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He nods, releasing his hold on me like it’s the last thing he wants to do. Standing, he leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead.

“I’ll be right outside.”

“Okay.” I smile up at him.

“I love you.” He touches the side of my face and I swear I melt into a liquid puddle.

“I love you.” I rest my hand on his before watching him reluctantly pull away. Turning, he exits the room seconds later.

“Hey.” Lyric moves farther into the space taking the seat next to me that River just occupied. Reaching for my hand, she takes it, closing her fingers around mine.

“Hey.” I blow out a slow breath.

“How are you?”

“Better now,” I admit. The pain isn’t gone, not by a long shot, but instead of feeling like I’m drowning, I’m now floating on top of the water, letting the tide slowly pull me to the shore.

“So that”—she gestures behind her to where River just exited the room—“looks like you two are figuring things out.”

“We are.” I smile, and despite everything, it’s genuine. “He wants to be together. Like together, together.”

“Of course he does.” She sighs, like that much has been obvious all along. “I knew that from the moment I saw his face when he heard you tell me you were in love with him. And I also knew he’d come around... eventually.”

“And you’re okay with this... I mean, me and River?”

“Are you kidding? I love it. So long as you two don’t break up and make things extremely awkward for me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“How are you feeling?” She reminds me why I’m sitting in a hospital bed, and I grimace, the reality of what’s happened today returning with a vengeance.

“I’m okay,” I lie. I’m not even a little okay, but I know I will be. Eventually.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your tumor?”

“It’s not something I like to make public knowledge. It’s really not that big of a deal, but I feel like people always treat me differently once they know.”

“I would never treat you differently.”

“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I’m sorry about a lot of things.”

“Don’t do that. You’ve had a hell of a day. Don’t drag yourself further through the mud on my account. I love you and I don’t care if there are certain aspects of your life that you chose not to share with me, as long as you know that you can.”

“I do.”

“Now, is there anything I can do for you? Anything that you need?”

“No. I just want to get out of here.”

“The doctor said a couple of hours.”

I give her a questioning look.

“I told him I was your sister.” She grins.

“Youaremy sister,” I tell her, squeezing the hand she’s holding.

“And you are mine.” She pulls me into a hug. “Just promise me you won’t lie to me again. I can’t be there for you in the way I should be if I don’t know what’s going on.”