“Did he really?” Her eyes pop wide in shock.
“Yes… and I said it back.”
“Wow, that’s… that’s mad.”
“Bad mad?”
“No.” She shakes her head fervently. “Good mad. You need some happiness.”
She pulls me in for a hug and I rest against her. This hospital room has turned out to be a seriously amazing place for me, I don’t want to leave it. I like it here. Zane has told me that he loves me, I said it back, Clara has said that she is happy for me…
If I could just stay here, everything would be perfect.
“Do you think I’m going to get out of here today?”
“I don’t know,” Clara answers honestly. “But what are you going to do if you do?”
“Start the fight to take Jeremy down.”
“I know that, but where are you going to go? Are you coming back to mine or with…”?
She looks towards the door and I know what she’s saying. She wants to know if I’m going to go back with Zane. I honestly don’t know so I don’t have anything to say to that.,
“I’ll figure it out soon enough.”
I hope.
22
Zane
I hold onto Nova’s arm, keeping her steady as she finally gets out of her hospital bed. I know that after almost a week she’s more than keen to go, which I totally understand. I’m happy for her to leave as well, but I’m also glad that they kept her in for long enough to really be sure that she’s okay. Also, for Jeremy to finally be off the streets.
“He’s definitely locked up, isn’t he?” she asks me anxiously. “I don’t want to run into him.”
“Trust me, he’s gone. There’s no chance of you ever seeing him again.”
“Good.” She breathes deep, clearly trying to calm herself down. “Okay, yeah good.”
I hold onto her shoulders and stare intensely into her eyes. “Trust me, you will be fine.”
“I’m trying not to be nervous, but I can’t help it. I think I’ll be looking over my shoulders for a while.”
“Well, I’ll always be the one behind you, so it’ll be my face you see.”
“I like the sound of that.” She smiles as I rub my fingers through her hair. “I like it a lot.”
“So, does that mean you’ll come back to stay with me?”
My heart pounds, I wanted to ask that in a much better way, but it just sort of popped out. I can see her eyes widen in surprise, but it doesn’t look like a bad shock. Her lips curl up into a smile after
a while and she nods.
“I would love to come and stay with you for a while.”
“I do mean move in with me… my house has been empty without you around.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit soon?” Her hands tighten around my waist, her body language giving away what she wants even if she hasn’t quite said it aloud.