Page 129 of Lost in the Moonlight

When she grinned, it made the pain all but disappear.

“Your parents are here. Down the hall. I told them I’d get them when you woke.”

“I figured they’d be lurking around somewhere.”

Her face turned serious, and she squeezed my hand. “It was Sienna.”

When I met her gaze, it wasn’t freaked out or judgmental or concerned. Instead, it was somber and almost serene. Still, a force of habit had me clamping my jaw tight and saying nothing. It was Willow who continued. “I saw her too.”

My brows raised.

“Not at first. At first, I was confused because I didn’t know who you were talking to and why you were freaking out. But then, when you were fighting with Aaron, she came into the guest room and told me you needed help.”

“I used to think she was a hallucination brought on by the drugs they gave me for the insomnia. Then, I thought it was my guilty conscience imagining her. I thought we both needed closure. When her parents gave me her trust fund to open the gallery, I thought it was what we both needed to move on. And when she disappeared, I was sure of it. But she came back last week, and I didn’t know why.”

“She said she came when she was needed—or rather, that she was sent when she was needed. She hung around after we got to the hospital, making sure you were okay. She told me to make sure I didn’t take you for granted like she had.”

I shook my head. “She never took me for granted.”

Willow shrugged. “Those were her words, not mine.”

I didn’t want to talk about Sienna. She was my past. This stunning, brave, quiet woman in front of me was my future. A future we’d almost lost. My chest tightened, and I squeezed her hand. “You were supposed to stay hidden.”

“This won’t work if we aren’t on equal footing, Lincoln. We protect each other. We face everything together. That’s how myparents faced life. From what I’ve seen, I think it’s how your parents face theirs. We won’t last if you treat me like a fragile thing needing your protection, and I want that forever you promised. I want it so badly I can taste it, can’t you?”

“It tastes like you. Like browned butter and sugar.”

“Funny, I think it tastes like you. A little bit bitter and quite a bit demanding.”

“Smart-ass.”

“I love you,” she said, and my heart lunged so hard the monitor burst into a chaotic rhythm. She smiled at the sound before turning that beaming light on me. “Get better so I can take you home.”

“You’re moving in with me,” I told her.

She huffed out a laugh. “Is that equal footing? You issuing commands?”

“Can’t be equal if we’re not under the same roof,” I told her. “And I want to get married.”

She sat beside me and ran a finger over my brow. “Some proposal that is.”

For a second, I felt bad for having let it slip out like that, but then I just shrugged. “I’ll give you romance once they get this ridiculous sling off me.”

“Hmmm. Does this mean I get to punishyoufor using that word?”

“We’ll punish each other.” I tugged on her arm, making her wobble, and she landed back on my chest. Sharp agony arrowed through me, but I didn’t care. I kissed her fiercely with determination and promises in every slide of our mouths.

She drew back, the soft, beautiful smile I adored filling her face.

“I’m serious, Willow. I want to get married—tomorrow, if I can make it happen. I want to start forever right now.”

“Fast and furious.” She shook her head and let out a little laugh. “I think we should probably wait until you can stand. Maybe get rid of the bandages.”

“Is that a yes?”

“You didn’t really ask, but yes, I’ll marry you.”

More relief washed over me. Together. Forever. I could do that. I would do that.

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