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She leaned into him. “My something good in all the bad.”
Her dad gave Max a nod of approval. “It’s good to see her happy again.”
“It feels good to be this happy again.” Max kissed the back of her hand.
Her mom brushed a tear from her cheek. “Well, I know you don’t want to return to your apartment, so you’ll come stay with us until you find a new place.”
“She has one,” Max blurted out.
All of them stared at Max.
Her parents looked to her to explain, but she couldn’t, because she couldn’t believe Max was saying what she thought he was saying.
“Stay with me. I’ll take care of you while you recover. We’ll build on what we’ve restarted. Maybe you think we’re going too fast and jumping ahead. I think it’s more like we’re just getting to where we should have already ended up. Having you there these last many days, it’s been a glimpse of what I always wanted, for it to be the place you want to be. The place that feels like home to you now. Or at least when we make it ours. I don’t want to miss you anymore. And I will every second you’re not with me. I don’t want to wait for what we both want. Say yes,” he implored.
Her parents looked expectant and excited that she’d do it.
So she said, “Yes. I’d love to stay with you.”
Max’s grin and joy eclipsed all the worry in his eyes and written in the lines on his face. He looked over at her parents. “I’ll take really good care of her. I’ll make her happy.”
Her mom reached across the bed and held his arm. “You already do, Max.”
Her dad nodded his agreement.
She wanted to be alone with Max to talk about this next step. “Mom, Dad, you two need to take some time for yourselves. Go home. Max will get me settled at the ranch. He’ll let you know I’m there and that everything is okay.”
Her parents needed the reassurance after losing Kyle and her nearly dying the same night, too.
Max confirmed this with a nod. “I’ve already spoken to the principal at school. Kenna will continue to have a substitute in her class for the next two weeks and be on paid medical leave.”
She frowned. “You did? I am?”
Max gave her another soft smile. “Yes. You need time to recover. Doctor’s orders.”
“Okay.” She looked at her parents. “See. Max has it all covered. Um...” She didn’t know how to broach this subject. “Will you call me later with all the details about the service for Kyle?”
“Of course,” her mother assured her. “All you have to do is attend. If you’re up to it,” her mom said, like it was okay to miss her brother’s funeral.
“I’ll be there no matter what.”
Her father hugged her. “You need to take care of yourself.”
“I will,” she assured him, hugging him back.
He stood and held her by the shoulders. “I love you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I love you, too, Dad.”
Her mom hugged her goodbye and softly brushed her hand down the ends of Kenna’s hair because she still had a big bandage on her head. “See you soon. If you need anything, you call us.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured her mom and dad again.
They reluctantly left, even though they obviously needed a break and some time at home to just be together and be quiet and take the time they needed to let everything settle.
She needed the same thing at home with Max.
Her parents left and Max propped his hip on the bed, but didn’t meet her gaze.
