Free A Winter's Date by Sasha Brümmer, Jess Epps

an angel whose heart stopped beating before mine could beat for it. I will never know what it would’ve been like to carry this child; I will not have memories of being pregnant or being excited to hold my newborn or watching it sleep in my arms while Noah sat by my side. I have nothing.
    Desolation.

    When I wake up, Noah is fast asleep, half of his body draped onto the bed with his head resting on my stomach. Did he even sleep while I was sedated? It doesn’t seem like he did. I try stretching out my legs, but they are stiff and sore. I wince and look up when I realize we’re not alone. “Dani?”
    “He shouldn’t be crowding you like that. He’s probably hurting you.”
    “It’s nice to see you too, sister.”
    “Heather . . . I’m going to call the doctor. He shouldn’t be using you as a pillow,” she all but yells, which causes Noah to stir.
    “Please stop . . . I can tell he hasn’t slept. If this was Brannon, I would never ask him to leave.”
    “Well, he’s not Brannon. You’ve been with this man for all of five minutes.”
    I scowl at her. “What the heck is your problem, Danielle?” I try to sit up more without waking him.
    I think he feels me move, and it’s hurting me more than anything, I look down at my man as he forces his bloodshot eyes open. “Mmm, do you need me to take you to the bathroom?”
    Dani clears her throat and glares at me expectantly.
    I shake my head and whisper, “No, not yet. Go back to sleep,” and glare at Dani when his eyes close.
    “That’s it. I’m calling the doctor.” She gets up and strides over to the call button, hitting it twice. Two nurses come into the room a moment later.
    “Miss Lane? Is everything okay?” one of them asks.
    “Yes, I’m fine . . . it was pressed by mistake. I’m sorry,” I say as she eyes my handsome sleeping Greek god.
    “Actually,” Dani pipes in, but I stare her down. “Never mind. Thank you.”
    The nurses leave, and I’m not even sure what to say to my sister in this moment.
    “I’m sorry, Heather . . . it’s just . . . I just went into mom mode.”
    I sigh quietly. “Dani, Noah loves me. Why are you so mad at him?”
    “Because I want to be the one taking care of my sister; it’s my job to do it. It always has been. He comes into the picture and takes you away from me . . .” She sniffles, and I know she’s being selfish, but I understand now. It’s always been just the two of us.
    I look down at Noah. He’s proved to me over and over again how much he loves me. “Dani, it’s not just you and I anymore, and he’s been taking care of me.”
    “I know he has. I’m just . . . ugh! I’m just jealous,” she sobs and wipes at the tears that have fallen down her cheek.
    “Jealous? Dani, you’re being ridiculous. I’m lucky he even wants me.”
    “I’m sorry,” she says softly and gets up, walking over to me and hugging me gently. “I love you.”
    “I love you too.” I know she wants to feel needed, so I quickly think of something for her to do. “Umm, do you know when I get to leave?”
    She eyes my bruises before she smiles again. “I can go find out. I’ll be right back.”
    She quickly leaves the room, and I sag back against the pillow just as Noah opens his eyes slowly, greeting me with a sleepy, lazy smile.
    “Bathroom?” he asks groggily.
    I hold in a giggle and nod. “Please?”
    I’ve got both Noahand Dani wanting me to need them.
    “Mmm, I need a kiss first, ballerina,” he says as he sits up.
    I lean into him and tilt my head up, pressing my lips to his.
    He growls aggressively against my lips and smiles. “You have no idea how happy I am about you being awake and okay,” he says as he stands up and removes the thin blanket from my legs. I reach out and grab hold of the IV stand before he carefully lifts me into his arms.
    I’m sore all over, but I try not to let it show. He carries me gently and sets me down on the toilet. I don’t even have to say anything because he already