“You’re asking me? I’m not the one in the bed.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
It didn’t matter. None of it did. Turning back to Josie, I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek, then whispered, “I’ll be back later.”
There was no way I wanted to be here when her grandparents showed up. They didn’t need the man responsible for all this in the room with her. “Stay with her until they get here.”
“JR—”
But I walked out the door and didn’t look back.
42
JOSIE
Everything hurt.
My face felt like it had been through a meat grinder, and my chest burned. It took a minute to remember what happened, but when it came rushing back, the terror returned at full force.
“Josie?”
Grandma’s face appeared above me, the worry creasing every line of her face told me I must look horrible.
“Gran—” Speaking hurt too damn much, and tears pricked my eyes the longer I looked at her.
“Sweetie, you’re going to be okay.” Reaching for a cup, she poured some water and helped me drink it. “Small sips.”
“Sawyer,” I murmured, hoping she understood.
“He’s doing just fine. Your grandpa’s with him now. He’ll need some time to recover, but the doctor said there’s no permanent damage.”
That was a relief. But there was still someone missing. I could have sworn I heard him talking to me when I was asleep, but he was nowhere in sight.
“Where’s JR?” I croaked out.
“Who?”
My eyes slid closed. The idea of explaining anything felt too taxing. I was exhausted, and every movement just added to the pain.
“The police said your home was broken into. Honey, who would do such a thing? This level of violence?—”
“It was my fault.”
His voice washed over me in a comforting blanket. Forcing my eyes open, I met his and something eased in my chest.
“What? Who are you?” Grandma asked.
“JR,” he answered, not bothering to look at my grandma. His eyes were only for me.
“What do you mean you’re responsible?”
“They came because of me,” he said, not answering any further than that. “I’m so sorry.”
His words were aimed directly at me, but Grandma wasn’t having any of it.
“If you’re responsible, then you need to leave?—”
“Grandma, can you give us a minute?”
