I wonder how she knows that AJ is my first love. Then I remember that she saw him last night, and that she meansImust behis. I mouth her athank youand let go of her hand, then I take four steps over to his bedside. The orange buffers might stop his head or neck from moving, but they also conceal his face. I hover over him, looking down. His eyes are closed. He looks peaceful.
I brush my fingers against his and his eyes fly open. Then he grants me the biggest smile, his grip tightening around mine.
‘Hey,’ I smile.
‘Hey, baby,’ he says back. His tone is deep, but languid and thready.
‘You okay?’ I ask.
His eyelids flicker. ‘Everything hurts.’
I laugh gently. ‘I’m not surprised. You jumped out of a burning building.’
‘You impressed?’
‘Not in the slightest. I thought I’d lost you.’ I feel a surge of tears. I try and smile through it.
‘You didn’t lose me, baby. I’m still here. Not going anywhere.’
‘Good. Because I can’t lose you.’
I see him swallow. Tears roll down my cheeks again. I’ve lifted his hand and am pressing it to my cheek.
‘If I could move… I would kiss you right now,’ I hear him say.
I lean down. It’s an awkward angle, but I manage to press my lips to his. I hear his sigh of relief as I do.
‘Your mum is here,’ I say against his mouth, before pulling away and glancing toward Mercy waiting patiently by the door.
‘Yeah?’
‘Everyone is here. I drove out to Rapture then Chase brought me back.’
‘Is it all gone?’
‘I don’t know yet. But I think Scotch & Smoke is… I don’t think there’ll be much left.’
‘You think my motorcycles survived?’
I laugh as Mercy moves closer. ‘You’re worried about thatnow?’ I say.
‘You know, I thought if you ever ended up like this,’ Mercy says to her son, looking him over, ‘it would be because of an accident on one of them motorcycles.’
She hovers over AJ.
‘Hey, Mom,’ he whispers, looking up at her.
‘You scared the hell outta me,’ she scolds him, leaning down and kissing his forehead.
‘I’m sure Lo has done worse.’
‘Not sure Lo ever jumped out a burning building, sweetheart. I think you won this round. How you feeling?’
‘Like I just jumped out a burning building, hit the ground and broke both my legs.’
Mercy doesn’t look impressed. ‘Did you not hear me? You scared me.’
‘Sorry.’
