A North Carolina Autumn - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Jeremy, Ava and Emma get to the hospital around 9:00pm, and relief washes over each of their faces as they see Rylie alive and awake. "You could've at least called us to tell us what was going on." Jeremy laughs before moving to the foot of the bed. "Hey, Ryles. How ya feeling?"
"Good. Really tired." She laughs.
"The doctors were just about to kick us out so she could sleep." Sam says from the chair on Rylie's left.
"That's okay, we were planning on staying the night in Charlotte, so we can come back whenever you're awake and ready for us." Jeremy smiles.
"Thank you guys. For everything. I hear you're the reason I'm alive in the first place." Rylie says to Jeremy.
"Well, one of the reasons. Derek and Austin did most of the work." He teases.
"Either way, I'm grateful. I'll never be able to repay you." She says, and I can hear the emotion in her voice.
"Hey," Jeremy moves to her side and leans down to hug her. "That's not necessary. I'm just so glad you're okay. We'll see you tomorrow, alright?"
"Okay." Rylie smiles, and Sam gives her another hug before following the others out the door. "I wish you could stay here." Rylie says, taking my hand and threading her fingers through mine.
"Me too. It feels wrong to leave you again after just getting you back."
"I love you, Aspen. In a couple of days, I'll be able to go home with you. Say hi to Harvey for me?"
"I will." I smile before leaning in to kiss her. I pull away all too soon as a doctor enters the room. "I love you. I'll be back bright and early tomorrow." I tell Rylie before walking out the door.
As soon as I get home, every single emotion from the day hits me. Harvey greets me at the door, and I quickly get him some food before collapsing on the couch with tears forming in my eyes. Rylie's bear sits next to my arm and I pull it to my chest as I cry, breathing in her scent.
The relief in knowing that Rylie was okay is the feeling I choose to focus on, and as Harvey climbs into my arms once again, I finally slip into a light, slightly restless sleep.
When I get to the hospital the next morning, Rylie is up and walking around her room. A nurse walks beside her, ready to help if needed. It doesn't look like it's needed though. Rylie holds herself with confidence, walking as though she wasn't in a coma for two weeks.
"Hey!" She says excitedly as she sees me. She instantly pulls me into a hug and I melt into the comfort and content I always find there. "How'd you sleep?" She asks me.
"Not great." I admit with a small laugh. "But I should be asking you."
"I slept great! And-" She grins. "I woke up!"
I laugh before kissing her cheek. "God, I missed you."
The doctors finish running their tests, and Kristen soon joins me in the hospital room as the doctors arrive with an update. "We've run every single test out there just to be sure she's okay and to make sure there wasn't any hidden damage.
They mean brain damage. I think to myself.
"We don't know how, but Rylie seems to be completely fine and healthy. She will be tired for the following days, maybe a week, but I can't find any reason to keep her here any longer."
My eyes widen at his words, and Rylie grins. "Really? I can go home?'
"You can." The doctor smiles kindly. "Kristen, I'll just go over some paperwork with you now if that's alright."
"Of course." Kristen kisses the top of Rylie's head before following the doctor out of the room.
"It's weird having her be so worried and attentive over me." Rylie says before patting the bed beside her. I instantly climb onto the bed beside her, smiling when she takes my hand.
"She was so worried. We all were."
"I know. Part of me is just really glad I'd been giving her more of a chance because if I hadn't let her back into my life, I feel like she would've only cared for the attention. Does that even make sense?"
"Yeah. She does really care, though. So does your dad. I don't know how he handled it so well."
"He is so strong. I'm really glad they were both here."
"Me too. I wish you could've seen when Spencer met Harper, though."
"Oh, me too! Let me guess, he was instantly wrapped around her finger?"
"Quite literally, but also the opposite." I laugh. "She grabbed his finger the moment he reached for her."
"Great, now I'll have to share baby time with yet another person." Rylie laughs.
"Hey!" I protest.
"I like sharing with you, don't worry." She hurriedly explains before laughing with me.
We talk for a few more minutes before Kristen finally returns. "We're good to go!" She smiles. "I'm guessing you're going to want to go to sleep when you get home. How about you two come over to Dillon's brother's house tomorrow sometime? Your brothers would love to see you."
"That would be so fun! I miss them." Rylie smiles.
"Great. I'll let your father know. He had some work come up today." Kristen explains. "Let's get you checked out of here!"
I put the car in park and hurry around the car to open Rylie's door. "I appreciate you opening the door for me but..."
I cut her off. "I know, you're fully capable of doing it yourself. I just wanted to do it. And I'm gonna hold your hand. Not because I think you need help, but because I want to hold your hand." I explain with a grin.
"That works for me." Rylie laughs before we head inside our apartment building. Harvey greets us at the door, and his excitement at seeing Rylie awake and moving around is adorable, and makes us laugh.
"He really missed you. I even brought him in one day to see you, and it was crazy to see his reaction. Although..." I pause, remembering what happened that day. "That's the day you crashed and they had to use the defibrillator..." That was a memory I didn't like to remember.
"Hey," Rylie takes my hand. "I'm okay now." She says in a reassuring voice. "And I'm really glad to be home with you and Harvey. I missed being home. That hospital bed was not comfortable in the slightest." She grumbles, grabbing her back and bending over like an old lady. She then turns to me once I shut the door. "I also really missed sleeping next to you."
"You have no idea." I reply, unable to stop my eyes from flicking to my makeshift couch bed.
I should've put that all away.
Rylie's eyes follow where mine are trained, and she suddenly gets quiet. She turns back to me, the question evident in her eyes. "You slept on the couch?" Her voice is soft and kind, but also sad.
"I couldn't sleep in there without you..." I say, and my voice breaks.
"Oh, baby. Come here." Rylie takes my hand and leads me into the bedroom, climbing under the covers before pulling me to her side. I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my head on her chest.
"I couldn't sleep in here without you. I would wake up and roll over to your empty side of the bed, and my heart would break all over again. So I moved to the couch." I explain. Rylie runs her fingers through my hair and I let myself enjoy the feeling her touch brings.
"I'm so sorry, Aspen. The thought of you hurting breaks my heart."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Rylie. You didn't choose to get into the accident." I say, sitting up to face her.
"I know." she responds softly. "I missed you so much." She says after a moment before closing the distance between us. Her lips are sweet and soft, and as the kiss deepens, I have to force myself to pull back.
"The doctor said you need rest..."
"I don't want to rest right now." Rylie says in a husky voice.
"Are you sure?" I say, but I knew she had to be feeling what I was. We needed each other.
"More than sure." She replies before kissing me again. I slowly undress her before gently pushing her down onto the pillows behind her. I remove my clothes next, enjoying the heat in her gaze as her eyes travel over my exposed skin. The moment my skin is on hers, a loud moan escapes her lips.
"God, I missed touching you." She hisses before kissing me hard. I swipe my tongue over her lips and she parts them, letting me in. Her warm fingers trail along my back and stomach before stopping between my legs.
"Holy fuck..." I moa, feeling as though I hadn't been touched in months.
"That's right baby, let it out." Rylie encourages. Then, against my lips, "Let me hear how much you missed me." Her fingers move in a slow circle, and I moan into her mouth as my core quickly tightens.
She pauses for a moment before flipping me over, and I get closer to my climax as my eyes lock on hers. As her fingers resume their motion, so do the sounds from my lips.
"Fuck, Ry," I gasp moments before my orgasm pulses through me. As I come back to my senses, Rylie watches me with a hungry look.
"You are so beautiful, Aspen." She whispers, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. I sit up but keep Rylie on my lap as I kiss her. When my fingers slip between her already wet folds, her delicious cries of pleasure dissolve on my tongue.
I slip two fingers inside of her while using my palm to rub her swollen bundle of nerves, and her head drops back while her hands cling to my bare shoulders.
"Don't stop," Rylie gasps, moving her hips in a rhythm against my hand. "Oh, fuck-" She gasps before dropping her head against my shoulder as she finishes. Once she's done, she pulls me down onto the bed beside her and pulls me close to her side until we're skin to skin.
I feel like I haven't been touched in years." Rylie says.
"I know," I giggle. "I feel the same way. That was... intense."
"We're never going that long without sex again." She says and I laugh.
"No objections here." I reply before kissing her softly. "I wish I could explain just how good it feels to finally hold you in my arms again." I say as I trace a finger down her arm.
"I think I know the feeling pretty well." Rylie says with a soft smile. "Would it be alright if we took a nap? I don't regret doing that at all, but you did wear me out." She giggles.
"That would be more than alright." I assure her before tugging the blankets back over our bodies and pulling her back against my stomach.
Within minutes, my eyes close and I quickly drift off into the most peaceful, deep sleep I'd had in weeks.