I know no matter what happened, I would have gladly given my life for her, and I’d do it over and over again.
After a while, her eyes open, and she sees me watching her. She smiles softly and leans up on her elbow.
“You’re awake.”
“Yeah.?
?? I groan. “I feel like I’ve been asleep for weeks.”
“A few days on and off, to give your shoulder time to heal.” She studies my face. “How’re you feeling?”
“Achy.”
Concern shadows her features. “Would you like some water?”
“Yes.”
She starts to rise, and I reach out a weak hand to stop her. “But don’t go yet. I just want to look at you.”
Her eyes water. “Landon…”
My eyes are stinging too, but not because I’m sad or anything. All I feel is gratitude. I’m so grateful to be here, with her.
I take her hands, and they tremble forcefully in mine.
“You’re shaking.”
She smiles through tears. “I know.”
I close my eyes, searching for words to comfort her.
“Let me get you that water.” She moves to get up again.
“Wait.” I swallow. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry about Evans, for everything you went through… If only I’d listened to you after the thing with the car…”
She shakes her head “It doesn’t matter. It’s over now.”
“It matters to me. I…” I see her out there on the balcony again, him turning the gun toward her. “God!” I swallow. “When I saw you out there with him, I think a part of me died of fear. I would die without you, Rachel. You are my life.”
Tears fall down her face. “I love you so much,” she whispers. “When I saw you start to go over, I think my heart stopped beating.”
“You think?” I smile. “You passed out.”
The teasing works. She laughs. “Yeah, I did.”
“When Joe pulled me back and I saw you lying there, for a moment I thought I had failed and he’d hit you.” I grimace. “Joe had to pry me off you.”
“They sedated you because you kept on screaming about me.” She smiles. “They couldn’t work on your wound.”
Makes sense. She lies beside me for a few more moments before going to get the water. I drink as much as I can then fall back on the pillows.
“Do you want to go back to sleep?”
“No.” I want to keep looking at her. “Come back.”
She returns to bed.
I take a deep breath.