Page 9 of Never To Forever

“Me too,” he replies, his tone soft.

We stare at each other for several seconds, and there’s so much I want to say to him. How scared I was when I first heard about his accident. How relieved I am that he’s okay.

How much I feel for him.

I think back to when I first realized I was in love with him. It happened in an instant—I was eighteen and in a bad situation with a boy who didn't like to hear ‘no,’ and Garrett came swooping in to defend me. My white knight. I realized then that my feelings for him were more than friendly or sibling-like.

Maybe it’s my imagination, but I feel like something passes between us as our gazes stay locked for longer than entirely necessary. Can he see everything I’m feeling right now? Or am I just being overly optimistic and hopeful?

He pulls his eyes from me, and I snap back to reality. No… I had to have imagined that. Garrett doesn’t want me… not yet.

But maybe someday soon, he will.

CHAPTER FOUR

GARRETT

After five daysin the hospital, I’m restless and ready to get the hell out of here. I’m still suffering from headaches and sensitivity to bright light, but I don’t get dizzy every time I stand up, which is good because the doctor is finally comfortable letting me go home.

When he discharges me, I’m buzzing with eager energy to escape the confines of my hospital bed. He gives me a long list of precautions and rules for my recovery, but he could tell me I need to shave my balls and dip them in lemon juice every day and I’d agree if it got me out of here faster.

Christian and Haven arrive to pick me up, and when my sister walks through the door to my room, her eyes fill with tears. Before she hurries to me, wrapping me into a warm embrace. She’s been doing that every time she’s seen me since my accident.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, instantly going into mother hen mode. As she looks me over, as if looking for fresh injuries.

“I’m good,” I assure her with a smile. “I promise. You don’t have to worry about me.”

She gives me an exasperated look that reminds me so much of our mom that my heart flips.

“Of course I’m going to worry,” she insists. “You’re my big brother, and I love you. I’m always going to worry about you, just like I worry about Christian and Oliver. You’re my boys.”

It’s hard to argue with that, so I just give her a kiss on her forehead. “All right, I understand. Still, don’t stress yourself out. Think of the baby.”

“Oh, don’t you get fussy over me.” She sighs, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m fine.”

“Don’t want me to worry about you?” I tease. “Bit hypocritical of you, sis.”

Haven rolls her eyes and huffs out a breath of frustration. “Don’t be an ass. Let’s get you to our house before I break your other arm.”

“Your house? Why am I going to your house?”

She frowns up at me. “So we can take care of you. Duh.”

I glance over at Christian with an arched brow. “She’s joking, right?”

He shrugs before letting out a soft chuckle. “Afraid not, buddy. The wife wants you to come home with us so she can fuss over you, and what the wife wants, she gets.”

Shit.

Haven gives me a smug look, and it’s clear that there’s no way I’m going to get out of this. “That’s right—what the wife wants, the wife gets.”

“I’m not a little kid, Haven. I can take care of myself.”

“Weren’t you just saying that I needed to think of my baby?” she says. “I’m doing just that. If you don’t come home with us, it’s going to stress me out. You don’t want that, do you?”

That’s a low blow.

Clenching my teeth, I fight down the frustration bubbling up inside me.

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