Page 168 of Sunrise & Serenity

Her dad straightens. “There’s no reason for you to be here. This situation is stressful enough without unnecessary distractions.”

Stressful enough? Their daughter hit her head hard enough to end up in the hospital, yet he sounds more inconvenienced than scared.

Graham lets out a sharp breath. “Victoria, Richard, and I have been discussing arrangements.”

My shoulders tense. “What arrangements?”

“To take her home.”

“Home?”

“New York,” Victoria clarifies. “She needs proper recovery support.”

Graham steps closer and nods toward the hospital bed. “This place is obviously dangerous.”

My jaw locks. “She was injured saving a calf,” I say flatly. “Not cliff-diving.”

Richard snorts. “Do you hear yourself? She’s a photographer. What the hell was she doing anywhere near a farm animal?”

“The point is she has a concussion.” Victoria crosses her legs. “She should be back home, not worrying about any of this.”

“I don’t think it’s up to you what Sage does. She can decide for herself.”

Graham glowers. “I wasn’t aware anybody asked for your opinion.”

“You seem happy enough to give yours without being asked.” I pin him with my stare. “Why are you even here?”

His expression hardens. “The hospital called me. I’m still her emergency contact.”

I grit my teeth. “Being her emergency contact doesn’t give you the right to tell her how to live her life.”

Victoria puts one hand up. “Now isn’t the time.”

“Actually,” Graham says without looking away from me, “now seems like exactly the right time.”

I do my best to keep my voice down, though my blood pressure is rising. “You don’t get to decide what’s best for her.”

He laughs. “And you do?”

“I’ve learned better. Sage should be the only one making decisions about what she wants.”

“That’s funny,” a hoarse voice says from behind me.

We all turn.

Sage’s eyes are heavy-lidded but open.

For a second, nobody moves. Then her mom rises and makes her way to the side of the bed. “Are you okay? Should we call a nurse?”

“I’m fine,” Sage rasps.

She doesn’t sound fine. She sounds tired.

But Victoria lets out a quiet breath, and her shoulders relax a little.

Sage shifts slightly, and when she winces, I fight the urge to move, to help, but I stay where I am.

Her gaze sweeps the room, from her parents to Graham, finally settling on me. For one long, painful heartbeat, she stares, a small line forming between her brows. Then she wets her lips and looks back at Graham.