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“I think you should see Nathan and Lena first,” he says slowly. “Then we can talk.”

I frown for a second, and then it hits me. “Wait, they’re here?”

“Yes, and they’re worried sick about you. I had them step out while you woke up because I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but if you feel ready to talk to them, you can. You’ll need to talk to the doctor and be examined again soon, though,” my mom tells me. She’s stroking my hair softly, and it’s comforting. I haven’t felt this for a long time, not since I was a kid, probably. I don’t usually get into accidents or anything else she’d need to comfort me about. I can’t help but squeeze her hand tighter.

“I love you,” I tell her. I feel a bit woozy, and everything in the room is a bit fluffy around the edges, like big cotton candy puffs.

She smiles at me. “I love you, sweet pea.”

She kisses my forehead, and then lets go of my hand.

She and Dante leave, much to my chagrin, and I watch as my best friend and ex-girlfriend walk in. The door stays open.

“If you didn’t look so terrible, I’d kill you, man,” Nathan says as he steps over to my bedside.

“Jeez, what did I do?” I grumble as I sink into the bed more, putting my hands under the blankets.

Lena sits on the end of the bed, looking at me with big, sad eyes. “Get the shit beat out of you,” she replies. “You never get in trouble, Ethan. Now you’re shacking up with Dante?”

“He saved me. More than once,” I admit.

Nathan eyes me. “What do you mean?”

I sigh, which kind of hurts. “The car accident wasn’t an accident. Someone planted a bomb in my car on purpose.”

Lena gasps. “What?! You didn’t think that was important to tell me? Or even Nathan? I know we broke up, but…Jesus Christ, Ethan.”

“Fuck, Ethan. Lemme guess, they did it because of Dante?” Nathan asks.

I huff, and my heart rate monitor beeps more aggressively. “Yes, because he cares about me. They knew they could get to him through me.” My hands ball into fists, though the one with the IV struggles to. “He saved my life, guys. He didn’t just tell me that I was in danger, he tackled me to the ground and shielded my fucking body with his. If shrapnel had flown the wrong way, he’d be dead.” My voice gets more and more strained, and tears start to drip down my face in frustration.

“I don’t care if you don’t like him. I don’t care if you think he’s not good enough for me.”

They stare at me. “Ethan, I…we didn’t know, we…” Lena says slowly.

“I know, I know, but…” I hiccup slightly through my tears. “I love him.”

Their faces soften. Lena touches my leg and Nathan sighs heavily, his fingers brushing along the railing of the bed.

“Ethan.” Dante’s voice comes from the doorway. He’s looking at me with glittery eyes. “I-I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but hear…”

He steps closer. Lena and Nathan look at each other and slowly move out of his way.

“Did you mean that?” he asks.

I sniffle. “Yes. Dante, I love you,” I tell him through my tears.

He takes my hand and holds it with both of his.

“I love you, too, Ethan,” Dante says, his voice cracking. “I love you so much. I can’t lose you.”

I squeeze his hands. “You won’t,” I promise.

“But I was wrong. You need to know that. I didn’t ever mean to pressure you into…committing,” he says, and I knowhe’s saying it that way because of the other two people in the room. Even my mother has crept in now, looking at us like she’s planning which wrapping paper she’s going to use for his Christmas present.

“You’re important to me no matter what. You’re enough, and you’ll always be enough.” He squeezes my hand tighter.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “B-But, I was coming to tell you…I want to be with you, and…I want to commit.”