He has feelings. He told me so himself.
He asked me to kiss him.
My eyes trace the man’s lips now, so full, even set in a straight line as they are. I brush his hair back again, the ride minimally bumpy as the ambulance brings us toward the hospital.
“You’re not allowed to leave me, either,” I tell the man, my voice scraping on the way out. “You don’t get to leave me like that.”
Lawson’s eyes stay locked on mine. “I’m not going.”
“For a long fucking time,” I demand. “Promise me.”
His lips tip up the tiniest bit. “I promise, Oak.”
I know it’s not a promise he can truly control or keep. But I nod all the same.
Because Lawson Darling is finally mine.
And like hell am I willing to give him up.
Not ever again.
Chapter 25
Lawson
“I’mfine,” I tell my mother for the hundredth time.
She shushes me, fluffing my flat-as-can-be hospital pillow as Remi stands at the foot of my bed, a frown on his face.
‘A little help here?’I sign discreetly his way.
‘You’re on your own,’he shoots back, lips twitching ever so slightly before his concern returns.
“I know you’re talking about me,” our mother says, even though she didn’t see our conversation.
“Where’s Oak?” I ask, trying to keep the whine from my tone. “He was supposed to be back by now.”
Wendy, for her part, is sitting in the corner of the room, her eyes on me as they’ve been since she and the rest of my family barreled into the hospital. Oak stepped out to talk to his parents, but that was a good fifteen minutes ago.
“Is there a reason you want Oakley here instead of your own mother?” my mom asks, her amusement slipping in beside her dry tone.
“I assume that’s a rhetorical question?” I deadpan.
Remi barks a laugh before coughing when our mom shoots him a halfhearted glare.
“At least you’ll live,” she says to me. “Which is good because there are some things we need to discuss.”
I let out a sigh, knowing exactly what she’s talking about. “You’re a bunch of meddlers.”
“This is news?” Remi mumbles.
My mom steps back from my hospital bed, apparently satisfied with the fluffiness of my pillow. Her eyebrow raise is pointed.
“Not before I’ve talked to him,” I tell her.
Something lights in her eyes, happy and tear-bright, before she blinks it away. “Fair enough, dear.”
There’s a knock on the door, followed by Oakley stepping back inside. He must see the stark relief on my face because his expression softens. “Hey.”
