Page 95 of Austin

“No.” He coughs and winces at the pain it causes. Straining his face, he says, “Don’t ever say that. I crashed. Not you. Beckett was here and confirmed it.”

I lift my head to look at him. “Beckett was here? Damn, how long was I sleeping?”

“I feel the same way,” he says with a light laugh. “You were right. Beckett and I do have a lot in common. I think we might actually be friends.”

He drops his head back, closing his eyes. The pain radiating off his face is unfathomable. It breaks my heart even more. “Thank you for being here,” he whispers.

“Austin, of course I’m here. I couldn’t leave you. I’d never leave you. Gregg and Beckett were amazing, and Bryce helped by telling us where to go. Eva and Julie lent support. Everyone was worried sick. Including your father.”

“My father was here?”

“He was upset. I saw it with my own two eyes. And guess what?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. Lord knows we both need it. “I watched him put Missy in her place when she tried to cause a scene about racing.”

His eyes widen. “He did?”

I nod. “He cares about you, Austin. I saw it tonight.”

“I don’t know about that. You might have just caught him in a momentary loss of faculties. Edward and I lost our father-son relationship a long time ago. Bryce, on the other hand, now, there’s a relationship I think I can salvage. He seems to think everyone cares about me.”

“He’s right, you know,” I say, bringing his attention back to me.

“About what?” he whispers.

“About all of us caring for you.”

His eyes melt into mine. “You do?”

“Me most of all,” I sigh as I stare into his red-rimmed eyes. The intensity of his stare takes my breath away. “Tell me a secret.”

His hand rises to touch my face. “My little secret keeper, always eager for more. I have a secret for you. I was in and out of consciousness in the car.”

I raise a brow. “You were?”

“I was,” he states. “I can’t believe you waited until I was on the brink of death to tell me how you really feel about me.”

“You heard that, huh?”

“I did, and I don’t need you hunched over a wheel for me to tell you, I love you, Jalynn. I’ve been in love with you since you fought me on that Oakland street with those wild eyes and damn khaki pants. You lured me in with that quick tongue and stole my heart with a kiss in a janitor’s closet.”

“You had me at Godiva,” I tease and am rewarded with a pinch on my side, which tickles. “I fell in love with you on the roof. I fell even deeper with each of your secrets. I love you so much, Austin Sexton. I don’t know how to breathe without you.”

“That’s good because I am never spending a day without you by my side.”

I drop my head with a slight giggle, remembering the moment I met him and every moment in between. When I open my eyes and meet his, I smile. “And, for the record, I said it first.”

“I love you? No way. It doesn’t count if you say it when the guy is half in the bag.”

“Does, too! You heard it, so it totally counts. I said it first.”

“You are such a pain in the ass.”

“Stop being such a hothead.”

“Jalynn?” he drawls.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”