“You two were, like, this close when I came in here,” says Addison, holding up two fingers with an inch of air separating them. “So either I interrupted something huge, or?—”
“Fine,” I say. “Bash and I are…together now.” I risk a glance at him. He’s staring right back at me with a winning smile on his face.
Addison’s eyes widen. “Like, together for reals?”
I nod. “For reals.”
“With lots of feels,” says Bash.
Addison squeals loudly and claps. I’m surprised she doesn’t get up from her chair to do a cartwheel.
Bash examines his nails. “Addison, has anyone ever told you that you’re much too cheerful to digest on your own, let alone near Romilly?”
Addison shrugs. “A few times, yeah.”
“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “He secretly loves it.”
Bash chuckles and crosses his arms. “I’ll give you two some time to catch up and I’ll be out there if you need me.”
When he’s gone, Addison and my family take turns spending time with me. My mom fusses over me like I’m a kid with a broken bone, and I kinda love every second of it. The way she smooths my hair back and kisses my forehead almost makes it feel better.
When it’s Zara’s turn, she crosses her arms and glares at me with loving affection. “You should have been more careful. I only have one sister.”
And it’s no surprise when Aiden comes in and shows me his rank on a new video game he’s been playing. “But I’m really glad you’re okay,” he says.
Outside my door, I hear Bash and Addison arguing over who gets to come in next, and apparently Addison wins, because she beams at me and plops into the chair. We talk about her kids, and how her step-daughter Izzy has finally accepted that Addison isn’t going anywhere.
“It’s such a good feeling,” she says, a dreamy look entering her eyes. “Loving someone and knowing they’ll never stop loving you back.”
At that, I can’t help but smile. I’m still not completely used to the feeling, but even just a taste of it tonight makes my chest feel light and floaty. “Yeah, it really is.”
When she and my family leave, Bash comes back in wearing a T-shirt of a teddy bear holding a balloon that could only be from the gift shop. As soon as our faces meet again, that lightness envelops me completely.
“Your family is going to come back tomorrow,” he says. “They’re checking into a hotel for the night.” Glancing down at his feet, he adds, “They’re so wonderful. They helped me find the best places in Meadow Hills to rent. Apparently they know someone who’s looking for a tenant. You must be grateful to have them.”
“That’s awesome, and I am.” I gently scoot and pat the spot next to me on the bed. “Come on. Sit up here with me.”
He smiles. “I’ll try, but I might break it.”
“Fine by me.”
Bash half sits, half hangs off the side of the bed next to me. But he stays there. He wraps his arms around me until I fall asleep again, and even though I wake up a few times, the way I feel wrapped up in him like this brings my body, my soul, my heart, more rest than I can remember.
And when I fall asleep praying this time, it’s mostly the same two words over and over.
Thank you.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BASH
I’m morethan relieved when Romilly is finally discharged, nice and safe in my car as I drive her home.
“I could have driven so you could finally get some rest.” She glances at me from the passenger seat. Her hands are folded delicately in her lap, and seeing her back in her stunning emerald dress brings back the memory of her on the stretcher.
“No way. Not post-concussion.”
“You really should have slept more, or checked into a hotel or something,” she says.
