Page 63 of Fallen Empire
I didn’t break promises.
Not to other people, but especially not to myself.
I knew it wasn’t going to be long before the world Ben and I built would spiral out of control. And before that happened, I made myself a promise:
Tell Savannah my story.
Not all of it. Not yet.
But enough for her to know she wasn’t alone.
Part of me hoped she’d offer something back. Open that guarded heart of hers and tell me hers, too. But even if she didn’t, that was okay.
I wasn’t cracking open Pandora’s box.
I was just lifting the lid.
Letting her peek inside.
“Do you really want the coffee?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
It was hot, and she didn’t drink hot coffee. But if she wanted iced, I’d have the boys bring one back.
“Honestly, yeah.”
“Okay. Want me to put some ice on this one and have them bring you a fresh one?”
“I’m not sure. Think it’s safe for me to drink one?”
“Probably not. But it’s not exactly safe to put yourself in the crosshair of a lunatic, and you did that. So what’s a little caffeine going to hurt?”
I smiled.
She’d catch the hint that I was a little pissed at her. But she also knew I wouldn’t stay mad long. And she was right.
“Ugh. Not you too. I’ve already heard it from Jaxson.”
“Yeah, well. That’s it. I just had to get one jab in.” I held up the coffee Jaxson hadn’t even bothered to take after she said she wanted it. Typical.
“Just give it to me hot. Maybe it’ll help my throat or something.”
She had to be in pain if she was settling for hot coffee. I passed her the cup, but when she didn’t lift a hand for it, I waited.
“Oh, shit. Sorry. Let me grab a straw, I’ll help you with it.”
“It sucks being helpless.”
“You’re recovering well.”
“So, tell me what’s on your mind,” she said. “I know you didn’t kick them out for nothing.”
I let out a deep sigh, grabbing the straw and lifting the cup to her mouth. She looked like she was hanging on by a thread, and here I was handing her caffeine like it wouldn’t undo everything the doctors just fixed. She still had an oxygen tube in, for fuck’s sake.
The door creaked open, and I was ready to snap at whoever it was—
Until I saw the nurse.
“What’s that you’re giving her? That better be water.” She scolded me like I was a damn child.
