Page 153 of Rear View
She wrapped her arms around my neck, tucking her face into the hollow of my throat when a sob broke from her lips. “I was so scared.”
My eyes stung, my sight going hazy while I stroked a long line up her back and a heavy exhale shuddered through me. “Me, too, dream girl. Me, too. But it’s over now, yeah. You’re free.”
The tension in her body released, and she plunged her fingers into my hair, twisting them around it. “I love you, Xavier.”
I could breathe. I could goddamn breathe. “Love you, too.” Always her.Onlyher. “So fuckin’ much.”
She pulled back, taking every inch of me in. “Are you okay?”
My chest tightened, my nod slow when my hand came up, cuppin’ her face. “If you’re good, I’m good.”
Pressing her face into my palm, she smiled. “I’m good.”
My grin pulled high as I tracked my thumb under that red-rimmed gaze, swiping a tear away. “What would you say if I told you you’re beautiful?”
That pretty blush stained her cheeks, and she laughed, soft, easy and a balm to my goddamn soul. She grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me to her. My mouth found hers, the kiss gentle. Letting her know I was there. That I wasn’t goin’ nowhere…ever.
She loosed a breathy moan and I fought the groan that tried to break loose, ’cause just like the day before, her goddamn parents were there!
Drawing back, I set my forehead to hers and trailedmy knuckle along her jaw. “You’re killin’ me,” I said, my voice so low it was barely audible.
That blush deepened.
This girl.The backs of my eyes burned, and my chest inflated.
When I sat up, the rest of the Nolans made a show of looking at the walls, the ceiling, anywhere but at us.
A knock sounded at the door before Dr. Vernon crossed in. His stare met mine, and my teeth ground hard. He flipped the page on his chart, archin’ a cocky brow. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bosch.” He clicked his pen and did a shit job of hiding his smirk. “Miss Nolan’s been through a lot. I’m suggesting only family be permitted to visit at this time.”
I opened my mouth to tell Dr. Dickhead to fuck all the way off but Mrs. Nolan beat me to it.
“Mind yourself, Doctor,” she said, her tone hard as she advanced, pulling his attention her way. “Xavier Boschisfamily.”
Her husband’s hand landed on her shoulder, while Miles folded his arms over his chest, glaring the prick down.
I’d have been more than happy to deal with the guy myself, but the Nolans had stood for me, and my fuckin’ throat seized, my breath hitching as I swallowed hard. Ryah folded her fingers through mine, a smile taking those pretty goddamn lips when she looked at me.
Family. I was family. And I was home.
Chapter Forty-Two
Ryah
Xavier lay beside me in the hospital bed, holding me tight as if he couldn’t let go, even in his sleep. The pressure on my chest faded to nothing when the weight of his arrest, of Barlowe’s shadow, ofeverythingwas lifted.
Free. I was free.Wewere free. It was over. Xavier was mine and I was his. This was it.
Still, it’d taken its toll. Only a few hours had passed since the press conference, but it could’ve been a lifetime with how exhausted we were.
Seeing as I was in good hands, my family had left to shower and run errands. Dr. Vernon had done my scans under Xavier’s intense eye, then negated his visitors rule and quickly turned tail. Sheila and Alec arrived shortly after, the latter taunting X about being dramatic while my rally driver had just rumbled a laugh and called him a dick. They were followed by Earl, his crew and a sobbing Yara.
Zoya had been taken to recovery but was good, a fact we’d texted about incessantly since she’d woken up an hour earlier. I couldn’t wait to see her, to hug her and cry together. Tell her exactly what she meant to me.
Real, or chosen, it’d been good to be surrounded by family.
Xavier stirred and I laid my palms against his chest, my heart clenching when I tracked them up. Those arctic eyes cracked open, and I smiled. “Hey, rally boy.”
That arm around my waist cinched tighter. “Hey, darlin’,” he said, his voice thick. His eyes tracked between mine. “You get any sleep?”
