“He talked about you constantly. I’d catch snippets of your phone calls, hear him laughing at something you texted. Saw the way his whole face changed when any of us mentioned you. Enzo and I used to joke that we’d lost him to Salt Lake before he even realized it himself.”
Something twisted in my chest.
“He was already gone on you, Alex. Way before either of you figured out what was happening.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I admitted quietly. “With any of this.”
“Who does?” Dom laughed, but it was gentle. “I sure as hell didn’t know what to do when he was in that hospital bed. Still don’t half the time.”
“But you stayed.”
“Yeah. And so are you.” He paused. “Look, Elena’s going to come in and do her therapist thing, help him figure out some better coping strategies. But you being there? Staying even when it got really scary? That’s what he needs to know he’s not alone in this.”
“It doesn’t feel like enough.”
“It’s exactly enough. Getting breakfast this morning, being there last night, staying when you were scared and angry and confused,” Dom sounded sure of himself. “That’s the kind of showing up that matters.”
I watched a couple walk hand-in-hand toward the main lodge, their easy comfort with each other making something ache in my chest. “I’m terrified I’m going to mess this up.”
“You won’t mess it up by being honest about how you feel. By asking for what you need. By being human. The only way youmess this up is by pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.”
“Like he did with the injections.”
“Exactly like that. You both keep trying to protect each other instead of just... being together.”
“I know. We’re trying. Thank you… for checking on me. On us.”
“You going to be okay?”
“I think so. Maybe. Ask me again when you and Enzo get here for the Fourth celebration.”
“Fair enough.” He paused. “And Alex? You know you can call me if you need extra support.”
“I know.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I ended the call as Finn appeared in the doorway with his coffee and our breakfast, dressed but still looking uncertain. His hair needed a trim, as did his beard.
“Join me?” I smiled up at him, setting his phone down.
He set the takeout bag on the table and relaxed into the chair next to me. Maggie moved to his feet and he huffed a laugh, offering her a gentle pat before taking my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“Dom told me about the hospital. The setbacks.”
“What else did he say?” His thumb traced over my knuckles.
“That recovery isn’t linear. That we’re going to figure this out.” I tilted my head to look at him, “that you talked about me constantly after we met.”
His cheeks colored slightly. “I may have once or twice.”
“‘Constantly,’ he said.”
“Dom exaggerates.”
“Does he?” I raised an eyebrow.
