be an awful lot of temptation in one little apartment.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You can’t have sex for at least four weeks. I asked your doctor.”
I felt my jaw drop. “You did not.”
“Oh, I did. And I was prepared to help heal you… in other ways.” Harry licked his bottom lip and looked at me longingly, making it very clear what he had in mind. “But it’s probably best we resist that temptation as well, and sleep in separate beds for the next month.”
“Harry! You are beyond cruel.”
“No, I’m not.” He sat down beside me on the edge of the bed. “Because it means we’ll have a lot of catching up to do when you’re all better.” He leaned in closer, and a soft moan rumbled in his throat. “And baby, I’m really looking forward to that.” He placed his lips gently against mine, offering me some perspective. Even in a hospital bed, with over a season’s worth of rehab ahead of me, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.
“I love you, Tiffany,” Harry said as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I love you so much that I broke all my rules for you.”