Page 119 of You Saw the Best In Me

“Hi,” he whispers in my ear, and I reach for his hand.

I intertwine my fingers in his and close my eyes. It’s peaceful now, and I can breathe again.

“Should he even be allowed in here? He’s not family,” I hear from across the room, and I immediately jolt upright.

I scan the room until my eyes land on hers and find every ounce of strength in my body.

“Get her the fuck out of this room! Get her out of here before I kill her with my bare hands,” I scream, climbing out of bed.

I’m wobbly on my feet, and Maverick races to my side, holding me steady.

“Karrie, I know we had our little fight, but I want to be here for you, baby,” she says, stepping closer.

I take a breath and walk up to her, rage coursing through my veins.

I know the truth behind her fucking lies. She’s the reason I’m here.

I get close to her, grit my teeth, and spit the venom I’ve been waiting to say since I found out what she did.

“You bailed Asher out. You’re the reason why he kidnapped me. You told him I wanted him back and was waiting for him to come and get me. Stay the fuck away from me. You are never allowed near me again, you sick, twisted, fucking bitch,” I scream, not allowing her to defend herself.

I walk to the bathroom and slam the door shut behind me.

I hear her scrambling to defend herself and Maverick not taking her shit. He tells her she needs to leave or he’ll call security.

That will be the last time I ever see or speak to Katherine Collins.

She is dead to me.

There’s a light tap on the door, and Maverick tells me she’s gone.

I let him in and rub my eyes. My body is weak, and after nearly two days without food, comfort or rest I feel like I could pass out at any second.

“Karina, was that true?” he asks, stepping to me.

“Yeah, it is. Going back to when he found me at Juliette’s. She visited him and bailed him out after our fight,” I’m shaking again, the panic rising to the surface.

I think about Asher and how funny he thought it was that Katherine was on his side. He was beaming with pride, ready to instantly throw it in my face that she sold me out.

His words – her words – echo in my brain so loud that everything else sounds like a buzzing noise.

“Baby girl, look at me. Right here,” Mav says, and I can’t focus on him.

The bright lights are blinding and making me nauseous. I feel the betrayal coursing through me, stabbing me in the heart. I close my eyes and let the feeling sink to my stomach, and the sobs come out of me like a cleanse to the soul.

Maverick takes my hand and leads me to the ground just as the room starts spinning. He sits with his legs stretched out and places me on top of him, he wraps me entirely in his arms and holds me as if he intends to protect me from the rest of the world, forever.

I feel him stroke my hair, and his chest is heaving. He’s crying, and I feel so horrible for putting him through all this. He’d be fine if it weren’t for me and my shitty baggage.

I close my eyes and let myself feel safe. I’m not thinking of this thing that happened to me. I’m solely focused on my man.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my words hoarse.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I love you, and I’m not going anywhere. It’s breaking me into pieces seeing you like this, that’s all,” he says quietly, and we stay on the hospital bathroom floor until a nurse comes to get us.

“The doctor we spoke about earlier is here, Mr. Carter,” she whispers, and I’m confused.

“Thank you,” he helps me to my feet and holds my hands.