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Ava falls asleep with her head resting on Lorenzo’s shoulder. We exchange a glance before I turn my attention away, pretending I didn’t notice his thumb tracing circles on her thigh.

Dorian snores lightly beside me with his head tipped back against the wall. Sleep will evade me until I know she’s okay.

And if she’s not…

If she loses another baby because of him…

If I lose her…

Dread twists in my stomach and all the coffee I consumed earlier threatens to climb back up my throat. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths until the feeling subsides.

“William Sage?”

My eyes snap open and land on a woman dressed in light blue scrubs at the door. I rise from my seat abruptly and flinch, pain shooting up my leg. My friends wake up and stand next to me, anxiously awaiting the verdict.

She pulls off her scrub cap. “I am Dr. Mason. Olivia is doing fine.”

The room exhales around me.

“She sustained a lot of blood loss, but she is very lucky. No major organs were severely damaged.”

She’s alive.

“She will have to be closely monitored the entire pregnancy though. But as of now, we estimate she is about thirteen weeks.”

My brows furrow and I stare at her blankly, trying to process everything she just said.

Our baby.

Dr. Mason places her hand on my arm and smiles. “Mother and daughter are doing just fine.”

I clear my throat. “Daughter?”

She nods. “They are going to recovery, and I will come get you when you can see her, okay?”

“Thank you, doctor,” I manage to choke out, staring after her while she walks away.

Ava squeals with excitement and hugs me, tears pouring down her cheeks. Lorenzo and Dorian join in at my sides, draping their arms around both Ava and I.

Utter relief.

Pure joy.

I can finally breathe again.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sage

It took about five minutes for my mother to stop crying and screaming into the phone.

The past few hours have thrown all of us onto a roller coaster nobody volunteered to be on. Your stomach bottoming out at that first drop. The fear of falling. The thrill and joy that replaces it afterwards.

It’s been one hell of a ride, but I’m ready to get off.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need crutches?”

“No, Mom. I can walk.” I sigh and run my fingers through my hair.