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“But we almost lost her,” I plead, trying to stare into her soul and project my persuasion right into it. There’s a moment where it seems like she understands, but it quickly shutters, and her expression hardens.

“My priority is her health, not your need to be a teddy bear,” she quips, not even blinking when I deflate.

Rosy giggles. “Max is my snuggly bear.”

“Do you need to lower the dosage?” I ask Evelyn, a little worried that Honeybee’s going to float away in a minute.

“It will wear off, and we should be at the hospital any minute,” she replies.

SIXTY-SEVEN

ROSY

I think I’m done with today. Can I skip it now?

I’ve been poked and prodded, then I got to endure the fun time of having my arm pushed back in. Anyone who says it doesn’t hurt to have it re-located—un-dislocated?—is a liar. Although I couldn’t tell you exactly what it felt like to have it pushed back in; thankfully, I was sedated enough that it’s all fuzzy. I vote to never have to go through either again.

It’s barely been a second since the nurse left, after returning me from another x-ray, and the door to my room suddenly slams open.

I shriek, my good hand landing on my throat as my heart tries to leap up it. Apparently, I’m back to being scared at any new movement and sound again. Back to square one.

Nate strides straight up to my bedside, cupping my face in his warm palms, and our eyes lock. I so desperately want to sink into him, into his heat, his embrace, and his unwavering support.

“Sorry, honeybee. He’s even more irate and snappy than usual,” Max apologises, and I hear him flop onto the chair beside me. His hand curls around my knee. My sunshine Max sounds tired and wrung out.

Another hand grips mine, but I can’t see who it is. Nate’s grip holds me still, and I don’t fight it. His eyes rove over my face, taking stock of every detail, and the overwhelming need to cry and fall into his arms surges through me.

A knock on the door sounds loud in the slightly cramped room, and Nate immediately tenses. His hand lets me go, and my fingers twitch, wanting to pull him back.

He turns and yanks it open.

“No,” he says to whoever’s on the other side of the door, hidden behind his large frame.

“Nate,” a familiar voice warns, and my breath releases with a quick exhale.

“You can let him in,” I admonish him softly.

I need to have this conversation. Not only to give my version of events, but…for the confirmation too. I need to know.

My protector steps back, allowing the detective to enter. The room’s really not big enough for this many bodies, especially with the added tension and unease that seems to fill it. I don’t think it’s all coming from me either.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing okay,” Logan says. His face looks tired and creased from a night of no sleep.

Glancing around, I note that they all look the same, myself likely included as the fatigue sits heavy in my muscles. I’ve no idea what time it is now, but it was some point during the evening that the nightmare started. Without any windows in my room, I can’t figure out if we’ve at least made it to a new day, or if I’m still stuck in the previous one.

“She’s hurt,” Nate growls, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he glares at the detective.

“But I’m still here,” I add, the words hard to speak. I haven’t forgotten that I almost didn’t make it.

Noah’s hand lands on my ankle closest to him, and I glance at him and offer a small smile. He doesn’t return it, his eyes too creased with worry and darker emotions I can’t identify.

“I need to get a statement from you. Are you feeling up to doing it now?” Logan asks, and I appreciate he’s giving me the chance to say no.

“Okay.” I nod, fear creeping in. I’d rather forget than relive it.

“Okay,” he repeats. “Can you tell me what happened from the moment you received the message when you were with Noah?”

It’s not lost on me that there’s a tingle of déjà vu as the guys sit around waiting for me to share through the ordeal I went through with Logan. Although this time I’m not quite as nervous, nor shut down. I’m stronger this time, because I know that even after the last time, none of them looked at me any differently. None of them walked away or decided I was too much for them.