Page 79 of Guarded from Sabotage

“Yeah.” Dante kisses me again. “They want to see you. Everyone’s been worried. They really care about you a lot.”

“Oh.” My chest warms. “That would be nice.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling up to it? If you need more time, they’ll understand.”

Am I up to seeing the people who dropped everything to help me? To rescue me? The people who have quickly become like family? “I’m sure.”

And over the next hour, as Dante hovers protectively beside me, I realize just how right he was.

When Niall and Jade come in, carrying a giant gift basket filled with aromatherapy candles and essential oils and gourmet chocolate, Jade bursts into tears as soon as she sees me. “I was so worried,” she tells me between sniffles. “And I’m so glad you’re okay.”

After a pause, and a small grimace, she amends, “Well. Not okay. But you will be. And if you need anything, a shoulder to cry on, if you want to talk, or if you just want to veg out and watch movies, I’m here.”

Matt visits next, his expression tight with worry and guilt, and I immediately can tell he’s beating himself up for not figuring out the truth about Tamara sooner. As he hands over a cuddly teddy bear, he says quietly, “I’m sorry, Sarah. I should have?—”

“No,” I tell him firmly. Hugging the bear to my chest, I hold Matt’s gaze as I continue, “You have helped me so much. I can’t thank you enough. Don’t ever apologize.”

Then I get teary and Matt looks all awkward, and he pats my head, muttering, “I’ll be back to check on you later,” before darting out the door.

Erik comes bearing a weighted blanket, which he presents with a shy smile, explaining, “I know you have Dante to help you. But when my PTSD gets bad, a weighted blanket helps. Not on your ribs, of course,” he adds quickly. “But the weight of it… I just thought it could help.”

The last visitors are Xavier and his girlfriend, Lucy, who could be the sweetest person I’ve ever met. She gives me the warmest smile as she hands over a gaily-decorated gift bag. “It has some cookbooks and some other books I thought you might like. Xavier says you love angsty stories, so I tried to find a good selection of new ones for you to try.”

“Luce works at the bookstore in Seguin,” Xavier says as he looks at her affectionately. “Just part time. She’s really an author.” He pauses, beaming with pride. “Romance novels. Over twenty published, right?”

Lucy blushes. “Twenty-five.” She turns to me. “Don’t worry, I didn’t put any of mine in there. I don’t want to push them on you.”

“That’s okay,” I tell her, smiling. “I’d love to read some of your books.”

Right after Xavier and Lucy leave, Hanna calls, announcing she’s coming to visit this weekend. Dante called Finn earlier to fill him in on everything, so Hanna knows I’m okay, but it doesn’t make her any less worried.

“Don’t tell me you’re fine and I don’t need to visit,” she tells me sternly. “I’m visiting. So is Finn. We’ve already booked the flight for Saturday.”

Honestly, I could use my best friend right about now, so I just say, “Okay. I’m not arguing. I’d really like to see you.”

And then, so Dante can’t hear me from the kitchen, I whisper, “I have to talk to you about Dante. He’s so amazing. I think he’s the one.”

Hanna shrieks. “I knew it! I knew it! I had a feeling ever since I saw you two at my wedding. And I never really liked Tanner. Dante is so much better.”

So that’s pretty great.

After I hang up with Hanna, my parents call, informing me they’re also coming to visit first thing next week.

“I want to meet this Dante,” my dad says sternly. “Make sure he’s good enough for my little girl.”

“He saved her life,” my mom replies with awhat do men knowsigh. “More than once. And he’s been protecting her. Plus, he was so polite when he called earlier.” I can hear her smile as she adds, “I can’t wait to meet your Dante, honey. He sounds lovely.”

By the time I finish with all the visits and phone calls, I’m happy, but thoroughly exhausted. My eyelids are drooping and my body feels boneless, and the pill Dante finally convinced me to take is kicking in.

“Let’s get you to bed.” Dante strokes my hair as he gazes at me with a soft expression. “You’ve had enough excitement for today, don’t you think?”

“I guess.” As I start to push up from the couch, I stop halfway. “Will you come to bed with me?”

He carefully loops his arm around my waist and helps me up. “Of course.”

And minutes later, when we’re both snuggled into bed and I’m moments from falling asleep, Dante says, “I love you, Sarah. Words aren’t enough to tell you how much. But I’ll spend my life protecting you, taking care of you, making you happy, if you’ll let me.”

Oh.

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