Epilogue One
KELSEY
Hayden’s been in the hospital for two weeks. He’s still in a coma and has machines keeping him alive. The doctor wasn’t lying when he said he has a long road to recovery if he pulls through this.
I was able to sneak away from the house without my bodyguard, Hawke, noticing.
Ryder’s been at the office discussing RAGE things, and I got bored.
So, here I am. In the doorway of Hayden’s hospital room.
We’ve visited him every day, sometimes multiple times a day, but I needed to tell him something in private today.
I know he probably can’t hear me, but I read some articles about people who remembered people talking to them in their comatose state. So a girl can dream, right?
I walk up to the windowsill and place the bouquet of flowers on the ledge next to all the others that we have brought. He can’t see them now, but when he is able to be awakened, he will have a beautiful view to look at.
I turn to face him. They still have his body completely covered from the burns. “Hey,” I say, gently placing my hand over his. “I have a secret, but there’s one rule,” I whisper. “You have to promise me to get better, okay?”
Tears burn my eyes, and I shut them, fighting them back.
I don’t want to cry. This wasn’t supposed to be a sad moment.
I take a deep steadying breath, “You’re going to be an uncle.
” His fingers twitch against my palm. The tears I was holding back flood my face like the Hoover Dam.
Nobody can tell me he didn’t hear me and understand.
A strangled cough snags my attention in the doorway. I look up, expecting to see a nurse, but I come face to face with a set of gold-flecked green eyes instead.
“Ryder—” My heart stalls in my chest. How much did he hear? “How did you know I was here?”
He waves his phone in the air, showing the tracking app. Damn it! “Is it true?”
I gulp, fidgeting with my nails. This was not how I intended to tell him. I actually thought about running away. “You don’t have to stay. I totally understand if you—”
He hurries over to me, and I step back, expecting him to be upset. Instead, he presses his mouth to mine, and I open for him to deepen the kiss. I extend my arms up to wrap around his neck, and he lifts me off my feet. He pulls away, “I’m going to be a dad?”