“No,” I whisper. “I was only worried about you.”
His lip twitches. “And I was only worried about you.”
“Scarlett!” I turn at the sound of my father and stiffen at the scene unfolding.
Red and blue lights flash in the background as both of our parents run toward us. Several officers stand over both Alex and Jason, who both have cuffs on their wrists, with the duffel and gun on top of one of the patrol cars.
“I love you,” Cross whispers into my ear, his warm breath sending goosebumps over every inch of my skin.
I snap my attention to him, and suddenly the chaos is gone. Another tear slips over my cheek to land on my parted lips. “I love you too,” I whisper.
My father takes me from Cross’s arms, his racing heart matching his stepson’s. The mayhem ensues while I’m carried to a nearby ambulance while Cross’s mom remains by Cross’s side, checking him over for injuries.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” my dad chokes out.
I peer up at him, his blue eyes a perfect match to mine. “And Cross?” I ask hesitantly.
His hand rests on my knee as a paramedic wraps gauze around my wrist. “Both of you.”
I exhale deeply and flop backward onto the stretcher. “Good,” I say wearily. “Because I’m in love with him.”
I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion, or the shock of the last twelve hours, or maybe it’s the high I’m riding because Cross admitted that he loves me too, but I let the truth slide out effortlessly to my father, knowing very well that being in love with my stepbrother is completely unorthodox.
To my surprise, he chuckles.
I peer at him with confusion, and he shakes his head, half smiling. “I know, sweetheart.”
He does?
How?
“He said the same thing to us before he came to get you.” He rubs the back of his neck, where I know most of his tension sits. “We’ll figure this out later. For now, let’s get you fixed up.”
I nod and give my other wrist to the paramedic.
“But sweetheart?”
I glance at my dad again.
His jaw clenches for a split second. “I want to know what that boy did to you at Yale.”
My stomach turns. I immediately look elsewhere.
He pats my knee gently. “Not now. But when you’re ready.”
I let out a shaky breath and nod.
“Sir, can I take her vitals?”
“Oh, right. Yes, of course.”
My dad hops up to move out of the way and tells me he’s going to go check on Cross. Before I can even say the words, he looks at me over his shoulder and says, “And then I’ll send him over, okay?”
I try to hide my smile.
But in the end, I can’t.
[ 34 ]
