He claims the seat beside me, and I lean my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes as the driver cautiously edges out of the hospital and onto the main road. I drift off to sleep almost immediately, and when I wake, Reeve is carrying me into my bedroom.
Mom helps me into clean pajamas while Reeve makes himself scarce. I’m yawning as I crawl under my comforter, grateful to be back in my own bed. I was only in the hospital for three days in total, but it felt like longer, and there is no place like home. “Do you want me to ask him to leave?” Mom inquires, perching on the edge of my bed.
“He’s come all this way for me, and he has to leave tomorrow to get back to the set, so no. It’s not worth the fight. Besides, I want him here.” I’m not going to question the right or wrong of it, but I need Reeve, and I’m glad he came home for me.
Her lips pull into a tight line, but she nods, holding back her real thoughts. I’m sure I’ll hear them at some point, but I’m glad it’s not now. “Reeve is getting you something to eat, and then you should try to sleep. The LAPD will be here in the morning to take your statement. They wanted you to come downtown, but after the fiasco leaving the hospital, your dad managed to convince the detectives it would be better to conduct your interview here.”
“Thanks, Mom. For everything.”
She pats my arm. “You’re our daughter, Vivien. We’d do anything to keep you safe.” Her expression turns more somber. “Changes will need to be made. A bodyguard is nonnegotiable now. It’s the one thing Reeve and I wholeheartedly agree on.”
I nod, because I’m not going to turn down protection after what happened. Those Saffhards are crazy bitches, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of their hatred again. I will make whatever changes are necessary to keep myself safe.
She points to a pill bottle and a glass of water by my bed. “Don’t forget to take your pain meds after you eat. You have to take them three times a day for the next week, and then we can start weaning you off them.”
“Okay,” I say, as Dad and Reeve appear in the room.
Mom helps me to sit upright, as Reeve places a tray table over my lap.
“It’s good to have you home, princess.” Dad drops my hospital bag on the floor by the wall.
“It’s good to be home, Dad.”
My parents leave, after sending Reeve blatant warning looks, gently closing the door behind them. I sip my chicken noodle soup while Reeve watches me, stretched out beside me on my bed. There is so much we need to say, but I can’t go there. Not when the pain of my concussion is still so debilitating and all I want to do is rest. For now, I’ll accept the comfort his presence brings without beating myself up over it.
After finishing my soup and bread, I snuggle under the covers as Reeve sets the tray to one side, lying down beside me. He laces his fingers in mine, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to my lips. He scoots closer, and I rest my head on his chest, welcoming the familiar steady thrumming of his heart. His fingers gently touch my hair, and when he is holding me like this, everything feels right in my world again.
I know it’s an illusion.
A fantasy bubble.
At some point, I’ll need to return to reality, but not yet.
My eyes fight to stay open as soothing darkness beckons to me like a tempting lover. “I love you, Viv,” Reeve whispers, pressing a feather-soft kiss to my damaged cheek. “I know I’ve done a piss-poor job of showing you recently, but I’m going to do better. Almost losing you has put everything into perspective. I can’t lose you, Viv. I won’t. You’re the other half of my soul, and nothing matters more to me than you.”
I drift to sleep with his words lingering in my ears.
When I wake, it’s the middle of the night and Reeve is crouched over me, softly sweeping hair back off my face. “I’ve got to leave, baby,” he whispers. “But I meant everything I said. I know we need to talk too, and I promise we’ll do that when I come home for Christmas.” He leans in, kissing me tenderly. “Don’t give up on me yet. Let me make this right, and everything will go back to the way it was. I promise.”
I don’t see how things can go back to the way it was, but I’d like to think we can find a way to move forward and put the recent past behind us. “How?” I ask, needing to know how he intends to make this right.
“I’ve hired my own publicist, and I’m issuing a video statement later today. When I return to the set, I’m telling the studio I’m publicly ‘breaking up’ with Saffron.” He makes little air quotes with his fingers. “And I’m setting her straight too. I know she harbors ideas of us, but I’ll tell her again that it’ll never happen.”
“That will only make her more determined,” I mumble. Saffron is the type to thrive on the chase. I have no doubt, if she ever managed to win Reeve’s heart, she’d tire of him fast.
“It doesn’t matter. I love you. I know I’ve let her come between us, and it ends now.”
I want to believe him so badly, but the truth is, I’m struggling to accept his pretty words as gospel. I’ll need to see it to believe he is sincere this time.