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As I sit on the bed, Dr. Jackson asks me questions, examining the knife wound first. Everleigh, Darin, Bryan, and Savannah sit on chairs surrounding me. I notice Savannah’s posture is tense as Bryan settles in the chair beside her. My gaze moves to Everleigh and fuck—she’s noticed, her eyebrows raised at Savannah.
Goddamn it. She’s going to meddle.
Dr. Jackson moves in front of me, blocking my visual of Everleigh, as he examines my eyes. Once he’s finished, he pats me on the uninjured shoulder. “The good news is a few stitches will fix up the wound on your shoulder. I recommend you flush your eyes out before bed tonight and give you some drops that should ease the irritation. Otherwise, I’d say you got pretty lucky.” He shifts his weight and my gaze locks with Everleigh, wearing a shit-eating grin.
She shakes her head and sticks her tongue out at me.
I’m going to bend her over my knee when we get home.
My dad comes in, drawing my attention to him as he walks over, his hands shoved in his pockets, a worried frown on his face. “How are you?”
“Doctor is gonna stitch me up. He’s giving me a rinse for my eyes, along with some drops. Then I’ll be as good as new.”
His features relax, as does his posture. “I’m relieved to hear that. Wonderful news.” He pats my good shoulder, then moves out of the way as Dr. Jackson moves around him, ready to work on stitching my wound. My dad goes over to Everleigh. “And how are you feeling, young lady? How are those granddaughters of mine?”
Her face glows as she looks up at him. “The three of us are great. It’s been pretty easy, so far. I’ve been nauseous in the mornings, but ginger ale and crackers seem to take care of it.” She rubs a hand over her still flat stomach. “I can’t complain.”
“That’s wonderful news.” He puts a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. “Thank you for ensuring my son didn’t get seriously injured.” He says it low, meant only for her ears, but I hear it because I’m watching them so intently.
I’malwayswatching my woman.
“You’re welcome. I’d do anything to keep him safe. I know he’s angry I intervened, but I…” She ducks her head, sniffing. My heart lurches inside my chest as I see the sorrow she tries to hide. Her head is lowered so her hair falls over her face. After taking a few deep breaths in and out, she looks up at my father. “I love your son so much and I can’t live without him. It destroys me to think of him being seriously injured. I hated it when Ainsley kidnapped him. It was the worst torture, imagining what she could be doing to him. When I rescued him and he was injured from the car accident and the torment they inflicted, it shredded my insides.” Her body releases an involuntary shiver that makes her wrap her arms around herself, her face pale. “I was so grateful once he was healed and feeling like himself again. Until he was, I ached whenever he did.”
My heart lurches inside my chest, a knife twisting it, as I hear her low confession to my father. My woman hid her trauma over my suffering well. It guts me, knowing she was in agony along with me.
It makes the boy inside me want to weep that someone finally loves him, lovesme, so much. Everleigh is everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and more.
I’m the luckiest damn man on this planet, completely undeserving of her and her love, yet grateful as hell and fully accepting all she gives me.
I love her just as much.
More than I even dreamed possible.
sixteen
Everleigh
WillandBryanhada meeting, so I finished eating my breakfast, asking Emma to join me. Although it was tough to get her to stay seated and not want to serve me. I talked to her about Will’s fight, sparing her some of the gory details, and about Will being upset at me for intervening when he got hurt.
Emma is the voice of reason and really helped put things in perspective for me. I know Will is very protective of me and the babies inside me, but hearing Emma describe how broken Will was when I left him cut me to the core. Reaching across the table, she squeezed my hand in hers and said, “Everleigh, William just wants to ensure nothing will happen to you. He lost you once and it nearly killed him. But if he lost you again… I’m not sure he would survive it. He’d turn into a completely different person if he did… Someone I’m not sure any of us would want to know.”
That spoke volumes. Emma knows more about the darkness inside William than I previously thought.
And while I know he ached for me as much as I did for him, to hear how badly he went off the rails consumed me with guilt and remorse.
Emma’s voice is inside my head as I sigh, heading down the hallway to change out of my pajamas. “I’m not telling you this for you to feel guilty. I’m telling you this so you understand Will better.”
While I know that to be true, I can’t help the regret that swirls inside me, twisting me into knots. I vow to spend the rest of my life making it up to him with all the love I can possibly give him.
My phone beeps as I reach my bedroom door. A smile pulls up my lips and I shake my head as I read it.
Savannah: I’ll meet you at the bridal shop at 11:00. I have a surprise for you, but I need to make a stop beforehand.
Me: That’s fine. I love surprises and can’t wait. I’ll see you then.
As I step through the bedroom door, I glance at the time. It’s only 9:15 am.
Plenty of time. I need to see Will.
