“His parents were here?” I asked in a rush. My voice cracked with desperate hope that Dylan had reconciled with them.

Her expression became uncertain. “The only parents I’ve seen here are Mark’s—”

Steven’s expression tightened. “Bethany, doesn’t the hospital have rules against sharing personal information?” His tone was a low rumble, firmness cloaked in velvet, guarding truths I couldn’t begin to guess at.

Her gaze sharpened, and she faced Steven fully, hands on hips.

“If I followed the rules, you and your friends would still be in the lobby. Instead, I let Mark convince me this is a special situation. So, rat me out if you feel the need to, but then grab a stale coffee from the cafeteria and sit your ass anywhere but here.” Her fire lit the room, a fleeting warmth against the sterile chill, and I found myself liking her.

“Who’s Mark?” I asked. The name stirred a vague unease. It felt like one I should know.

“We’ll have time to discuss all that after Dylan wakes.

” Steven kept his gaze on Bethany, pinning her with an obvious warning.

The air crackled between them, a silent battle of wills.

Then, with a visible effort, Steven’s shoulders relaxed.

“I do appreciate you bending the rules for us. You’ve been amazing. ”

Bethany’s anger dissolved, replaced by a hint of something close to sympathy.

Her gaze softened. “I want him to wake up, too.” Then she turned her attention to me.

“As much as medicine is a science, there are still things we don’t understand.

Your friend coded the first night. Where do people go during that time?

No one knows,” she said quietly. “It must have been better than here because, so far, he’s decided not to come back.

” Her words were a soft wound, a reminder of how close I’d come to losing him forever, a void I couldn’t fathom.

Steven said, “He’ll return for Jennifer.”

His words hit me like a physical blow. After so much time apart, did Dylan and I still have that kind of connection? Did I dare allow myself to believe it was possible?

My gaze locked on Dylan’s still form. Vivid memories flashed through my mind: his laughter, the sadness in his eyes the last time I’d seen him. And before that, his breath against my neck as we leisurely made love beneath tangled sheets, thinking we had forever to please each other.

Turning back toward me, Bethany’s tone was encouraging. “Even if he doesn’t look like he can hear you... believe he can.” She paused, her eyes searching mine. “Tell him how you feel.”

How I feel? What if I don’t know? It’s been so long...

I looked back at Steven, his eyes held a storm of regret and loyalty.

He bent closer so only I could hear and growled, “Lie if you have to. If you ever cared about him, do at least that for him.”

Steven claimed to be Dylan’s driver, but in that moment, I sensed his protectiveness went beyond that role.

Did wealth make having a bodyguard necessary?

His parents were wealthy, and I didn’t recall ever seeing security around them, but I was young back then and hadn’t given such things much thought.

Paid or not, Steven’s loyalty was clear.

Bethany gave my shoulder a squeeze, then withdrew.

Steven lingered briefly, his gaze fixed on Dylan’s face, as if confirming the man was still there.

Then, he said gruffly, “No man is perfect. I’m sure he made mistakes, but he never stopped loving you.

” He touched two fingers to the bedrail—a silent promise—and moved to the doorway.

There he paused, giving the room one last sweep. “I’ll be right outside.”

Alone with Dylan, I said, “Hey,” tentatively.

When there was no response, I blinked back fresh tears.

“All you had to do was call, and I would have said yes to seeing you again. But you never could do things in a small way, could you?” His arm was reassuringly warm beneath my touch.

In a tight voice, I said, “Come back, Dylan. You promised you would. Remember? I’m holding you to it. ”

Nothing happened.

Did I really think it would be that easy? That his eyes would fly open like in some fairy tale? Although in those, waking from a slumber required a kiss, and there was no way I was about to do that.

I looked again at the stuffed elephant. If it were his, he’d never spoken of it.

His room at his parents’ home had been a luxurious suite with an area for sports trophies and certificates, but no toys or trinkets.

Still, all parents were sentimental to some extent, weren’t they?

His might have held on to his favorite childhood toy and brought it to him when they heard he was hurt.

But the note didn’t match their usual tone.

I imagined a letter penned from them might read: Dear Dylan, you are cordially invited to awaken and join us for dinner at seven. The thought coaxed a faint smile.

Dylan used to joke that they adopted him rather than birthed a child because they preferred paperwork to anything as messy as making a human of their own.

I knew the truth was a heart-wrenching one his parents had never shared with him.

His wry grin flashed in my memory, leaving me with a bittersweet ache that soothed as much as it stung.

Voices at the door caught my attention. I turned and saw Steven speaking to another man.

Steven’s stance was protective and faintly menacing.

Whatever the man said, Steven shook his head in response.

The two argued for a moment more, then Steven appeared to suggest the man leave. He did, although reluctantly.

I turned back to Dylan. “Who was that?” I whispered, forcing a smile that hurt. “Steven doesn’t appear to like him.” My voice was a fragile thread, a plea for Dylan to answer.

Nothing.

I shifted closer. The familiar scent of him whisked me away from the sterile hospital for a moment, back to when I’d wear his clothing simply to feel closer to him whenever we were apart. “Can you hear me, Dylan? I’m right here. And this time I’m not going anywhere.”

Time passed slowly. Bethany came in with a glass of water for me and to check on Dylan. The ice clinked softly, a small grace in the chaos. After ensuring everything was in order, she asked, “Will you be staying tonight?”

I looked toward where Steven was standing like a sentinel at the door. “I’d like to, but I don’t want to stop others from visiting.”

Her lips pressed together. “He’s had a lot of company and, trust me, they’re not shy about asking for what they want. They’re okay with giving you time with Dylan for now. Steven has convinced them he’ll wake for you.”

My throat closed with emotion. “That’s a lot of pressure.”

“Never underestimate what a man will do for the woman he loves.” She gave me a supportive pat, then left.

The machines beeped a merciless rhythm. Did Dylan still love me? Was I enough to bring him back?

Bethany had told me to talk to him, so I did. “Dylan, do you remember the first time we met? I wasn’t happy, and although I claimed to be unimpressed, you were impossible to say no to...”