Faith (My Misery Muse) (22 page)

“He does love you.”

“I know he says he does, but come on, if Seth
would have looked at you and said let’s get married so I can be a
part of Jaks life, what would you of said?”

“Hmmm, okay I see what you mean, but I
probably would have said yes, because I knew Seth loved me. It
would have been better if Drake would have started with that, but
knowing him he just told you what was going to happen instead of
asking.”

I laughed because, damn, was she spot on.
“Pretty much.”

She shrugged. “I know my brother, just will
you do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Just think about it okay, when he asks
again, think about it?”

“
All right.”

“Okay, let’s go get our girls and put them to
bed.”

Drake

I was working with my physical therapist, he
was helping me get used to crutches and how to maneuver with them
but the cast on my arm was making it really difficult. I knew I
wouldn’t be able to use them much until it came off, but I couldn’t
handle being in a fucking wheelchair all the time either. I knew it
was going to hurt with my ribs and all, but I still needed a way to
be able to do for myself, even though my doctor and therapist
didn’t agree. They decided it would be better to help me now
instead of me hurting myself more later. My doctor said I could go
home, or well, Devi’s, tomorrow morning, I was so happy to be
getting out of this place.

“All right Drake, I’m going to tell you to
try and stay off the crutches as much as possible, and when you do
use them no more than a few minutes, but I know you won’t listen to
me, so I guess I’ll tell your sister.”

“Ah man, come on.”

He chuckled. “Yea, she kinda scares me
too.”

“She doesn’t scare me, but she has this look
like I kicked her damn puppy or something, I can’t say no.”

This caused him to laugh out right. “Oh this
will be easier than I thought.”

“What happened to patient
confidentiality?”

“Well, you gave that up when you signed that
we could discuss all medical care with her.”

“Damn, I should have read that better.”

“
Well, now you’ll know next
time, but I really do hope there isn’t a next time.”

“Yea me, too,” I muttered.

“All right, I’ll see you soon, man.”

“Yea, here in a few weeks, I hope.”

“Yea, we can start on your wrist then.”

“All right, see you later.”

I was lying back in bed when Mags came in
carrying Quinn in her new car seat as well as Cait in hers.

“Where’s Devi?”

She laughed. “Craig stopped her and wanted to
talk to her.”

I groaned. “He’s an ass.”

“He’s a smart ass if he’s doing what I think
he’s doing.”

“Yea, he’s telling her what I can and can’t
do.”

“Good, then you’ll do it.”

“Between you and her I won’t have much of a
choice,” I said and then looked her over, there were dark circles
under her eyes and she was looking pale. “How you doing, baby?”

She put the car seats down and fiddled with
something not looking at me. “Okay”

“Mags, don’t lie to me, how you doing?”

“I’ll be okay, I just need some time.”

I nodded. “Yea, I am sure you do.” I reached
out towards her, “Come curl up with me.”

She stood up and walked over to the bed,
lying down with me and laying her head on my chest. I ran my
fingers through her hair holding her close. I needed this to just
hold her.

“It’ll be okay, honey, and I’ll be home
tomorrow,” I murmured.

Her head jerked up. “You will?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yea, found out this
morning they are going to release me tomorrow.”

She buried her face in my chest.
“Finally.”

We laid there listening to the girls coo and
play with their toys, just enjoying being able to hold each other
after all that had happened was a miracle.

“How's your arm feeling?”

“It’s a little tender, but not too bad.”

“That’s good,” I said staring up at the
ceiling while running my fingers through her hair. “Mags, marry
me.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“You want the real answer?”

“Of course.”

“Because you’ve never asked.”

“I’ve asked you twice.”

“No, you’ve ordered twice, the first was so
you can adopt Quinn. I want you to ask me, because you want me,
because you love me.”

“Ah honey, I do love you.”

“I love you too, Drake, but it would be nice
to be asked.”

“Fine,” I grumbled and then Devi stormed in
and I sighed, what was I supposed to do now?

Chapter 38

Mags

“So why is Drake still coming back here?” I
asked Devi later that night while we worked to get the guest room
on the first floor set up for Drake.

“Because he’s going need help.”

“Yea,” I said slowly.

“All right Mags, let’s say you’re staying
with him, how are you going to hold him up to shower, and basically
shower him at the same time?”

“I have no idea.”

“Exactly, this way Seth, X, Eli or Sam will
be here to help hold him up; you can’t do it all.”

“Fine, I see your point.”

“Good, glad someone does,” she muttered.

I knew she was still angry with Drake about
pushing himself too far too fast, also they had a big blow out
about him having to come to her place instead of going home. I
understood him wanting to go home, I was missing my little house
too, but I didn’t know if I would ever be able to sleep there
again.

“So have you found out what’s been going on
with Jules?”

“Nope, and she hasn’t been to work in a
week.”

“Really?”

“Yea, I’m starting to get really
worried.”

“What does Cris say?”

“He told her that he was there if she needed
to talk and then gave her her vacation time.”

“Sounds like Cris.”

“Yea,” she growled.

“What’s going on?”

She sighed. “The shop isn’t doing well.”

“Why?”

“People aren’t getting tattoos right now, so
it’s difficult.”

“What’s Cris going to do?”

She looked down at the floor. “Uhm, get a
partner to help.”

“Sounds like a good plan, who?”

“Me.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yea, I’ve been talking to him for a few
months about it now.”

“Is this something you want to do?”

“Yea it is, I’m going to me a mostly silent
partner.”

“Mostly?” I laughed.

“He can run the shop like he always does, I
just want to be able to have input on hiring.”

“You did that anyway.”

“Yep, so not much will change, only he will
have the money he needs.”

“Should I even ask what Seth thinks about
this?”

“He doesn’t care as long as it’s something I
want to do.”

“Good,” I replied, worried because Cris and
Seth still had a slightly strained relationship.

“Yea, now let’s get this finished, so we can
move on to the bathroom, ordered Devi.

The next morning, bright and early, we walked
into Drake's hospital room and found him fighting with a pair of
jeans, there was no way in hell he was going to wear jeans. Devi
and I just stood there and watched, trying not to laugh, but
neither of us could hold it in for long.

“I’m so fucking glad I… I…” he stopped and
took a deep breath. “This fucking sucks.”

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms
around him. “I know. honey.”

“All right, so obviously I will not be
wearing jeans, what’s your idea?”

Devi reached into a bag and pulled out a pair
of sweats that had the left leg cut off and tossed them to him.

“Meet your new best friend,” she said.

He sighed. “No other choice, huh?”

“Not that we could come up with; it’s either
this or athletic shorts. Oh and I did get you some of those
too.”

“All right, boxers?”

She smirked. “Will they fit over the
cast?”

He groaned, “Probably not.”

“Didn’t think so.”

“Okay, so leave, little sister so I can get
dressed then.”

She giggled. “Nothing I haven’t seen
before.”

“DEVLIN SHAYE!” he yelled.

She giggled again. “Okay okay, there’s a
shirt in there too, and a sock and a shoe,” she said with a
smirk.

“You’re a real bitch sometimes.”

“Yep,” she said then looked over at me. “You
going to need help?”

“No, I should we should be okay.”

“Okay, but if you do, ask.”

“I know, Devi.”

“Have fun, you two,” she said with a wink
then finally left.

I just shook my head, there was something
wrong with the Porter children.

“All right, big guy, let’s get your dressed.”
He flipped me off, but didn’t stop me from helping him get his
clothes on.

Drake

“You are going to get me castrated,” X
grumbled. We sent the girls off to get a coffee while waiting for
the doctor to discharge me. What they didn’t know was that I had
already taken care of all that before they had showed up.

“Am not.”

“When Devi finds out that I knew anything
about this, she is going to cut my balls off.”

I laughed. “Okay, she might.”

“Oh laugh it up because yours will be
next.”

I sighed. “Yea, they probably will, but it
will be worth it.”

“Yea, for you.”

“By the way, thanks.”

“You’re welcome, but she had better say yes
after all this.”

“Let’s hope,” I murmured. “Okay, let’s get
out of here.”

He sighed. “If I get my dick cut off for this
and she says no, I am going to break your other leg,” he said while
wheeling me out of my room, a room I was all too happy to get away
from.

“Freedom.”

X laughed. “I am so happy to not have to come
back here to visit your dumb ass anymore.”

“Yeah, three weeks is way too long to have to
stay in this place.”

“Yep.”

We finally made it outside and I inhaled
deeply, ah, fresh air I missed it. “So where’s the car?”

“Over there,” he pointed towards the car I
had, had X rent for this.

“Really?”

“Yeah, figured might as well go all out.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Eh, it will be worth it to see you both
happy.”

I looked over my shoulder at him. “Everything
okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s good; now let’s get this
show on the road.”

“All right, make the call.”

He pulled his cell from his pocket and texted
Seth, while I pulled mine out and texted Mags.

A few minutes later, we watched Mags walk out
of the hospital looking for us. X waved her down and she headed in
our direction. He looked down at me. “Need help getting in?”

“Probably.”

“All right, let’s get you in the car
then.”

Chapter 39

Mags

I got a text message from Drake saying he was
outside right after Seth came in and said that Drake's physical
therapist wanted to talk to him about something. I shrugged and
headed outside. When I walked out the door I looked around but
didn’t see him where I thought he would be, but then I noticed X
waving his arms around in the air looking like an idiot and Drake
sitting in a wheel chair beside him. They were in front of a
stretched hummer limo. What the hell was going on? I walked in
their direction not knowing what to expect for these two.

I walked up to them watching X get Drake out
of the wheel chair then basically shove him into the limo. “Hey,
careful, we just sprung him,” I said and giggled.

X looked over his shoulder at me and grinned.
“He’s huge, had to get him in there somehow.”

“Yeah, so what’s all this?” I asked gesturing
at the limo.

“Thought it would be easier than anything we
own.”

I shrugged. “Makes sense.”

“All right, in you go, darlin'.”

I climbed in part way and found Drake spread
across one of the seats and looked back at X. “You coming?”

“Nah, thought you two could use some
time.”

“Thanks,” I leaned out of the car and kissed
his cheek.

“You’re welcome, now be nice to the boy, got
it?”

“Got it,” I replied and finished climbing in
and X closed the door.

When I looked around I had no idea what to
say, the entire thing was filled with stargazer lilies and
different types of orchids—my favorite flowers, it was beautiful. I
looked over and Drake and saw his eyes were on me, he looked
nervous and excited.

“Drake, what is this?”

“A surprise.”

“A surprise?”

“Yeah.” He reached up and knocked on the
partition to the front of the vehicle and we started moving. He
moved so he was sitting up with his leg stretched across to another
seat and patted the seat beside him, so I moved over and straddled
his lap.

“This is beautiful, Drake,” I murmured
against his lip. “Thank you, no one’s ever done something like this
for me before.”

He kissed me back, parting my lips with his
tongue, rubbing his tongue slowly against mine, then gently broke
the kiss. “I love you, Mags.” I started to respond but he nipped my
lip so I stayed quiet. “I love you, Mags, and I want to marry you.
I want to wake up every morning looking at your beautiful face, I
want to fight with you, I want to fuck you, I want to have more
babies with you,” he whispered. “You’re the only one I want to
spend the rest of my life with, you’ve always been the only girl
I’ve ever seen myself settling down with, so please will you marry
me?”

I couldn’t believe he did all this for me,
and I loved him I really did but I didn’t know if this was
something I wanted. I looked down at him, I saw the love and
honesty in his eyes, and I didn’t know what to do. What if I said
yes and then later on down the road he decided it was a mistake? I
didn’t know if I could live with that, but if I told him no again
would this be it for us, how many times would he ask before finally
giving up completely.