“I’ll go with her,” I say immediately.
They don’t argue.
I meet Drew’s eyes, sending a silent message. He nods and waves me off.
As we step outside into the cold, for the first time since this nightmare began, I really think we’re going to be okay.
At the hospital,everything blurs into white light and antiseptic. Ivy finally allows them to sedate her lightly when her hands start trembling too badly to stop. I stay until her eyes slide shut and her breathing evens out.
I don’t let go until a nurse gently tells me I have to.
She’s asleep when they wheel her away to run some tests. Standard procedure, they say.
I stand in the hallway afterward, staring at nothing.
A nurse approaches me and explains they need to check me over as well. It takes some convincing, but I finally agree, provided I get to be with her.
I’m lying in a hospital bed when I finally noticeDrew in the plastic chair against the wall, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. When I speak, he flinches like he forgot I was there. “Have you heard any updates?”
He shakes his head.
“You okay?” I ask, staring at him.
He lets out a broken laugh. “No.” He runs a hand through his hair. “But you have a concussion. You shouldn’t be worrying about me. Or Ivy.”
Fair. But of course, I’m going to worry about them. They’re my family.
“You saved us,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I shot someone.”
“You stopped him,” I correct. “There’s a difference.”
He looks up at me then, eyes glassy. “I thought I lost you. I thought?—”
His voice breaks.
I hold my arms out, and he comes over, hugging me the way he used to when we were kids, and the world was unraveling. “You didn’t,” I say. “I’m here.”
But the truth settles heavily in my chest. I almost wasn’t.
“Feels like old times,” he says when he pulls back. “And yet, everything’s changed.”
Memories swirl. I nod. “For the better.”
He meets my eyes, and we exchange a knowing look. “You think Mom ever regrets it? Blaming dad for everything. Getting married and abandoning us?”
I debate for a moment before deciding the truth is what he needs. “No, I don’t think she regrets it. I don’t think she’s capable of caring about anyone but herself.”
“Narcissistic bitch,” Drew mutters.
“Yeah, she is.”
“At least you found someone different. Better.” He smiles as they bring Ivy in.
I threw enough money at them to be sure we wouldn’t be separated.
He looks at her peacefully sleeping face, then at me. “She has a heart of gold.”
