“And now?” he asks, but it’s a whisper.
I don’t answer, because I don’t know what happens now. The fight and the blood and the way Trouble looked at me that last night—like I was the only thing that mattered to him on this earth—everything is a mess.
The waiting room door swings, and for a second we all stand. The surgeon’s a woman in blue scrubs. Her hands are clean, but her eyes are tired. “Family for Tristan Stetson?”
We all move as one. The surgeon glances at the chart, then up to all of us. “He made it through surgery. But he’s still in critical condition. We’re monitoring for internal bleeding, and the next few hours are crucial.”
She could have said anything; I hear only the “made it through” part, and hold on to hope.
“We can allow a few of you to see him at a time,” she continues. “He isn’t out of the woods, but it’s good he has people here.”
They say you can get used to anything, but I don’t believeit. Not the harsh lighting, the cold, the way the hospital always smells like antiseptic grief.
PJ is fluffing Trouble’s pillows. Danger slouches against the wall beside her, fists jammed into his pockets, probably so he doesn’t start a fight with anyone who gives him bad news.
Monitors are everywhere, an IV pole towering near him. The machines beep a continuous rhythm, which is the only comfort. PJ leans in, lips to his temple, and says something I can’t hear.
She steps back. Looks at me. “You sit with him, honey.”
I drag a chair up to the bedside and reach for his hand. It’s rough and warm—different than I remembered, maybe because I never let myself remember it the way I should have. With my free hand, I dig into my tote bag and pull out the stuffed horse Trouble won me at the fair. Knox had to sprint to the guest-house and grab a few things for me. It's from the day everything changed—when I stopped seeing him as just my brother’s best friend and started seeing who he really was. I tuck it carefully into the crook of his arm, like maybe it still carries some of that magic from that day—like maybe it’ll be enough to bring him back to me.
PJ smiles and hovers, but only for a second. “I’ll go let everyone else know he’s stable for now and they can go home to rest.” She squeezes my shoulder. “Sawyer, you’re welcome to go home, shower, get some rest if you want, also.”
I shake my head, throat tight. “No, thank you, ma’am. I’d rather stay.”
She nods. Like she expected that answer.
She heads for the door, but Danger doesn’t budge. He stays, arms folded. “My brothers think I’m oblivious,” hesays, picking a thread from his sleeve, “but I see everything. And I’ve never seen him look at anyone like he looks at you.”
He lets it hang there. Waiting for me to react.
“I mean it,” he says, softer this time. “If he pulls through, I hope you don’t break his heart. He doesn’t give it away often.”
Danger pushes off the wall. He’s half a step from gone, when I blurt, “I won’t.”
The room goes very still. Even the monitors hush. A tear slides hot down my cheek. I let it fall. I can’t tell him how much I love his brother because I never even had the chance to tell Tristan first.
“I just wish I could talk to him,” I continued.
Danger glances at Trouble, then back at me. “I hope you get the chance,” he says, tipping his hat.
He leaves.
It’s just me and Trouble. I tighten my grip on his hand.
PJ slips back in after a while. She drops a blanket in my lap and takes the chair opposite of me with her own blanket.
I wrap the blanket around my shoulders and keep my eyes on Trouble. I half-expect him to open his eyes and tell me to stop worryin’, that he’s fine. But there’s nothing.
PJ clears her throat then says, “I’m glad you’re here.”
I look up. “You are?”
She smiles. “‘Course. He needs someone like you.” Her fingers toy with her necklace. “Never had much patience, my boy. Not for slowin’ down in life. Been a daredevil from the moment he was born. Never cared much about the bad that could happen to him.”
“Sounds like him.”
“He gets that from his granddaddy. But you—” She shifts, leans forward. “You could ground him. Not hold him back, just… make him see there’s more to life than what he can outrun. And a mama knows when someone loves her boy. Really loves him. Trust me.”
