Strangely, I didn’t worry about myself getting on that list; best I could tell, the enemy hadn’t struck at the Cook sisters in a violent manner yet. But the burden it would put on Sonny one way or another…
“I don’t know what to do,” Melissa said. “I’m just doing my best to be available if Corey needs it.”
“What did he say recently?”
“That he wants to see me tonight, but right now, he’s making sure everyone gets home safely. He says they’re not defeated but hurt. But I think he’s downplaying how they feel.”
It made sense. When had they ever “up-played” how they felt? If they did, they wouldn’t be the Devil’s Patriots anymore. Sonny was so attractive because he was stoic, tough, and handsome. Even when he told me how he felt about me, it wasn’t an emotional or dramatic outpouring of thoughts; it was just something he said and left me with. My deferral hadn’t unnerved him; it had just led him to the next step.
So, yeah, these guys had to be hurting way worse than they’d ever let on.
“Well, it can’t get much worse than this.”
I’d meant it as something glib and hopeful. The look from both Cook sisters immediately suggested I’d all but jinxed the chances of things actually getting better. Yes, they could get worse.
The men we cared about and loved could die.
And Hailey, more than either of us, knew that all too damn well.
I sighed. I looked over Hailey’s shoulder to see a nurse approaching. Curious, I sat up in my chair, but neither Cook sister seemed to notice. The look on the nurse’s face was inscrutable; I had no way of knowing if she was about to deliver good news, bad news, or just news.
“Miss Hailey Cook?”
Hailey turned quickly, albeit with the same facial expression she’d worn the last few days.
“Sam just woke up.”
There was a half-second pause where it almost seemed like the words were too good to be true.
And then, without a word, Hailey sprinted out of her chair, past the nurse, and to the nearest stairwell. Melissa and I were left pleasantly slackjawed.
“How is he?” Melissa asked.
“Groggy and slow, but awake and fine,” the nurse said. “He’s got a headache. He’ll need to stay here for a few days just to make sure he doesn’t have any lingering effects. But all seems like it’ll be fine.”
“Thank God,” Melissa said.
We got our break. We got what we needed.
“Let’s give it a minute,” Melissa said, “and then we can go see it for ourselves. Thanks.”
The nurse nodded and walked away. Melissa slumped in her chair, exhaling what seemed like several days’ worth of holding her breath in. I just felt relievedsomethinggood had happened. Lord knows everyone in our circle, guy and girl, could use it.
We finally did head upstairs. Satan’s room was shut, but the curtains were pulled back from the window. Melissa and I peeked inside.
And there, lying in his bed, was Hailey, hugging, sobbing, laughing, kissing, and looking as cheerful and joyful as I’d ever seen her in my life.
That’s why it’s worth it.
Yes, this could have ended very poorly for all of us. But as soon as it didn’t, I now had a wonderful chance to see something great. I saw love.
Not the love when things were going well. Not the love after a fight. But the love shown after the fear that someone would die.
I would never get that living the lifestyle I had up to that point. I would never get that love if I kept making excuses. I’d only get that love if I opened myself up.
If the conversation with my father had confirmed what I needed to do, this cemented it and set it in stone.
“Beautiful,” Melissa said softly.
