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Someone raps on the door and I glance down the bed, seeing Levi is awake and listening. He gives me a soft smile before turning to the person at the door.
“You’re awake,” Tom announces, surprised. In his hands are a jar of flowers and some chocolates.
“Hey, bro,” Connor announces, holding a teddy and a balloon.
“What are you doing here?” Banner asks, sounding as surprised as I am to see them.
Connor gives him a dirty look before coming to sit on the empty chair Mark left. “Not to see your ugly mug, that’s for sure.”
“So, the flowers aren’t for me?” Banner teases.
He helps me sit up as we face the group of people. Tom comes to the other side of the bed, placing the items he has on the cabinet.
“I bought these for you. I didn’t think you were awake. When we checked yesterday, they said you were still out of it.”
“Thank you.” I share a look with him, one of understanding. He witnessed what I did, saw the aftermath of what Mr. Flint caused. “For everything,” I tell him, with a deeper meaning.
He gives me a small smile. “Glad you’re doing okay. You had me worried. They wouldn’t let us stay with you once your cousins got here. They only let us in at visiting times.”
“Whose friend are you?” Banner asks, not sounding mad but amused.
“Sorry, dude, but your girl has us for life. She’s a fucking rock star.”
I giggle, cuddling closer to Banner. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Tom’s expression turns serious. “I would. I didn’t witness what you went through, but I did see the aftermath, and it was fucking deadly.”
“Bro, wrong choice of words,” Connor groans.
Tom winces, giving me an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I whisper.
“What I meant is, you stayed strong until you knew Banner was safe. You kept it mostly together. You’re one strong chick.”
I don’t answer, not feeling very strong right now. My stomach chooses that moment to announce to the room it’s hungry.
Everyone stares at my belly with wide eyes before laughing. Levi gets up, straightening out his clothes.
“I’ll go down the road to the pizza place. The food here is fucking disgusting.”
My stomach growls again. I shrug, feeling my cheeks heat. “Sounds good.”
Banner starts chatting to his friends, asking what he missed and what has happened. I tune them out, only needing the warmth and safety of Banner’s presence.
After nearly losing him, I know there is no way I can ever sit back and watch him be with someone else. It’s time for me to take a stand, to show him I can be strong, that I’m ready to love him.
He’s not going to know what hit him. By the time I’m done, he’s going to know how I really feel about him.
A life without him isn’t a life worth living. I learnt that lesson in the forest.
But for now, I need to recover. Waiting a few days, after the years I’ve spent secretly loving him, won’t hurt.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
My palms are sweaty as I sit waiting for our guest to arrive, so I wipe them down my jeans. My leg bounces, my entire body on edge.
After I was released a few days ago, we had a phone call from my solicitor, asking if Darren’s aunt could come see me. I readily agreed, especially after he saved my life. But the second I got off the phone, doubt crept in.