Page 82 of Perfect Alpha

Cade

Myworldhasended.

My entire body aches and muscle stiffness makes it nearly impossible to move, but I’m more than ready to suck it up and go home. I need to be with Aidan, who must be confused and terrified.

Hannah found a place for Dad to move into on January first. But until then, care for him and Aidan rests solely on my shoulders while I run a business, not to mention try to process losing my sister.

I’ve never felt so helpless.

How am I going to raise Aidan? The poor kid won’t have his momordad, and all he’s going to have is me. How am I going to manage everything on my own when I’m already stressed to the point of breaking?

Except I have to figure it out.

Iwantto.

The door to my hospital room opens, and I expect another nurse despite my insistence that I’m fine and beyond ready to be discharged.

When Victory enters, her face white as a sheet, I gasp because she’s the last person I expected. She’s wearing dark wash jeans, winter boots, and a puffy red coat. The sight of her warms my soul, making me instantly steadier.

Our eyes connect, and she immediately starts crying. She runs to me, carefully wrapping me in a very welcome hug that ratchets my anxiety down several notches.

“Cade, I am so,sosorry.” Her throaty voice soothes me, and I close my eyes to absorb the sound that echoes in my dreams every night.

And on her voicemail, which I’ve heard at least a million times.

I nod but don’t dare to speak. Her face is filled with uncertainty, and she pulls back, removing her hands from my body when her touch was the only thing temporarily holding me together.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say numbly.

Victory looks shocked. “You thought I’d stay in New York after what happened to Hannah?”

I shake my head and repeat, “Of course not. I just… I thought you’d stay with your parents.”

“But you’re hurting,” she whispers.

“I’ve tried to call you so many times. I’ve texted you and emailed you. I even sent youletters. And now that… that…” I can’t stop the tears, and I don’t bother trying. “I don’t want you to be here because you feel bad for me. I told you I loved you, and you walked away.”

Her eyes narrow, but she doesn’t mention the text she saw on my phone. She clearly understands I can’t take another beating today, even if I deserve one.

Instead of calling me out, she says, “It’s not pity.” She takes my hand and interlaces her fingers with mine. “I want to be here for you. I… I care about you, Cade. Despite all the messiness between us, I care about yousomuch. I’ll always be here for you and your family.”

“Yeah?” The vulnerability in my voice makes me wince.

Victory scoots closer, wrapping me in another gentle hug. This time, I snake my arms around her waist and inhale her scent like balm for my broken spirit. She leans her forehead against mine, and our hot tears mesh together.

“Yeah,” she whispers with a small, sad smile. “My parents said Aidan is with Gavin?”

I nod. “They discharged him. Luckily, he wasn’t injured, so Gavin is watching him until I can get out of here and pick him up.”

“I’ll help you get through this horrible time,” she promises.

When I bury my face in her neck, she rubs my back in soothing circles. I was drowning moments ago, and now the person I least expected threw me a lifeline.

“Thank you. I’m… I’m a fucking disaster.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Me, too. But we’ll be here for each other.”

“I don’t deserve you,” I whisper.

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