Page 20 of My Savior Valentine

I reach out my hand, and he takes it, his fingers warm and rough against mine. "It scares me too. But I don't want to run from it. I want to see where it goes."

He nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Me too. If you'll give me another chance."

I squeeze his hand, feeling like my heart might burst. "I think I can do that."

He smiles, a real smile this time, and my heart skips a beat. "I'd like that. A chance to start over, to do things right."

We talk for a while longer, the conversation flowing easily now that the tension has dissipated. I tell him about my plans for physical therapy and my determination to get back on my feet. He offers to help, his eyes earnest.

"I've got some experience with rehab from my army days. If you let me, I'd like to be there for you. To help you through this."

I feel a warmth spreading through my chest. "I'd like that. And maybe, once I'm mobile again, we could explore Hope Peak together? I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of this place."

His eyes light up. "I'd love to show you around. There's so much more to this town than just the slopes. The hiking trails, the lakes... it's beautiful out there."

We make tentative plans, a promise of a future that suddenly doesn't seem so bleak. I feel a flicker of real hope for the first time in months.

All too soon, Reid glances at his watch, his brow furrowing. "I should probably get back to base. Viggo will be wondering where I am."

I nod, trying to hide my disappointment. "Of course. Duty calls."

He stands but hesitates, his hand still in mine. "I'll come back. As soon as I can. I promise."

I squeeze his hand, a silent acknowledgment. "I'll be here. Not like I could move if I wanted to," I chuckle.

He leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. It's a gesture so tender, so intimate, that it takes my breath away.

And then he's gone, the door clicking shut behind him. But this time, there's no ache in my chest, no sense of abandonment.

Instead, there's a warmth, a glow of anticipation. A promise of things to come.

I settle back against my pillows, my mind already racing ahead. To the future, to the possibilities.

To a life in Hope Peak and all that it might bring.

14

REID

[Two weeks later]

I pace back and forth in the hospital lobby, my hands shoved deep in my pockets.

"Get it together, Reid," I mutter under my breath. "It's just Willow."

But that's the thing - it's not just Willow anymore. She's become so much more to me in such a short time.

I glance at my watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. She should be here any second. My heart races with anticipation, and I can't help but wonder if she's as nervous as I am.

The elevator dings, and I snap to attention. The doors slide open, and there she is. Willow sits in a wheelchair, her leg propped up in a cast. She looks up, and our eyes meet. A smile spreads across her face, and I feel an answering grin tugging at my own lips.

"Hey there, mountain savior," she says as she wheels herself towards me. "Ready to break me out of this joint?"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "I think they're releasing you willingly, Willow. No breaking out required."

She shrugs, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Where's the fun in that?"

I step forward, reaching for the handles of her wheelchair. But Willow bats my hands away. "I've got this," she insists. "I need to do it myself."

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