“I’m sorry I made you worry,” I say, and he leans in now, and he kisses my forehead. “And I’m sorry that I ruined your day.”

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t with you,” he says, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry that you went through that without me.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly on the lips. “I am so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.” He kisses me again, and I don’t say anything only because I can’t. I just close my eyes while he wraps his arms around my shoulders, and I finally feel safe.

It’s a whirlwind once I get to the hospital, and only after two hours am I able to see Ethan, who comes run into the room and jumps on my bed. “Mom!” I take him in my arms, closing my eyes and smelling him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, baby,” I say, holding his arms and making sure that he’s okay. I smooth down his brown hair and hold his small face in my hands, rubbing my thumbs over his cheeks. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Just my elbow,” he says, picking up his elbow and showing me the bandage. “The nurse said I was really brave.”

I blink the tears away. “You are very brave.”

“Uncle Beau called me a ladies’ man and said I was a natural flirt,” he says, and I smile and look over at Beau who looks up.

“We need to go over the rules again,” Beau says, coming to the bed. “There are things we tell your mom. If I finish the sentence with bro code, that means it’s for guys only.”

I look at Ethan who opens his mouth and then smiles. “I forgot.”

I laugh now, suddenly feeling okay. “I think I’m going to be able to leave soon,” I tell Beau. I lean back in the bed, and Ethan lies beside me. “Where is Jacob?”

“He’s in the waiting room with Kallie. He is going over the video surveillance that Casey sent in. Apparently, Casey wired half the town with cameras when the stuff went down with Olivia.”

I close my eyes, but when the door opens and the nurse comes back in, my eyes flutter open. “Okay.” She smiles. “You are cleared to go. If you get a headache later, it could be a concussion, so please come back in. You’ll definitely be sore tomorrow.”

“I can sort of feel that now.” I try to sit up, and every single muscle in my body screams.