Page 92 of Mended Fences

“Does that really matter right now?”

He didn’t answer. Just looked at me like he was bracing for something worse than brain injuries and IV drips.

So I gave him the truth. Not the full truth, but enough.

“It’s not important,” I said. “What matters is that you’re here. And you need help.”

He scoffed, soft and broken. “Yeah. I fucking know.”

I stepped closer. “Can you tell me what hurts?”

“Everything hurts,” he murmured, reaching for my hand. He placed it on his chest, over the bruises and the heartbeat struggling beneath. “But mostly this.”

“Chase…” My throat clenched. I hadn’t let myself cry through Charlie’s intake, through the crash, through hours of adrenaline.

But now I was coming undone.

“I love you, Elena,” he said, voice rough and wrecked.

I closed my eyes then opened them slowly, pressing my palm harder against his chest.

“Then get some help,” I said. “If you won’t do it for you…”

I dropped my gaze, one hand slipping instinctively to rest over my lower belly. Not thinking. Just feeling.

“…do it for us.”

He didn’t notice.

Just nodded.

And that was enough to make me hope he might still be the man I fell in love with—if he chose to be.

Chapter Thirty-One

CHASE

Now, December 2024

My knee bounced so quicklybeneath the table I was legitimately concerned that Rosie might bring out the bat she kept in the back to fend off dumpster rats. She shot me anotheryou good?eyebrow raise. My nod matched the rhythm of my leg, making me look like a goddamn bobble head seated at a red booth at the back of the diner.

The bell above the door chimed, and I damn near broke my neck checking to see if it was her. I was surprised—even though I shouldn’t have been—to see Kai step into the diner, eyes zeroed in on me. Behind him, my sister stepped across the threshold. Kai leaned down and whispered something in her ear before planting a kiss on her cheek and finding a seat at the counter. My sister caught my eye and smiled, practically skipping over to my table. She stood there, beaming, at the endof the booth.

I stared up at her, at a complete and total fucking loss. She looked the same, yet different. Her dark hair was in a wild bun on top of her head, and she was wearing her glasses. But behind them, her expression was less guarded, lighter than it had been in the past—like she was finally free of so much of the stress and pressure of her life. I had a feeling the broody bartender who walked in with her had something to do with that.

“Well. What the heck are you waiting for? Gimme a hug.” She splayed her arms wide, kickstarting my head and my heart.

I hopped up and wrapped my arms around Charlie.

“Hi, brother,” she mumbled into my chest.

“Hi, sister,” I whispered back.

When we finally let each other go, Charlie slid into the booth across from me, her eyes bright and alert.

“How are you doing?” I asked her.

“Oh, I’m great! How are you? How’s being home?”