“Always.”
Beckett shot Ramsey a grin. “It’s a good thing, too. This guy has been an insufferable mess.”
Ramsey glared at him. “I thought we had a pact.”
“That was to not tell Shy that you were crying like a baby and snotting all over her.”
My mouth dropped open. “Beckett.”
He shrugged. “Oops.”
Ramsey shook his head and leaned forward to press his mouth to mine gently. “Not ashamed for you to know how much I love you.”
Beckett made a gagging noise.
“Beckett Easton, you are not making ugly sounds like that,” my mother said as she moved into the room. Her eyes shone as she crossed to the bed. “My girl.”
“Hi, Mom.”
She shoved Beckett aside and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “So strong.”
“I’m sorry if I worried you.”
She brushed the hair away from my face. “I’ve had too many moments with my girls in this hospital. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that they’re fighters. They’ll always make it through.”
Pride surged in my chest. My mom wasn’t letting this level her. She was standing strong. Believing in me.
I squeezed her hand. “Love you.”
“Love you, too. More than you’ll ever know.”
Voices sounded in the hallway and, seconds later, chaos descended on my room. I could barely keep up with the gentle hugs and I-love-yous. But one person hovered in the background.
Everly wrung her hands as she watched everyone milling about. I motioned her forward, and she swallowed hard. The crowd parted as she moved towards me.
I sent her my sternest expression. “Ev, if you blame yourself for any of this, it’s really going to piss me off.”
Her lips twitched, but I still saw strain around her eyes. “Can I at least say that I’m so sorry this happened?”
“You can.” I pulled her into a hug, ignoring the pull on my stitches. “Couldn’t ask for a better sister to bring into the family.”
“I heard that,” Hadley called.
“Myfavoritesister,” I said in a stage whisper.
Everly couldn’t hold in her laughter as she held me tighter. “I love you, Shy. I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this family.”
“Even if we bring chaos wherever we go?” Hadley asked.
Everly grinned as she straightened. “Even then.”
Beckett chuckled, pointing at me. “But this one takes it to a whole new level. Pissing someone off so they’ll stab you?”
I shrugged. “I had to get the knife somehow.”
Everyone groaned.
I looked up into those onyx eyes that were the beginning of everything. “And I knew he’d catch me when I fell.”