As if I meant nothing in that short time, maybe it was all in my head.
I should’ve known better. I was reckless. Careless. Stupid.
“Hey,” Lily’s voice is gentle. She wipes away tears I didn’t notice. “No, none of that.”
“Sorry,” I croak. “I just—God, maybe I’m crazy, but I thought… there was something there.”
She squeezes my hands. “I thought so too.”
I nod more to myself than to her. Here I am—trained killer—crying over men. My father warned me to be cautious with love. Said my hyperactive attachment personality was too intense.
“Selene?” a croaky male voice calls from the doorway.
I turn my head, eyes wide.
“Max?” It’s barely a whisper.
He rushes to my bedside, arms open, but Lily shoves him back with a flat palm.
“Easy, idiot. She’s damaged goods,” she snaps.
He pouts, but I laugh—a tired, cracked sound.
“It’s been four fucking months,” Max breathes. “We thought we’d never see you again.”
He leans in and hugs me gently, pressing a kiss to my head.
“Four months?” I shout.
They both flinch, then nod.
“You had me on life support that long? Why?” I ask, stunned.
“Well… technically four and a half months,” Lily says, a little too cheerfully.
“We were waiting. You’re a fighter,” Max says, proud and certain.
“We decided to give it five months. Let your body heal and see what happened.” Lily adds, squeezing my arm.
“Oh,” I breathe, chuckling weakly. “Well, I’m glad you waited.”
Even if it doesn’t fix the gaping hole inside me.
“Selene,” a warm voice calls.
Mrs. Salone stands in the doorway, flanked by Ellie and Ava. Katherine trails in behind them, giving me a small smile.
Tears shine in Silvia’s eyes. “It’s a miracle.”
She rushes to me, then pauses to reach into her purse. A moment later, she slides a container across the tray table.
I raise a brow. “What’s this?”
“Shhh.” She gestures for me to open it.
Inside: mini croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and a red velvet cupcake.
I groan. “You’re an angel, Silvia.”
