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He chokes, I laugh, and my dad frowns.
“I’m fine, Han, and you need to get back to school. And thanks for the stuff.”
The corner of Havannah’s lips lifts, and she bends to hug me. “Course, we’re about the same size, so everything should fit. There’s some basic hygiene stuff in there, too.”
“Perfect.”
“So you’ll call me after you get some rest?”
“You’ll answer?” I pop a brow, and her cheeks grow red. I glance to my dad, seeing he’s invested in whatever Rowan is saying, so I lean closer to Havannah and whisper, “He doesn’t know you video-chatted me, does he?”
Tears fill her eyes, and she smashes her lips together. “I’m so sorry. I had to reach you somehow, especially that day. I should have …” She looks down, and tears fall.
“Han.”
She glances up, disgrace lining her eyes.
“We’ll talk later, ’kay?”
She gives a small smile and nods.
“You know, Mr. Rivera—” Rowan starts.
“Trick.”
Rowan’s lip twitches and I laugh lightly. He’s waited a long time for my dad to allow that.
“Trick, you’re welcome to come, too. I’ve bought a new couch since Alec lit my other one on fire, and it’s soft as shit.”
When my dad’s brow lifts and his eyes land on me, I shrug, and Rowan playfully rolls his eyes.
My dad chuckles.
“A man who won’t let anything get in his way is a good man,” he teases.
Havannah mumbles under her breath.
His forehead creases, but he looks back to Rowan. “Thanks, son, but Hillock’s got a little studio out back for me to use until we find a place.”
“Okay, I’m leaving.” Havannah leans forward to give me a hug and whispers loudly, “I’d better hurry and try to catch me that officer in the parking lot. Even fake officers have handcuffs, right?”
I laugh, and she winks, taking off for the visitor’s elevator.
“I hate to be away from you already.” I reach for my dad’s hand, and his eyes fly to mine, the glower on his face smoothing out.
“Hey”—he bends down in front of me—“you’ll never know how sorry I am for having to do that to you. But I’m here and very much okay. Not going anywhere.”
I nod, and Rowan’s hand comes down on my shoulder.
“Wanna come to Hillock’s with me? Plenty of room.”
I shake my head. “Love him, but I’ll be more comfortable at Rowan’s house.”
“Right.” He frowns a bit. “Sure you wanna leave the hospital with Alec still—”
“I need a shower and some sleep. Better coffee.”
Both my dad and Rowan laugh.
“Okay. If you’re sure you’re okay with my leaving, I’m gonna go.”
“The sooner you go, the sooner you can get us in a new home.”
My dad smiles softly. “Call me when you get there?”
“I will.”
“Okay, I’ll be by first thing in the morning, and we can chat some more, just the two of us, while Rowan’s in class.” He cuts his stare to Rowan’s. “’Cause rescuing my daughter from a fire isn’t on the list of reasons for excused absences.”
Rowan laughs, and my dad winks.
“All right, I’m going.” He bends to kiss me on the cheek and then rushes past the elevator, choosing the stairwell instead.
The nurse escorts us all the way down and out the door. She even waits right beside me while Rowan pulls his truck around, and then we’re headed for his house.
Just when my eyes drift shut, Rowan starts whispering, “I wanted to love you like you deserved.”
I shift to look at him, but his eyes stay on the road.
“I tried. And, just when I thought I might have been falling, everything got a little blurry.”
I don’t say anything. He’s working through his own thoughts right now and needs me to hear what he has to say.
“When Alec was around, it was weird, almost as if I could feel the pull between the two of you, and it freaked me out. In my mind, you were my friend, my Oakley and I didn’t want to share you.” His eyes meet mine a moment. “I had thought eventually we’d be together, figured it was just taking a little more time than expected. Then Alec would come around and I’d panic, try to force something I couldn’t make myself feel, no matter how bad I wanted to.” He gives a sad smile. “You thought you were in this alone, waiting on me, Oak, but I was waiting on me, too. I wanted to want you.
“I’ve always cared about you, more than anyone else, and I still do. That won’t change. But I think Alec was right.”
My brows pull in, and he briefly glances my way.
“He told me I loved you but said that I wasn’t in love with you. He said it was because you weren’t meant for me, and deep down, I’d always known. I didn’t believe it until I pulled you from that fire. My mind was racing, and I was fucking afraid I’d lose you, afraid I’d lose my brother. But, the minute I got you on the ground and ran back in, the first thought to cross my mind was … I have to save him … for her.”
