Page 150 of Only With Me

I can’t fathom how this is happening to them again.

The community of our small town has come together to bring food for the Fanning’s and everyone affected, which has helped, but no one has an appetite. My siblings take turns checking on me and making sure I eat. Wilder brought me a bag of clean clothes and toiletries so I can shower here.

He’s stepped up in a way I’ve never seen before.

While I appreciate it more than I can express, all I want is to talk to Harlow and tell her how sorry I am for deceiving her. For not being there to protect her.

To tell her how much I love her.

Tell her how much I want to hold her and keep her forever.

I wanna give her my jar of hearts and do all the items inside with her. She deserves that and so much more.

I wish I could go back to a week ago before Wilder blurted the secret I should’ve told her myself. Her finding out and still unable to talk it out is killing me.

I wanna take away her pain of going through this again and losing her dad at the same time.

And I want those two assholes to pay.

Kenny had surgery for his bullet wound and is now on house arrest while he recovers. Sheriff Wagner has reassured us he’ll be charged with kidnapping and conspiracy.

Emery’s injuries weren’t major enough for surgery, so he’s suffering with pain in a cold jail cell pending his arraignment for aggravated assault and kidnapping.

The sheriff could’ve given him house arrest too while he recovers from his broken ribs, but I have a feeling he purposely didn’t go easy on him after finding out how badly he’d beaten Harlow.

He’s hopeful they’ll both take plea deals so she doesn’t have to be re-traumatized with another trial.

“Waylon?” Delilah grabs my attention, and I blink a few times to clear my vision.

“Yeah?” I stand from my chair as she walks into the room.

Her eyes are bloodshot. “They’re removing his ventilator tonight.”

“I’m so sorry, Delilah.” I shake my head with grief, walking closer so I can wrap my arms around her.

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

I rub her back, wishing I could steal away her pain, too. Just because we didn’t work out as a couple, doesn’t mean I can’t be her friend and support her through one of the worst weeks of her life.

“Mom wants to tell Harlow before they do it, so they’re gonna start weanin’ her off the pain meds.”

“Harlow would wanna say goodbye,” I reassure her that it’s the right thing to do. “Hopefully, they can keep her comfortable with less drowsy meds.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s out of it and doesn’t remember anything we tell her. That’s what happened last time. Her memory was foggy for days.”

The nurse comes in, followed by Mrs. Fanning, and she adjusts her morphine drip schedule.

“She should start waking up within a couple hours, maybe sooner, but she might not be very aware,” the nurse explains.

The three of us wait by her bed and within forty-five minutes, she begins opening her eyes and moving her hand against mine.

“Mom?”

“Right here, sweetheart. Delilah and Waylon are here, too.”

Harlow looks around until her gaze finds mine. Tears well in my eyes for the hundredth time in three days, but this time I letthem fall. I’ve never been so happy to see those beautiful green eyes staring back at me.

“Hi baby,” I say softly, choking down my emotions.