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“I think I do because it feels just as good to say it,” I croak out.

She lifts her head to look at me, her amber eyes look dim and hollow, but when I smile, I see a flicker of the light that once shone in them. “I thought you’d left me forever.”

“No chance. I’m never leaving you, okay?” She nods before she presses her lips to mine; her touch brings a little part of me back to life.

“I’m sorry. I should have called the cops first. You shouldn’t have been there. Then maybe you wouldn’t have...”

“Hey, listen to me. You call, I come running. It’s as simple as that.”

She climbs on the bed, curling her body into mine and we don’t say anything, no words are needed. The bleeping of my machine letting me know my heart is still beating is the onlynoise in the room, reminding me that I am here, that I get a second chance. I’m not wasting another day restricting myself, obsessing over the what if’s, punishing myself for the things I didn’t do or could have done differently.

“Knock, knock.” My eyes open and watch as our friends fill my hospital room. One by one they enter, giving me sympathetic smiles and unshed tears.

The doctor told me I was lucky to be alive. If it hadn’t been for Jack, Harry and Noah, and their medical knowledge, I’d have bled out on that apartment floor. They each bump my fist, my body too weak for much else.

“How are you feeling?” Noah asks. “A few pounds lighter thanks to my gall bladder being ripped out,” I joke.

Ria and Ali look between them and take Gabriella by the hand. “Why don’t we go get some snacks and coffees?” Ria suggests.

Gabriella looks at me with fear in her eyes and I stroke her cheek. “I’ll be fine. Bring me back a strong coffee, yeah?”

She presses a kiss to my cheek and leaves with Ali and Ria, their arms around her, holding her together.

The door closes and the four of us look between us. How do I put into words how grateful I am for them?

I look at them all and Jack clears his throat. “You’re welcome.”

I choke out a laugh. “I didn’t say anything.”

“I know, but we know, and you’re welcome. Semper Fidelis, remember?”

My tongue feels thick and heavy with emotion, and I bite it to prevent the cry that wants to escape. There are not many people who get to say they have people in their lives who would go to battle for them, defend them, fight for them and save them, no questions asked, but that’s what these men do for me and I for them. It’s a bond you can’t explain, it’s just silently there, no matter what we have going on in our lives. If one of us needs the other, we drop and run and I count myself as being one of theluckiest mother fuckers on the planet to have these guys in my corner, along with the women in their lives and the one girl that made me want to start living again.

“Good, because I have another thing I need you to help me with…”

Chapter Sixty Three

Gabriella

It’s been a few days since Brad was released from the hospital. His brother was arrested without bail and awaiting trial. Between me, his sister, and our friends, we have all rallied round to help since he came home. I’ve not left his side and don’t intend to. It took nearly losing him to realize that life is short. I deserve to be happy and my parents have stepped up in a way I have been longing for since I was a kid.

My dad contacted Patrick’s boss. He lost his job at the law firm and apparently will be moving back in with his parents. It will take a while to repair my relationship with my parents, but it’s a start.

“Oh, and this will help you poop,” I say, pointing to the murky-looking smoothie. Brad chokes on the coffee and then groans in pain clutching the dressing on his side.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I say, taking the coffee cup from his hands and placing it on the tray I’ve brought him.

“I’m fine, Gabriella. I just thought it would be awhile before we killed the romance with that kind of talk.”

“I know, but I was reading up on gallbladder surgery and the body can still fully function without it? It’s like the only organ you can live without, but it takes a while to adjust and so you need to be careful what you eat because no one wants to not be able to poop. Once, when I was on vacation, I didn’t poop for like four days and my nanny had to…” I look up to find Brad smirking with amusement. “And I’m rambling and over sharing again.”

“You are, but it’s one of the reasons I love you.” My heart somersaults.

“Yeah, what else do you love?”

“Hmmm, your eyes, how passionate you get when you watch that episode of Friends, even though you’ve watched it a thousand times.”

“But they weren’t on a proper break, no one said let’s see other people,’ I mock, using my fingers to make air quotations. “I don’t get how he didn’t get that.”