“I was so scared,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“But you were so brave. You kept Ava safe. You did what I asked.”

He nodded slowly. “Are you hurting?”

I smiled. “A little. But seeing your face helps.”

Griffin crossed to the door without another word as if he sensed I needed to see Ava and Mia, too. Within a matter of seconds, he’d returned with them—Mia curled in his arms, and Ava right beside them. As soon as they saw me, Mia burst into tears, and Ava ran to my bed.

“My girls. My beautiful girls.”

Will wrapped an arm around Ava, bringing her closer to the bed. And Griffin sat in the chair next to my bed with Mia in his arms.

“I’m okay. I promise,” I assured.

“I’m so sorry,” Mia wailed. “I shouldn’t have run away after Luci. Then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“Mia, no.” I reached out and grabbed her knee, ignoring the flash of pain. “This isn’t your fault. The only people responsible are the ones who did this and they aren’t going to hurt us ever again.”

“Promise?” she asked, voice wavering.

“We promise,” Griffin said, holding her close.

I glanced at Ava. “You okay?”

“I’m okay if you are,” she whispered.

“I’m better than okay,” I said, looking at the people surrounding me. The love I felt for them, warming me from the inside out. “How about some happy news?”

Will gave a wobbly grin. “I think I’ve only got room for good news for about the next ten years.”

“Sounds like a great rule to me.” I looked at Mia. “Think you might be up for being a flower girl? Or a junior bridesmaid?”

Ava gasped, looking from me to Griffin and back again. “You guys are gonna get married?”

“We are,” I said.

“What do you say?” Griffin asked. “How do you guys feel about being stuck with me forever?”

Will grinned. “I think I can struggle through it.”

“You’re already family,” Ava said.

Mia beamed. “Do I get a sparkle dress?”

Griffin chuckled. “We’ll get the sparkliest dress we can find.”

“How about this summer?” I asked.

Griffin’s eyes flared, a mixture of surprise and heat. “You want to do it that soon?”

“I don’t want to miss a second of a life with you.”

Epilogue

Caelyn

TWO MONTHS LATER

“That’s perfect.” I set down the end of my table runner at the same time Bell set down hers. “I can’t believe you made all this happen. Thank you.”

She rounded to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I can’t think of a better use for some of my furniture pieces.”