AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He’s tired, but he wants to see you.”
Dad and Jackson stay behind, and my emotions spin all over the place as I follow Garrett. The tears spill over before we even get to Dylan’s room, and I prepare myself for what I might find. Garrett walks in ahead of me. Dylan lays in the bed, his eyes closed, looking so exhausted I try to stop Garrett from waking him, but it’s too late.
Garrett shakes his foot, and Dylan’s eyes pop open. He looks at Garrett, then over at me when I step forward. His gaze softens, and he takes in a shaky breath.
“Liv,” he croaks, his voice raspy. His left arm sits in a complex sling, so he reaches out his right arm to me and I collapse into him as gently as I can.
He holds onto me with a strength I wouldn’t have thought possible in his current state. I sob into his shoulder as he strokes my hair.
“I told you we would be ok,” he whispers and I sob harder. We came way too close to losing him.
I sit up and wipe the tears off his face until he grabs my hand to stop me. He squeezes it, then reaches out to return the gesture. “Cut it out. You’re going to ruin my reputation.” I laugh and shake my head at him.
I turn to find Garrett has left, so I pull a chair up to the bed and take a seat, holding his hand. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”
He chuckles, then winces.
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
He lets out an even breath. “I’m glad you’re not dead either.”
“That’s only because of you.”
“Bullshit.”
My lips flatten and he returns the gesture. “You got us through that as much as I did. Ever thought about joining the military? You’d kick ass.”
I smile, knowing how big a compliment that is coming from him. “I appreciate that. But you’re wrong.”
He sighs. “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. Even though you’re wrong.”
I roll my eyes at him and he smirks.
“I love you Dylan. Thank you for saving my life.” His gaze softens again.
“I love you too, Princess.”
His eyes droop, but he squeezes them shut for a second then pops them open.
“I should let you rest.”
“Yea. Rude.”
I chuckle and stand, placing a kiss on his forehead. He’s already asleep when I straighten.
I find Garrett in the hall, and he wraps me in a tight hug as my lip wobbles. “I know Liv. I know. He’s going to be ok.” I relax into him as he rubs my back in soothing circles.
I step away after a few minutes and he wipes away a few of his own tears. At least I’m not the only one who can’t control them.
“You’ve done a lot for him you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dylan has always been closed off. He doesn’t have any living family. He has his buddies from the Army and me, but you’ve made him feel like he has family again outside of that. I hope you realize that you’ve earned yourself another big brother for life, like it or not.”
“I’m ok with that,” I say, smiling.
“Famous last words.” We both laugh.
