“I can’t take any credit. I’m just glad you are putting yourself first.”
“Enough is enough,” I say, internally crying when she removes her hands from my neck, already missing her touch. “It’s time to lay all the cards on the table.”
ChapterSixty-Four
Beck
“I’m going out for a walk and meeting Hadley for lunch,” Stevie says, bending down to kiss my cheek. “I’ll be gone for ages, so take your time.”
“You don’t have to make yourself scarce,” I remind her. “There is nothing I plan to say to my sisters you can’t hear.”
“I know, but this is something you should discuss with your sisters alone. It’s a family matter.”
I want to say she’ll be family one day, but that’s an extremely premature thought.
“Okay.” I stand and wrap my arms around her. “Be safe.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s only a walk, and lunch, in the middle of the day. I’m sure I’ll survive.”
I follow her out to the hall, watching as she puts on her coat and grabs her bag. “I worry about you when I’m not there to protect you.”
She cups my cheeks. “You’re so sweet.”
It’s so difficult not to grab the back of her head and pull her mouth to mine, but somehow, I resist.
A knock on the door ends the moment anyway. We break apart, and Stevie opens the door to my sisters. Esther and Stevie hug it out while Sarah looks on in amused confusion. With one last goodbye, Stevie is gone, and I’m closing the door after her and ushering my sisters inside.
“Wow.” Sarah stands in front of the new framed picture on the wall behind the couch. “Stevie is getting so good.”
“She’s very talented.” Pride suffuses my tone as I stand alongside my sisters, admiring Stevie’s latest work of art. I have four original Stevie Colson masterpieces around my house now, and I smile every time I look at them, instantly thinking of the amazing woman who created them. Law and Tate would give me such shit if they were privy to my thoughts.
“Is that your eagle?” Esther asks, tilting her head to one side as she inspects the exquisite dried-flower rendering of the ink on my back.
“It is.” Stevie took a picture of it to use as her inspiration.
Sarah’s head whips to mine. “How would Stevie know about it?” Her mouth curves at the corners and her eyes scrunch up. “Has something happened with you two?”
“I wish.” Shoving my hands deep in the pockets of my jeans, I sigh. “I’m still firmly in the friend zone.”
“Aw.” Disappointment crests over Sarah’s face, and I love how much my sisters want this for me.
“Just give it time.” Esther pats my arm. “We all see the way she looks at you. She’ll find her way onto the same page.”
“How long do you think Garrick’s family will let him remain in a coma before they force the issue?” Sarah asks, sinking onto my couch.
I shrug. “I don’t know if they’ll force the issue at all. They have the resources to keep him on life support forever.” I drop onto the recliner chair, running a hand over the top of my head.
“I would hate to be in that position.” Esther sits beside Sarah. “I hope nothing ever happens to the two of you. Imagine having to even contemplate such a thing? I don’t think I could ever willingly decide to turn off life support.”
“If there is no brain activity, like in Brielle’s case, it would be cruel to everyone to not do it,” I say. “Garrick’s situation is difficult because there is evidence of brain activity, but the longer he is on life support, the more risk there is to his lungs, his heart, and his brain.”
Sarah tucks her hair behind her ears. “You mean if he wakes there’s a greater chance he could be in a vegetative state?”
I nod.
“God, that would be awful. For him and his loved ones,” Esther says with tears in her eyes. “It’s an impossible situation. I feel so bad for him and his family. For Stevie too.”
“It sucks for everyone involved.” Sarah looks pointedly at me.
