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She shuffles as if she wants to sit up, but she’s too weak to do so.
“Let me,” I say, reaching under her arms to help pull her up.
The second I wrap my fingers around her tiny frame, I wince, pain cutting through me.
“I’m okay,” she whispers.
“KK,” I sigh.
Once she’s settled, I pass her the glass and she takes tiny, hesitant sips.
“Don’t you want to eat?” she asks.
“I will later.” Taking her free hand in mine, I tell her, “You’re more important.”
She nods, but I’m not sure she actually believes me.
“Tell me about them,” she encourages weakly once she’s passed the glass back and rested her head against the padded headboard behind her.
A smile pulls at my lips as I think about the three men out there stuffing their faces with bacon and pancakes.
“They’re…” A laugh bubbles up, exploding from my lips. “Incredible.”
“Good,” she whispers. “You deserve incredible.”
“Kristie,” I breathe.
“It shouldn’t surprise me that it takes three men to give you what you deserve, but it was kind of a shock to find them here.
“They’re hot, by the way,” she adds, making me laugh.
I shake my head. “Of course you’ve noticed that.”
“What?” she asks, smiling.
The sight of that smile fixes something inside me.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you so much.”
She nods, swallowing thickly.
“Can we… can we not? Not yet.”
I squeeze her hand. “Whatever you need, baby girl.”
She blows out a long, slow breath.
“What I need and what I want are two very different things right now,” she confesses.
“I know,” I assure her. “But I’m here, and I will be every step of the way. I won’t leave you, I promise.”
Her breathing turns ragged before a single tear tracks down her cheek.
“I’m a mess.”
“You’re beautiful,” I counter.
She laughs. It’s bitter and full of self-hatred.
