Page 44 of Make You Wish You Were Dead

For the next few minutes, I squeeze my eyes shut and try to ignore the bullets and gunshot sounds.

Think of something better.

Something that makes you feel safe.

The dream I had last night plops into my head.

I feel his strong arms wrap around me as I lay in my bed. I can feel his hot breath on my neck.

"What are you doing?" I ask him.

"You were shivering when I walked in."

"I'm not cold though."

"I know."

He knows I was having a bad dream.

"You don't have to hold me if you don't want to."

I really want him to keep holding me though. He feels safe and warm. He feels like a soft, big blanket barrier that will forever protect me.

Don't let go.

"I'm not letting you go," Rowan whispers in my ear.

The sound of a grunt makes me open my eyes. I don't hear the gunshots anymore which makes me slowly crawl out of my hiding spot. I see Rowan holding onto the table and his stomach where I see blood on his hand.

My heart races as I rush over to him and touch his face to make him look at me. "What happened? How do I fix this?"

"Just help me get out of here," he says as his eyes start to flutter, his chest heaving from how hard he is breathing.

"You need a doctor or something Rowan," I say as I help him stand up by putting his arm around my shoulders.

"No. Just take me to the car and then drive us home. I can fix this."

"Rowan, you're hurt," I say as tears threaten to fall from my eyes.

He will be okay. Rowan is strong and he knows how to take care of himself.

Right?

"Just take me to the car, fawn. I'll be fine. Not the first time I got shot and it definitely won't be the last."

"But-"

"Stop being stubborn, fawn, and listen to me."

Twenty Two

Jane

Right when Rowanand I get home, I park the car in front of the house and then get out to run to the passenger side.

I texted my father that he got shot at. I didn’t even look at my phone to see if he texted back. I am just focused on getting Rowan to the house.

Rowan's door is already open, and he is getting out of the car by the time I get to the other side.