Then, those cracks imploded into a wide chasm of emotion, causing Alexis to break down in front of me.

Her hands raised to her face as sobs wracked her body, and I couldn’t fucking take it.

On autopilot, my arms pulled her close, and when her head made contact with my chest, she burrowed deeper. As if seeking solace, searching for comfort… from me.

I was surprised and so fucking honoured to be her source of safety that I involuntarily squeezed tighter.

“I’m so sorry, Lex. So fucking sorry,” I repeatedly murmured as my hand rubbed circles down her back and over her hair.

Alexis’ cries naturally tapered off. Then, she slowly pulled back from my embrace—which I was loath to give up.

Unable to resist, I wiped the tears from her face, tracing the familiar lines of her skin. She remained frozen and just stared at me as if in a trance.

Then, she jolted out of reach like she’d been reprogrammed. “Umm, sorry.”

“Don’t ever be sorry, baby.”

Oop. The endearment was a slip, lost in the emotion of the moment as I was caught up in the feel of her against me.

She didn’t rebut the call but didn’t accept it either. Instead, she chose to ignore it. Pulling away, she managed to crack a small smile. “Thank you, Owen.”

Then, she turned and left.

I stood dumbstruck. Her gratitude felt unjust, as if I should be the one thanking her. That one embrace filled me with a particular warmth I hadn’t experienced for more than four years.

Chapter 16

ALEXIS

I lay in my old bedroom, staring up at the ceiling as Austin snored next to me. It was late, and I couldn’t sleep, ruminating on what to do.

Days seemed to pass in repetitive motion. We would all stay in the hospital during daylight hours, then Alicia, Austin and I would return to my parents’ home in the evening.

Mum refused to leave Dad’s side. I understood, but she was exhausted, choosing to neglect her own needs in order to keep guard over his well-being. She was running on fumes, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up in a hospital bed right next to him.

Although slow, Dad was making good progress with his recovery and was responding well to treatment. However, he easily became discouraged when his body refused to listen to his demands, causing him to shut down and withdraw into himself.

Another factor that was causing confusion was Owen. He had been so thoroughly removed from my life, and now that he was a constant presence, I didn’t know what to do, how to act or what to say. He had been amazing with Dad so far. Truly attentive, patient and professional when providing care.