“This is to make you feel better,” he says. She sits down on the couch in front of him. “I know you feel bad about the accident and because you broke the windows in the house.”

“This is …” she starts to say, and the tears come out. Scooting next to her, I put my hands around her shoulders and pull her to me. She looks up at me. “He bought me flowers.”

I nod. “Yeah, he did.”

“And pineapple pizza,” Ethan cuts in. “Kallie said we had to, but we also got a meat lovers.” He smiles. “And Ms. Charlotte sent over cake.”

“Really?” Savannah says almost like it’s the most unfathomable thing in the world.

“My mother bakes when she gets nervous,” Kallie says, walking to the couch and sitting next to Jacob. “So when I called her about Ethan and the accident, she went a bit overboard and made sure that she made him his favorite everything.”

“She did,” Ethan says. “Apple pie.”

“You have to share that,” Jacob says, and he just moans. I get up and hold my hand out for Savannah, who actually takes it. Kallie and Jacob get up also and walk to the kitchen with Ethan following them.

She waits for Ethan to be out of earshot before she puts a hand to her mouth and sobs. I take her in my arms, crushing the flowers between us. “Shh,” I say softly, and she wraps one arm around my waist. “It’s okay.”

“They could have hurt him,” she whispers. “Didn’t even cross their mind that he was in the truck with me.” I don’t know what to say; the only thing I can think of is to hold her.

“I’ll get to the bottom of this,” I say. “And if I find out that it’s them, I’ll make them pay.”

“Don’t,” she whispers. “You don’t know what they’re capable of.”

“No,” I say, and I make sure she is looking at me when I say the rest. “They don’t know what I’m capable of.”

“Are you two coming?” Jacob asks, and we both look up at him. “See, you already look like lovebirds,” he jokes, and I shake my head.

“Did you mean it?” she asks softly. “When you said we should get married?”

I try to get my words right, knowing I have one shot to actually convince her. “I would do anything for you,” I say. “I would do anything for Ethan.” I look in her eyes now, and I’m ready to get lost in them. “I would do whatever I have to do to protect you.” I’m hoping she can read my eyes.

“Mom!” Ethan yells for her to come and get her pizza.