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I place a finger over his lips, silencing him. “You survived. That’s all that matters.” My voice cracks, and I hate how vulnerable I sound, but it’s the truth. As long as Hunter is drawing breath, we’ll always be okay. I know this just as sure as I know the sun will set tonight.
Hunter’s eyes soften, but I can see the war going on inside him. “Megan, I?—”
Before he can finish, I move closer, resting my head against his chest, just listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It’s the only sound I need right now. His hand moves to the back of my head, fingers tangling in my hair as he holds me close.
“I missed you,” I whisper, my voice muffled against his hospital gown. “I missed you so much.”
“I’m here now,” he murmurs into my hair. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
For a long time, we sit like that, wrapped in each other’s presence, not saying anything. There’s nothing left to say. We’ve both been through hell and now we have to find a way back to each other. I feel the weight of his arm as it drapes over my shoulders, holding me close as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear.
But the truth is, we’re both scared. Scared of what comes next. Scared of what we’ve lost and what we might never get back. But at this moment, with Hunter’s heartbeat beneath my cheek, I realize something.
We’re still here.
Together.
And that’s more than enough.
After what feels like hours, I pull back slightly, just enough to look into his eyes.
"We have a lot to talk about."
Hunter nods, his expression serious. "I know."
"I don’t even know where to start," I admit, biting my lip. "Everything's changed."
It will be a long time before Hunter is going to be well enough to be who he was in his world. And until he gets back on his feet, I’m going to have to keep everything afloat. I won’t fail.
He reaches up, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’ll figure it out. I always do."
His words are meant to be reassuring, but there’s an uncertainty in his eyes that wasn’t there before. We both knowthings won’t be the same, not after everything he’s been through. Fabre has to be dealt with, and there will be fallout, but I suppose we’ll have to take it one step at a time. It’s our only choice now.
“We’ll figure it out,” I correct him. “Together.”
“I love you,” he adds, his hand resting gently on my belly.
There was a moment when I thought I’d never hear Hunter say those words again, and I want to cry. Like, I really want to have a good old ugly cry. But that would only worry him. So, instead, I place my hand over his, feeling the warmth of his touch seep into me.
I slowly rise from the position I’m in on the bed and kiss Hunter on his cracked lips.
“You better,” I whisper into his mouth.
And for the first time since all of this began, I’m actually believing that there is arealhappily-ever-after in our future.
Except it’s my turn to be Prince Charming.
Chapter 24
Can Anyone Hear You?
MEGAN
Eight Weeks Later
I’m sitting in the familiar shadows of the club, the hum of the deep bass vibrating under my feet. The crowd is light tonight—thank God. I’m not sure my swollen ankles could handle the usual rush. At this late stage of my pregnancy, I feel like a balloon that could pop at any moment, but I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world. I run my hand over my belly, smiling at the kick I feel in return.Damn, that one was a little hard.
As if on cue to distract me from the rather swift kick my baby just gave me, I receive a call from the little soccer player’s father, who has been a terrible patient at his rehabilitation facility lately.