It seems as if every time Jade needs me, I'm no where to be found. I’ve spent every waking moment in the hospital, yet the moment I go on a store run for her, she's rolled into emergency surgery.
I ran six city blocks in record time after getting her text. Green juice flying everywhere. My heart beating furiously through my chest. What if she's frightened? What if the surgeon doesn't know what he's doing? Why is it an emergency? Is she dying?
When I ran to the floor she was on and saw Doctor Dickhead casually talking on his cell phone at the nurse's desk, I almost lost it. I wanted to throttle him. What was he doing in the hallway talking to who the fuck ever? Why wasn’t he with my girl?
Luckily one of the residents interceded and explained what was going on to me.
Jade was having an ectopic pregnancy. Which is dangerous and her life was at risk. The baby, our baby, would never survive in the fallopian tube, so they had to perform the surgery to remove it. She could have children in the future if she wanted.
She wanted me there before they took her in for surgery, but they had to make a quick decision. Waiting was not a good idea.
The surgery went well.
There were no complications.
She was in recovery.
She would be moved into a regular room in an hour or so, and I could wait for her there. Which I didn't do. Because I had to make a stop first.
"Hey, little star."
"Hey."
"How ya feeling?"
"Like a Mack truck ran me over and then backed up again."
"Well you look goddamn amazing."
"You're a liar, Camden King.”
"Yeah, I am." I smirk.
She winces in pain after giggling.
"Stop laughing if it hurts,” I tell her.
"Stop making me laugh."
"I spilled your green juice all over Sansom Street, so you’re shit out of luck.”
"Thanks a lot. I was thirsty."
“Who told you to go into surgery while I was getting it?”
"I'm sorry, Cam. You can say it if you want."
"Say what?”
"I told you so. I was pregnant."
"That's not how I wanted to be right."
“Yeah.”
“We’ll try for real when we’re ready.”
“Sure, when we’re ready, but in the meantime I think we’re going to have to use condoms."
"We're not fucking ever again if this is what can happen. You scared the fuck out of me.”
She winces again.
"I told you not to make me laugh."
"What's so funny about that?"
"You and I never having sex again?"
"I won't if it means putting you at risk."
"At risk of dying from dick withdrawal.”
Now I laugh out loud.
"Ok, maybe we'll just give it a few weeks."
I bend over and kiss her forehead.
"I give a good blow job. That should hold you over."
"Jade."
"Hmmm?"
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Everything."
I kiss her carefully on the mouth this time.
"Get better soon. We have a wedding to go to."
“Damn, did they set a date while I was in surgery?”
“Something like that. It’s the third Saturday in August."
"Sweet."
"And now..." I bend down on my knees and lean over on her bedside. "We need to set our own date."
I pull a small red box out of my pocket. While Jade was in recovery I took an Uber a few blocks over to Jeweler's Row and picked out a ring. A princess cut diamond, with the highest clarity I could find, size five.
"Marry me."
Jade's mouth spreads in a smile. With IV's running through her veins, she lifts her slender arm and places her hand on the side of my head. Tracing her thumb across my eyebrow.
"Yes."
"I love you so much, lima bean.”
"I love you too."
I lift up and kiss her gingerly. Only giving her a smidgen of tongue. I mean she did just get out of surgery. I don’t want to hurt her.
"Cam?"
Oh crap, did I just hurt her?
"Yes, baby."
“I think we both need a breath mint."
I laugh out loud again.
My girl is going to be just fine.