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Finally, I fight the pull and open my eyes. Swallowing feels like I’ve eaten a bag full of sharp Doritos. Kase brings a straw to my mouth and I take a sip, praying while I swallow it doesn’t kill me. Haven’t I been through enough? Balloons and flowers fill the table behind him. He’s the only one in the room this time.
“Hey, Cowboy.” My voice is so raspy it doesn’t sound like me. His smile reaches his eyes, and it’s the first time I notice the dark circles under them. “Reed?” I whisper, recalling what happened.
“He’s great.” He bends down and kisses me on my forehead then sits down. “Ray’s dead.”
The weight I’ve kept buried for ten years, crumbles to ash, my body feeling lighter as I imagine a life without fear. Tears fall down my face. “Really? He’s gone?” I ask, finding it hard to believe.
He nods, his gaze never leaving mine.
There are moments in your life you’ll always remember. This is one. The feeling of deliverance.
I’m free.
Kase cups my cheek, wiping my tears away. “You’re so beautiful, you made me forget my pick-up lines.”
I laugh and then wince from the pain. I slap him on the chest. “Stop making me laugh. You’re so cheesy.”
“Only with you,” he says, scooting his chair closer and then standing, pressing his lips to mine.
When he sits back down, I pull the sheets back and gingerly touch my stomach, my fingers running around the bandage. “He has a thing for that specific spot.”
Kase’s jaw ticks.
“Too soon?”
He glares at me. Yep, too soon.
“Were they able to get the bullet out?”
“Yes. You lost a lot of blood and had internal bleeding.”
“Did anyone else get hurt?” His gaze turns down and my heart sinks. My eyes dance around, trying to remember the night. “Was it Clyde?” I’m assuming it was because how else did Ray get passed him? “Kase, tell me.”
He pulls in a sharp breath and slowly releases it. “Clyde was found dead in his car. But that’s not it. I didn’t want to tell you until you were a little more stable.” I ready myself for the bad news. It’s not your fault, I keep telling myself, but the guilt is already hammering down on me, leaving marks. “Your dad was shot, but he’s doing great,” he quickly adds, as my mouth gapes open. No! No! I cover my face with my hands, my chin trembles as I suck in a breath. All he did for me, he doesn’t deserve this.
“He’s okay, baby. He’s already called to check on you at least ten times.” He pulls my hands from my face, making sure I’m listening. “I’ve talked to him and Max is sending his plane for him as soon as he gets out of the hospital.”
Warm tingles spread through my body knowing they’ve met on the phone. Oh no. I never had the chance to tell him about Everly or Kase asking me to marry him.
“What’s wrong?”
I wince. “Did you say anything to him about us getting married? Or I mean—”
The door flies open, and I stop talking, thankful for the interruption. We haven’t spoken since I left Texas, so I don’t know if he still wants to marry me.
“I’m done waiting for my turn,” Tori says, strolling into the room. “You’d think someone shot her or something.” I giggle at her brash attitude while Kase doesn’t seem to appreciate it. “Lighten up, baby-cakes, she’s fine.” She taps him on the cheek. “Why don’t you go get us some chocolate so we can have some girly time.”
He glances at me, his jaw tight. “We’re not done with that conversation.”
Biting my lip, I glance at the wire coming out of my hand, avoiding his intense stare. As soon as he’s out the door, Tori jumps in, “Oh, that sounded important, but I recognize that expression and you look like you’d rather go swimming in the ocean.”
“A shark eating me sounds pleasant right now.”
She snorts and sits on the bed, pushing wires to the side. “I’ll just get this out of the way, next time you go missing, send a freaking smoke signal or something! I was going out of my mind worried about you. Also, Everly… holy shit it’s weird looking at her and not thinking it’s you.”
“Just think how it is for me. If I raise my hand, I always expect hers to raise too, thinking she’s my reflection. It’s a mind fuck, for sure.”
She lies down beside me, wrapping her arm through mine. “Don’t go jumping in front of any more bullets, mmm’kay?”
