Chapter Eight

The TV played in the background. Storm slept, but he didn’t. It was as if the exhaustion made his eyelids too heavy to lift, but his brain wouldn’t completely quiet. He didn’t want to feel anything but anger over his current predicament. Unfortunately, he couldn’t squelch the tiny part of him that ached at the idea of his dad trying to kill him. In his heart, he had always known his dad hated him, but killing him. Damn. He didn’t understand what he had done so horribly wrong to make his dad hate him that much. Storm had never understood. His heart hurt. There was a small child inside him that wanted his parents’ love. He couldn’t fathom their hatred. When he spent time with Allison’s kids or thought about having kids with Barrett, he couldn’t imagine ever laying a finger on them in violence. They were kids. It didn’t make sense.

“In local news, Chuckers’ winger, Storm Bernier, has suffered yet another setback. This time at the hands of his father, Jean Paul Bernier. According to police, the elder Bernier shot his son unprovoked at the hockey star’s home last night.”

Storm tried blocking out the story. He didn’t want to hear what they had to say about him and his fucked-up life.

“His father was eventually found dead two blocks from the star’s house from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Storm took a breath. If he knew nothing else, he knew his dad was too chickenshit to kill himself. The sounds on the TV changed, like flipping through the channels. It finally landed on a cartoon Storm liked. He peeked one eye open. Barrett sat close by with the remote. His hair was a mess. He was the sexiest man alive, nonetheless. Storm preferred him a little mussed. It was like waking up next to him each morning.

“I used to wake up long before you every day and stare at you for hours.”

Barrett looked his way. There were dark circles under his eyes. “I wasn’t always asleep. I just loved having your full attention. How are you feeling?”

A sad smile pulled at his lips. “I hurt, but it’s not unbearable. How long has it been since you slept?”

Barrett shrugged. “I’ve caught a few catnaps here and there. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. You just worry about healing.”

“I want to go home so you can rest with me. It’s hard to stay asleep when I know you’re not next to me in bed.”

Barrett set the remote aside and stood. He kissed Storm’s cheek. “Let me see what I can do. For now, just close your eyes and try.” Storm closed his eyes. Barrett kissed him again. “That’s it, gorgeous. Take some breaths and relax. We’ll be back in our bed in no time. Just focus on you.”

Storm took some breaths like Barrett ordered. The hum of the TV faded. His limbs felt heavy. A strange heat flooded his veins. The bed moved and his eyes shot open. It was dark outside, and his IV bag was being moved from the pole to the bed while Barrett supervised.

“Transport will be here in five. Your private physician has been updated.”

“Thank you.” Barrett said the words softly, as if trying not to wake Storm.

Storm couldn’t stop his eyes from closing again. Occasionally, a movement would have him stirring, but it was like he had been drugged. He couldn’t stay awake. Finally, his eyes opened, and he found Barrett sleeping beside him in their bed. Storm let the darkness take him. He was home. That was all that mattered to him.

They had heavily medicated Storm for his transfer to home care. Otherwise, the move would have been too stressful on his heart and painful to endure. Still, Storm slept much longer than Barrett anticipated. His nerves were frayed. The bullet had cracked his sternum and grazed his heart before lodging in a lung. There was a ton of damage. Storm had a long road, but Barrett knew he wouldn’t truly rest until they were home. Private care was better anyhow. Storm was more closely watched. Barrett also needed that reassurance. He hadn’t prepared himself for how bad of a patient Storm would be.

“Why are you up?” Barrett tried not to yell the question, but he was at his wit's end. It had only been two weeks and he couldn’t keep Storm down. It drove him insane.

Storm winced as he eased back into bed. “I had to use the bathroom. Damn.” Storm sounded every bit as aggravated as Barrett. It was obvious the bed rest chafed.

“You could’ve at least called me. I would’ve helped.”

He breathed heavily as he settled beneath the covers. “You have to be sick of me bugging you. I can go by myself.”

Barrett pinched the spot between his eyes. He dropped his hand. “Baby, I’ll never get tired of being by your side. You know damn well, if the shoe was on the other foot, you’d hover like a mother hen. Let me do what I need to feel better. This is the second time I’ve watched you nearly die in less than a year. My heart needs to be overbearing.”

Storm flipped back the covers. He held Barrett’s stare.

A smile snapped to Barrett’s lips. He shook his head and climbed into bed with Storm.

Storm kissed his temple. “I’ve been thinking.”

Barrett groaned. He was about to try to butter up Barrett to do something he didn’t want to do. Barrett felt that in his bones.

Storm ignored him and pressed on. “Since we have time on our hands and I can’t do anything else, let’s break out the laptop and plan our wedding.”

Relief poured through him. Barrett smiled. “I love that idea. Does that mean we’re setting a date?”

Storm eyed him. “Why did you say it like that? I would’ve married you the same night you asked. Do you feel like I’ve been stalling or something?”

Barrett shrugged. “You haven’t brought it up since I asked. I wasn’t sure you really wanted this.” He wasn’t always the best at reading other people’s emotions and social cues.

Storm brought Barrett’s hand to his lips. “I’m sorry, gorgeous.” Storm’s expression turned guilty. “I guess after you refused to leave with me when I left town, it’s left me a little scarred. You were pretty damn cold that night. I don’t know. It’s made me scared to bring up our future again. I suppose there’s a small part of me that still worries this isn’t what you want.” His gaze slid away. “The circumstances of you moving here still makes me wonder if you would’ve chosen this if I hadn’t manipulated you.”

Barrett’s chest hurt. “You’ve never once manipulated anyone in your life. Please don’t ever say that again. I told you I had been laying the groundwork with Dad for a while. My life was miserable when I couldn’t see you every day. I never want either of us to feel that way again.”

A sweet smile touched Storm’s lips. “Let’s plan this wedding, then. I’m a competitive person. Let’s see how fast we can throw together the most beautiful wedding anyone has ever seen. I mean, I would marry you now if I could, but we deserve to share our love with the world.”

“And my dad would fucking die.”

“And your dad would fucking die,” Storm agreed with a laugh.

Barrett couldn’t stop smiling. “You know he expects the whole Italian over-the-top gathering.”

“I won’t let him down.”

Barrett rolled to his side and held Storm’s stare. He was so goddamn beautiful. It was more than that, though. Storm was Barrett’s peace. “He loves you. My entire family adores you. I don’t think you could let them down if you tried. But Dad’s feelings would definitely be hurt if he didn’t get to walk you down the aisle.”

Storm’s expression made the claim worthwhile. He blinked away tears. “Do you really think he’d want that?”

“Of course.” Barrett leaned Storm’s way and stole a kiss. His heart rate kicked up as Storm’s lips parted. God, he was so in love. His eyes stung at the idea of how close he had come recently to losing this. They had to get married as soon as possible. He couldn’t stomach thinking about how much time they had missed. Barrett needed to get started on their happily ever after.

Barrett rolled from the bed and grabbed his laptop before returning to the bed. “Let’s pick out our wedding invitations first. That’ll probably take the longest. We have to order those. Everything else we can grab off the shelf.”

Storm beamed. His happiness meant everything to Barrett. Barrett would enlist his family’s help and get this wedding moving. Storm would be his husband in no time. There was no other option. It was their time now. Nothing would stand in their way.