Harper
“Harp, I'm ok. Stop crying,” Dad whispers, holding out a hand to me.
“But you got shot!” I bury my face in my hands. I can’t stop crying no matter how hard I try.
“I didn’t die,” he teases, rolling his eyes.
“But you could’ve!”
He wiggles his fingers and I take his hand. How can I deny him after he got shot because of me?
“We don’t live life in the ‘what ifs’, sweetheart. That will make you go crazy with worry. A lot of things could’ve gone wrong. Evan could’ve shot Emma or you. His shot could’ve been fatal. He could’ve hurt Sophia or the babies. It could’ve gone so much worse, but it didn’t.”
“Is he going to die?” I ask the question I'm not sure I want to know the answer to.
“I don’t know,” he answers honestly.
“Kels spoke with Derek and Jesse. They were able to stop the bleeding. They think he’ll live, but he probably won't be able to use his right arm for much.” Mom settles onto the side of Dad’s hospital bed and brushes a few strands of his hair off of his forehead.
“He’ll be spending a long time in prison too,” Mason murmurs, coming up behind me.
“Really?” I spin around to face him.
“Um… yeah.” He frowns at me like I'm crazy and maybe I am. “He held someone at gunpoint and then shot a cop.”
“He’s an ex-cop.” I roll my eyes.
“Are you seriously defending him?” Mason scoffs.
“No, just correcting you.” I smile through my tears.
“He planned on kidnapping you and keeping you hostage until he was able to force you into marriage. All of that? Yeah, he’ll be spending some time in prison.”
“Can I… Can I see him?”
“What? Why would you want to see him?” Jackson stares at me with his brows forming a deep V.
“I want to know why he did all of this.”
Both Dad and Mason open their mouths to answer me, but I hold up my hand to stop them.
“I know your theories, but I want to hear it from him. I want to look him in the eyes and find out the truth. I need closure and the only way I can get that is if I talk to him.”
“Fine, but you’re not going alone. I'm coming with you.” Jackson stands and waits for me.
“Yeah, you’re the last person who should go with her. I’ll go.” Mason motions for Jackson to take a seat and he complies with an eye roll.
“I'm not the one who shot him,” Jackson grumbles under his breath. “I only punched him.”