Erika took a breath. “I’m doing it for me. And to be with Reed...if he’s still willing to have me.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow. “My brother has been the biggest downer since you broke his heart. His sulking has driven us all insane and Tank was getting ready to fire his ass. Believe me, he’ll have you. Which means he’s going to be extra pissed that this injury has taken him out.”

Erika laughed, blushing as she glanced at Reed’s mother.

“He’s told me all about it, honey,” Arlene said, smiling through her tears.

Reed had told his mother about her? About them? He was really that serious about her? Damn, he’d better recover quickly. She couldn’t wait to tell him she loved him. Couldn’t wait to be in his arms.

“Well, maybe not all about it,” Arlene said with a wink.

Erika’s laugh was mixed with her own unshed tears.

Cassie’s cell phone chimed. “Tank, checking in. I better call him,” she said, standing and heading toward the window for privacy.

Arlene moved to sit closer to Erika. “I’m so glad Reed found you.” She glanced at Cassie. “Now if we could only get a certain someone else to smarten up.”

“Agreed.” Maybe living in Wild River, she’d be able to help give Tank the kick in the ass needed to commit to her friend.

Holding hands, Arlene and Erika sat, lost in their own thoughts as they continued to wait.

An hour later, Jill, a recovery room nurse, came to see them. “He’s doing great,” she said. “Heartbeat 130 and no sign of complications,” she added with a nod at Erika.

“Thank you, Jill,” she said.

“You can all see him now. Maybe two at a time?”

“You two go ahead,” she told Cassie and Arlene. His mother and sister should get to see him first, and honestly...she needed a minute. How would she react, seeing Reed in recovery? It had to be better than seeing him wheeled into emergency in critical condition, but still...

“Okay, thank you, darling,” Arlene said, gathering her coat and purse and following Jill to the recovery room.

“I’ll just stay a minute, then tag you in,” Cassie said.

“Take your time.” If he woke up, would he even want to see her? He’d said he loved her, but she’d hurt him.

Standing, she paced the now empty room as the clock inched closer to midnight. In such a short time, her life had changed so much.

She had changed. Ten hours ago, she’d been confident in her decision and hopeful that Reed would accept her apology. Now, she was terrified. The guy had just had a life-threatening accident. He may see things differently when he woke. See her differently.

Would he forgive her?