I scoffed. “Am I okay?” I shook my head. “Goody, you nearly died.”
She rolled her eyes, but beneath her bravado, I saw fear. “Stop being dramatic. I passed out for like a second.”
I shook my head, drawing in a deep breath through my nose. I needed to stay calm—for her.
“I’m okay. You’re okay. That’s all that matters.” How was she so composed after everything that had happened?
“The fuck it is,” I ground out. “He could’ve…” I closed my eyes and swallowed hard as a multitude of scenarios played out in my mind.
I kept replaying his phone call in my head. And I remembered her face when I’d peered through the window. She’d been terrified. And it was all my fault. A sickening feeling settled in my gut.
“Stop,” she said. “Stop blaming yourself.”
I cupped her cheek, and she winced. There was a pang near my heart, a reminder that this was my fault. And that I should’ve fucking remembered she’d been slapped. I pulled my hand back, but she placed it on top of hers instead. “I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head, her eyes peering up at me with such trust. Trust I didn’t deserve. “There’s no need to apologize. It’s not your fault.”
“No.” I hung my head. “I put you in danger.”
“You saved me, Connor.”
“You never would’ve been in that position were it not for my actions.” I picked at the coarse fibers of the hospital blanket, hating myself. “And you…” I sucked in a breath. “You were so strong, so brave.”
Watching her stand up to George had been both inspiring and terrifying. And she’d done it for me. She’d defended me, even when her life was at stake.
“Listen to me.” She grasped my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze. “You are not responsible for someone else’s decisions. You—”
There was a knock at the door, and a nurse collected Olivia for the CT scan. She left, but not before saying, “We’ll talk more when I get back.”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure what more there was to say. I’d fucked up. She’d gotten hurt.
I returned to the hall to make a few phone calls but found Liam waiting for me. He leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed over his chest.
“How is she?” he asked, pushing off the wall and coming to join me.
I lifted a shoulder. “She seems almost too calm. I think she’s in shock.”
“And you?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
He scoffed. “Let’s try that again, shall we? The woman you love was held at gunpoint.”
My eyes flashed to his. “Who said anything about love?”
“You didn’t have to. It’s obvious to everyone. Have you told her?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “No.”
“Why not?”
I kicked at the floor. “She doesn’t want long-distance.”
He laughed, patting me on the back. “That’sthe problem?”
I was annoyed by his smug tone, his smile. “Three thousand miles is a pretty significant problem. And she’s adamant.”
“I would tell you to transfer to LA, but I’m guessing that’s not the real issue.”
