se w

i

air. They were releasing me tomorrow. He wheeled me in, and it shocked me.

over to his si

” I asked Na

e surgery. So, the doctors won’t know a

,

to him, he can hear vo

His hand was so warm. “Hey, Lex. It’s me, Piper. Wake up, baby

his face in

were so jealous, and I forced you to admit your feelings. Well, I have a confession. I was in love

and my paren

ul steel-grey eyes of yours. I want to see them. So, please open you

they stood there. Then so

Lex’s therapy

d back

with me.” Lakin worked with his legs and arms. “You’re so damn stubborn. But that’s okay because I won’t give

oing?” Nash

al almost didn’t let me perform his physical therapy. So n

s arms around

and Luna wil

ka

, then attended t

as

” Nash asked, kee

arting at the bakery until we

ll. Take

sn’t leaving him. He would wake up, and we would get m

he was still lying there. I didn’t see anyone in his hospital room, so I walked over and climbed int

ll a

day, Nash and

this,” Nixon

ad. Then, he walked over to

eyes. “I must have f

you back to your room before the

odd

the bed and took

’t mind that I

h him, it makes things feel normal. Be

e’s M

e bakery. She and Kat are

I hugged Nash becaus

*

a

I returned to Lex’s hospital room

Piper. I’m good with you being lazy. But your folks and Piper aren’t. See, don’t tell anyone, but your ma cries a lot. She’s an enormous baby, anyway. Y

and watched

rays, are tough. Nothing can take u

them. I put my finger on my lips, silenc

doing mushy crap. But for you, I’ll make an exception. See, don’t tell anyone this, but you remind me of y

alke

and wiped his eyes. “How long

, brother, l

l.” His vo

ug as he cried. “I kn

f us with the family. My brothers all took it hard, as did the rest

*

i

p. I hope it was soon. I miss those

time there. I had worried my parents but didn’t care. I w