Mom and Dad arrived about five minutes after we did, followed by Beckett and Griffin. True snuck in at some point after that, and Wilder rushed in smelling like motor oil from the shop a little while ago. Eliza and Luis are out of town, but Eliza’s been calling the doctors and keeping tabs on Holden’s condition from a distance.
Everyone’s talking quietly, trying to keep things light. But I can hear Beckett muttering at Griffin from here, as he paces back and forth.
“Myfuckingbrothers need to stop risking theirfuckinglives,” he says in a rough voice, shooting me eyeballs. “First, Ames runs into a burning building, then HoldenandRobbie decide to play hero against a man with a gun?—”
Griffin catches Beckett’s hand and pulls him into a hug that makes Beckett blow out a breath.
Meanwhile, Robbie’s body stills beside me.
“What?” I ask softly.
His eyes meet mine, and he shakes his head. “He said… brothers.”
I mentally replay Beckett’s words and grin. “Well, yeah. Are you surprised he thinks of you that way? After everything you said to Mike about what family is?”
“I mean, I knew howIfelt, but…” He shrugs. “It’s nice to hear, that’s all.”
“You’ve been an Axford for sixteen years, Robert. Get with the program.” I pat his thigh and settle against him again.
“Of course he has.” My mother catches the tail end of this and looks at Robbie with narrowed eyes. “Who’s been saying differently?”
Robbie laughs and shakes his head.
The automatic doors slide open, and Anna walks in, trailed by Brie and Kaylee. All three of them look shaken but physically okay.
Robbie and I stand simultaneously with our hands locked together, and Brie runs over to throw her arms around both of us.
“I was so scared.”
“I know,” Robbie whispers. “Me too.” I see the complicated mix of emotions on his face—relief, guilt, grief, anger—and I squeeze his hand more tightly, letting him know I’m there.
“Sorry to intrude, but the girls and I couldn’t sleep,” Anna says, stroking a hand down Kaylee’s long hair. It’s a sign of how freaked-out Kaylee was—and maybe still is—that she allows this coddling and actually leans closer to her mother, though they’re nearly the same height. “We tried, after the police took our statements, but all three of us really wanted to make sure Holden was okay.”
“Of course.” I wrap my arms around Anna and Kaylee both. “I’m so glad you came.”
The doctor comes out about twenty minutes later. “Sheriff Axford’s people?”
We all turn as one.
“Another crowd, huh?” The doctor gives us a tired smile, and I recognize her as the same woman who treated me after the fire. “He’s fine. No bone damage, no major vascular damage. He told me to tell you that you can go cry over him two at a time.”
The whole family laughs in relief.
“He’s such an asshole,” I say fondly.
“Ames Michael! Language,” my mom chides, but she can’t hide her grin. “Besides, the poor boy’s probably on pain medication. He’s not himself.”
“Nah. The meds just make you more honest.” I shoot Robbie a look and add softly, “In my experience, anyway.”
We finally leave the hospital around midnight. Holden’s being kept overnight for observation.
I take the keys from Robbie and manage to drive us home left-handed. I head to his house, obviously, no discussion needed. The poor guy’s exhausted. His big body’s slumped, and his eyes are shadowed.
I want to say it’s the longest day of both our lives, but I think for him, it might take second place to the night of the fire. I’m determined that this night will end better than that one, for both of us.
Robbie lets me lead him up the path, past the tulips, and I unlock the front door with my key. But when I see the living room’s still full of flickering candles and the rose petals I slid through earlier, I freeze.
Somehow, with everything else that happened, I forgot about Robbie’sdate. The guy he matched with on Tapper.
