I smiled, ready to close the door behind me. “Stay sober. I can’t do this a third time.” Despite everything we’d gone through together, I loved the kid. But right now wasn’t the time to think about the reasoning behind that, because all that mattered was him staying healthy. I wanted to see him thrive.

“I won’t do this to Savannah ever again.” He was snoring before the door closed.

I sighed, leaning back against the door. The laundry was piled in the kitchen, but it could wait. I needed to go check on Savannah. I tiptoed down the hall, opening her door as silently as I could. The work she had managed to do on her room with so little resources amazed me. She amazed me. Stretched out on her side, her golden hair sprawled out over her pillow, her cheek rested on her hand. She looked like an angel. And after seeing what she had dealt with the last week, I wasn’t sure she wasn’t a legitimate angel on earth. I took a step backward, ready to leave her to her sleep before I stopped myself.

I just wanted to be near her, touch her. Tell her what I needed to. So as quietly as I could, I slipped into bed behind her, curling against her back.

She stirred slightly. “Luther?”

“Shhh…” I whispered, stroking her hair. “Sleep, sweetheart. I’m here.”

She turned into me, snuggling into my chest, and was asleep again.

I closed my eyes, intending on just resting them for a moment. But when I opened them again, the room was streaked with moonlight, and Savannah was missing.

I sat up, looking around the room. The bed was barely messed up, like she was trying not to wake me up. I swung my feet off to the side, ready to find her and drag her back to force her to rest. Before I had a chance, the door opened.

Savannah stepped inside, her hair haloed around her face in a messy bun, wearing only an oversized T-shirt of mine. She caught my eye, and smiled. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I tried not to wake you.”

“What are you doing up?” I asked. “You should be sleeping.”

She shrugged, padding back to the bed and holding up a glass of water. “I needed something to make me feel normal. A glass of water seemed like the right call.”

I held my arms open. “Come back to bed.”

“Gladly,” she whispered. Savannah took a sip and set her water down on the end table, and slid into bed next to me. She brushed my curls back, and I smiled at her sweet touch. I loved her. I loved her so damn much, and I needed to tell her before it cracked my heart in two. She paused, frowning at my face. “What’s wrong?”