“We should have everything,” I replied, holding thefront door open for her and pressing a kiss to her head as she passed by after shooing Pancho back to her bedroom. “Don’t worry, love. They won’t be mad if we forget something.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she quickly mumbled, “I know. I just want to make sure I’m contributing.”
Even though Spencer was gone, Sierra had been a bit jumpy the last few weeks, and understandably so. Instead of buying a new trailer and getting back on the road, she’d insisted on staying with me longer, though I wasn’t opposed to that idea. I wasn’t opposed to the idea of her staying with me forever.
She’d also opened up about everything that had happened the last few months, and even before then. The true story about what happened that night back in May our senior year and what caused her to leave the first time. The guilt she felt surrounding not being able to protect the people she cared about and the fear that someone else would get hurt trying to help her. The anxiety attacks and the therapist she saw for a while. Her fears of being abandoned again by the people she cared about.
I’d suggested reaching out to Elena about coming in for a session, because even though it’d been years, it might be beneficial. A quick Google search told me she still worked in Goldfinch. We could both see her, because God knew it would benefit me, too.
After Sierra called me out in the hospital for risking my life, I came to the realization that growing up, I’d developed a bit of a savior complex. All I’d wanted to do was help people, even if they didn’t need or want it.
I knew now that sometimes the people I cared about just needed support. But even though Sierra was right—I couldn’t support the people I loved if I risked my life and wasn’taround—never once did I regret taking that bullet for her. Not even for a moment.
Admittedly, the first few nights in the hospital, I woke in a puddle of sweat, nightmares of losing Sierra to her dad’s twisted plans haunting my sleep. In every scenario, I didn’t make it to her in time—I wasn’t there to save her, and I had to watch the life drain out of her eyes as I held her in my arms.
I wondered if that was how she felt when she thought she was going to lose me.
She sat watch at the hospital every minute she could, despite my insistence that she needed to rest, too, and could go home. That I would be fine. Part of me thought she believed that if she let me out of her sight, I’d disappear on her, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Sierra Bayley was stuck with me. There was no world in which I would ever leave her. Not now, not ever, really.
If I was the sun, then Sierra was my moon, creating light in times of darkness.
I rang the doorbell when we got to Colter and Ellison’s place, and I could already hear the shuffle and chatter of people inside.
“Come in!” Ellison called out to us, and I opened the door, revealing all of our friends standing underneath a store bought banner that readHappy BirthdaybutBirthdaywas crossed out and replaced withThanksgiving. Someone had also written in smaller lettersHomecoming, Haydenunderneath theThanksgivingas well.
“Welcome home, Hayden!” everyone cheered, except Mikey, who said, “Happy Thanksgiving!”
I huffed out a laugh because the sign and all their antics were oddly fitting.
“How are you feeling, buddy?” Colter gently wrapped his arm around me as he led both me and Sierra into the kitchen where a whole spread of food was waiting.
“I’m feeling fine. This one”—I squeezed Sierra’s shoulder—“has insisted on babying me for the last couple weeks. At first it was cute, but now I’m ready to get back to normal life.”
Sierra sputtered out some words in protest as she set down her trays, but I pulled her into my arms and kissed her on the forehead.
“I like when you take care of me, Skip.”
“Is everyone here now?” Isa asked from her spot on the couch next to Reid.
Ellison counted everyone in attendance—her, Colter, Reid, Isa, Mikey, Juniper, Jake, Keenan, Sierra, and myself—then nodded. “I think so?”
A knock at the door got everyone’s attention.
“Uh, honey, were you expecting anyone else?” Colter raised his brows.
“Not that I’m aware of?” She furrowed her brows as she headed toward the door, opening it to a shivering Caitlin and Whitley, her three-year-old daughter.
“Caitlin! What are you doing here?” Ellison pulled her into a hug before squatting to her niece’s eye level. “Miss Whitley, it’s so good to see you.”
“Hey, sis,” Colter greeted her.
“Sorry to barge in, guys. I hope you don’t mind that we’re here.” Caitlin sounded like she was out of breath.
“No, not at all,” Ellison reassured her while the rest of us awkwardly observed the exchange. “I thought you guys were spending the holiday in Washington?”
Caitlin pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and shook her head. “Had a change of plans. Adam had anemergency business trip. I thought Mom might be home, but it looks like she went to Bozeman instead.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jake roll his eyes, his fists clenching at his sides.
