Page 79 of Wildest Dreams

I repeat the bridge as I fade my voice out and back to a hum.

My eyes stay pinned to Pacey's face. No one deserves this. Especially not Pacey. He is the kindest kid I have ever known. Will always show up for you, will always have your back.

Sighing, I let go of his hand for just a moment and sit back, losing myself in the silence.

Soft shakes make me sit bolt upright, and I see Hudson with a sappy smile on his face.

“Wakey wakey, it's time to switch,” he whispers, and I rub the sleep out of my eyes.

“Any change?” He asks, standing tall and looking over his shoulder, but I shake my head from side to side. “Damn,” he lifts his hat from his head and places it on the foot of Pacey's bed.

“He will wake up, won't he?” I ask as I push from the chair.

I watch as Hudson's brows crinkle for just a moment, a line forming on the bridge of his nose.

“I hope so, ma'am. I really do hope so.”

The walk is short down to where Tripp is, and nerves rattle inside of me. I ran from him yesterday and never gave him an explanation. I panicked. Things were getting a little too... I suck in a breath as I stand outside his door. Giving myself a second, I step into the room and am surprised to see him awake.

His eyes light up, the smooth lines at the crease of his eyes disappearing as he smiles at me.

“You came back.”

I nod, fingers locked together as I walk cautiously over to the seat next to his bed, but he reaches out for me, fingers wrapping around my wrist as he tugs me towards him.

My eyes widen but a boyish grin pulls at his lips.

The same boyish grin he would flash me when we were both up to no good.

“Tripp,” I whisper as he pulls me into his arms.

“You're never running from me again Dixie Walker,” he breathes as he wraps his arms around me, holding me close to him. He hisses in as I try to move but he doesn’t let me.

“I...” I pause for a moment, bodies flush, and I push up, mindful not to hurt him by putting my full weight on him. Riggs must have told him. My blue eyes bounce between his deep brown pools and my heart hammers in my chest.

One of his hands brushes up and tucks a strand of my hair away from my face and behind my ear.

“I never stopped loving you Dixie, not for even one day,” he whispers, and I swallow the large lump that has formed in my throat. “Tell me you never stopped loving me,” he asks on a beg, the sound of his voice cracking.

“Not for even one day,” I whisper back, eyes filling with tears.

“Then promise not to leave me, promise not to run away from me again. My heart couldn't stand it.”

I lower my face as a tear rolls down my cheek and drops onto his bare chest.

“I can't promise you that,” I choke on my words.

They way he pulls in a breath has me feeling guilty, like my words were too painful for him to hear, his chest aching as if it was too hard for him to breathe.

“Then promise me tonight,” his eyes are back on mine, burning into the depths of my soul.

“I promise,” I nod as his hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing away a rogue tear that trickles down as our lips edge closer.

His breath catches at the back of his throat the moment our lips touch and I melt into him. Tongues dancing, his hands are in my hair as I cup his face with mine.

“I can't wait to get home,” he whispers against my lips, his eyes lowered watching my mouth.

“And why is that?” I whisper back.

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