Claire. I need Claire.
Her fingers twitch again, and this time, I don’t doubt it.
A smile breaks across my face.
29
TEARS AND MUFFINS
MADISON
A hiss fills my ears. My head throbs in time with the beat of my heart. I hear my name—sharp, urgent—and my body feels impossibly heavy as I try to curl my fingers.
Warm hands cup my cheeks. Sobs and distant shouts echo inside my skull.
I squeeze my eyes, then they flutter open. Light spills through—too bright, too much. I shut them again as my body burns and nausea rolls through my stomach.
The warmth leaves my cheeks. Something holds my hand, squeezing.
I don’t… I can’t…
The world spins. My chest aches. There’s a constant beep sounding beside me, louder than it should be.
Why isn’t anything working?
Darkness consumes me.
Then I’m there, on the cliff. The haze in my mind clears. Hunter is staring back at me, eyes wide as he lunges forward, reaching, but it’s too late. I’m falling. Screaming.
The only thought I have.Ilove you.
Then nothing.
My eyes snap open. The bright glare from before is softer now. Panic coils in my chest as the room tilts, but I cling to the warmth wrapped around my hand. My fingers twitch, and I turn my head, finding Hunter asleep, bent over the bed, his head resting near my hip, worry pinching his brows.
Pain ripples up my arm as I lift my free hand to trace the line of his brows. His eyes snap open, widening when they meet mine. My lips twitch.
“Hi… handsome,” I rasp, my throat burning around the words.
“Baby girl,” he breathes back.
We stay like that, frozen, staring at each other, soaking in the moment. I’m here, breathing. And he’s here, holding on tight.
He straightens slightly, and my grip tightens around his hand, my head shaking faintly. His fingers trail from my temple to my cheek, brushing away the tears welling in my eyes.
“Please, don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere, honey,” he says. “But I know your momma really wants to see you. Can I get her for you?”
I nod, tears falling freely now. He leans forward, pressing a light, careful kiss to my forehead, and reaches over, pushing a button on the wall.
He sinks back into the chair with a smirk. “See? Not going anywhere.”
“Smartass,” I choke out, my lips twitching despite the tears.
He chuckles, slipping his hand back into mine. “There’s my girl.”
A moment later, the door opens quietly, and Mom steps in.
