The nurse pulled the empty IV bag from the pole, and Gavin took the full one from her, connected it, then hung it. “Come on, Sarah,” he whispered, “fight that infection off.”

“That’s my job, you know.” The nurse eyed the bag, then him.

“Yeah, I know, but it makes me feel useful. Humor me, please?”

She offered him a small smile. “Of course. She’s a lucky woman to have you. It’s obvious you care very much about her.”

“I do.” Gavin didn’t bother to correct her mistaken assumption that he and Sarah were a couple. The fact that they’d almost been that very thing still unsettled him when he thought about it too long. He didn’t know why they weren’t or where he’d gone wrong, he just knew Sarah had ghosted him after their third date. But all that was water under the bridge and not important. Now, he just wanted to get her home safe so she could recover.

Through lowered lashes, Gavin studied Sarah’s father. The man seemed immersed in his newspaper and coffee, but every so often, Gavin would catch him shooting glances at Sarah. Every time she cried out or groaned, he’d frown and his jaw would harden a fraction more.

“Gavin?” Sarah whispered.

He leaned in. “I’m here.”

“Good.” She licked her lips and he scooped a teaspoon of ice chips between them while he had the chance. “Where am I?”

“On the plane headed home.”

“Don’t wanna go home.”

“You’re really sick. You need to heal.”

Her eyes locked on his. “Don’t let him take me to his house. I mean it. I won’t stay in the same house with him.”

She was as lucid as she could be, and she really didn’t want to go to her father’s home. He nodded. “I’ll call Caden.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes shut and Gavin glanced at her father once more. He didn’t know whether to be angry with the man or pity him.

When Sarah woke again, it was to the dreaded familiar smell of a hospital. She frowned, vaguely remembering the flight. Gavin had been there, holding her hand because she wouldn’t let him go. And he’d wiped her tears. Hadn’t he?

Or had that just been a dream?

Oh, please let that have been a dream.

And the general. Had he been there as well? Memories flickered. Fuzzy and difficult to bring forth, but finally, she brought them into focus.

On the plane, Gavin had stayed with her, held her hand, fed her crushed ice, changed her IV bag . . . Ugh. Not a dream. Then she remembered Dustin. Her baby brother had jumped off a building. Grief crushed her and she swallowed, desperately wanting a sip of water but unable to muster the energy to look for some.