I can hear myself talking to Kase. I sound weird, but it’s my voice.

“Twin voodoo?” I ask.

 What is Kase talking about? And how do I hear myself talk, but my mouth isn’t moving? Wait, that’s not me. Everly is here. Kase’s hand slips into mine and I squeeze it, not planning to let it go. 

“Ellie, can you hear me?”

I nod, not wanting to open my eyes. My body is heavy and my brain foggy. Voices come and go as I slip back under. Whenever I wake, Kase is always by my side. But my body isn’t ready to come alive yet.

Finally, I fight the pull and open my eyes. Swallowing feels like I’ve eaten a bag full of sharp Doritos. Kase brings a straw to my mouth and I take a sip, praying while I swallow it doesn’t kill me. Haven’t I been through enough? Balloons and flowers fill the table behind him. He’s the only one in the room this time.

“Hey, Cowboy.” My voice is so raspy it doesn’t sound like me. His smile reaches his eyes, and it’s the first time I notice the dark circles under them. “Reed?” I whisper, recalling what happened.

“He’s great.” He bends down and kisses me on my forehead then sits down. “Ray’s dead.”

The weight I’ve kept buried for ten years, crumbles to ash, my body feeling lighter as I imagine a life without fear. Tears fall down my face. “Really? He’s gone?” I ask, finding it hard to believe.

He nods, his gaze never leaving mine.

There are moments in your life you’ll always remember. This is one. The feeling of deliverance.

I’m free.

Kase cups my cheek, wiping my tears away. “You’re so beautiful, you made me forget my pick-up lines.”

I laugh and then wince from the pain. I slap him on the chest. “Stop making me laugh. You’re so cheesy.”

“Only with you,” he says, scooting his chair closer and then standing, pressing his lips to mine.

When he sits back down, I pull the sheets back and gingerly touch my stomach, my fingers running around the bandage. “He has a thing for that specific spot.”

Kase’s jaw ticks.

“Too soon?”

He glares at me. Yep, too soon.

“Were they able to get the bullet out?”

“Yes. You lost a lot of blood and had internal bleeding.”

“Did anyone else get hurt?” His gaze turns down and my heart sinks. My eyes dance around, trying to remember the night. “Was it Clyde?” I’m assuming it was because how else did Ray get passed him? “Kase, tell me.”

He pulls in a sharp breath and slowly releases it. “Clyde was found dead in his car. But that’s not it. I didn’t want to tell you until you were a little more stable.” I ready myself for the bad news. It’s not your fault, I keep telling myself, but the guilt is already hammering down on me, leaving marks. “Your dad was shot, but he’s doing great,” he quickly adds, as my mouth gapes open. No! No! I cover my face with my hands, my chin trembles as I suck in a breath. All he did for me, he doesn’t deserve this.

“He’s okay, baby. He’s already called to check on you at least ten times.” He pulls my hands from my face, making sure I’m listening. “I’ve talked to him and Max is sending his plane for him as soon as he gets out of the hospital.”

Warm tingles spread through my body knowing they’ve met on the phone. Oh no. I never had the chance to tell him about Everly or Kase asking me to marry him.

“What’s wrong?”

I wince. “Did you say anything to him about us getting married? Or I mean—” 

The door flies open, and I stop talking, thankful for the interruption. We haven’t spoken since I left Texas, so I don’t know if he still wants to marry me.

“I’m done waiting for my turn,” Tori says, strolling into the room. “You’d think someone shot her or something.” I giggle at her brash attitude while Kase doesn’t seem to appreciate it. “Lighten up, baby-cakes, she’s fine.” She taps him on the cheek. “Why don’t you go get us some chocolate so we can have some girly time.”

He glances at me, his jaw tight. “We’re not done with that conversation.”

Biting my lip, I glance at the wire coming out of my hand, avoiding his intense stare. As soon as he’s out the door, Tori jumps in, “Oh, that sounded important, but I recognize that expression and you look like you’d rather go swimming in the ocean.”

“A shark eating me sounds pleasant right now.”

She snorts and sits on the bed, pushing wires to the side. “I’ll just get this out of the way, next time you go missing, send a freaking smoke signal or something! I was going out of my mind worried about you. Also, Everly… holy shit it’s weird looking at her and not thinking it’s you.”

“Just think how it is for me. If I raise my hand, I always expect hers to raise too, thinking she’s my reflection. It’s a mind fuck, for sure.”

She lies down beside me, wrapping her arm through mine. “Don’t go jumping in front of any more bullets, mmm’kay?”

“Sounds like a good plan.” I can see why Kase has nightmares.

“Now, tell me what conversation you’re avoiding?”

I sigh, rolling my head over to her. I haven’t been lucid long enough for this conversation, but she won’t let me off that easy. “Kase and I. Where we stand. We haven’t talked since Texas and the only thing I know is he didn’t choose Everly.”

She rolls her eyes and gives me an incredulous glare. “That man loves you more than the ocean and you know the weird obsession he has with that.” We both giggle. “Don’t doubt his love for you. There’ll be an adjustment between you and your sister because of Reed, but lover boy isn’t going anywhere. If you still want him.”

She’s right. Us being together might affect Everly and my relationship too. The struggle of wanting to be closer to my sister and being with Kase is real.

I’m enjoying a break of being alone, reflecting on the past week. So much has happened in the small amount of time, it’s dizzying. I’m in a wind tunnel, everything rushing past me, surrounding me at a powerful speed. I’m not sure how to come out alive without hurting people.

After a tap on the door, Everly sticks her head in. “Want company?”

Reed’s head peeks in under hers and his smile beams. “You definitely want to see me, right?”

I nod and motion for them to come in. Reed always enters a room with a force of energy, there’s no denying where he got that from. When Kase enters a room, it’s hard to look away.

“Did they let you keep the bullet?” Reed asks while he sits down next to me.

“Reed!” Everly stares at Reed with wide eyes.

He shrugs. “What? It’d be cool to keep something like that. I mean you keep my teeth.”

“No, I don’t,” she retorts. “The tooth fairy keeps them.”

His expression is priceless. Hers even more. She learned that her son doesn’t believe in the tooth fairy.

“It’s okay,” I pat her hand, consoling her. “It was bound to happen.” 

“Are you sure she’s not real?”

His smart-ass smirk is identical to Kase's when he gets ready to tell me a cheesy pick-up line. “Mom. As soon as you installed a tooth fairy door, I learned it was you.”

My brows pinch together wondering what in the world he’s talking about.

“It was so cute though.” She smiles wide when she sees my confusion. “It’s a little door, with a little door handle and you put it on—” She stops herself and waves her hand. “Never mind. It was cute.”

I scratch my face and exchange a knowing look with Reed. His mom is a little too much. “To answer your question Reed, no. They didn’t give me the bullet.”

His eyes widen. “Do you still have a hole? Can you see through it?”

“No, Reed.” Everly shakes her head. “Okay, you said hi, why don’t you go back out with the guys.”

“Fine. They’re cooler than you anyway,” he says, strolling out of the room.

“I’m sorry. He doesn’t use his filter like he should.”

“It’s all right. He’s a cool little kid.”

“So…” She pulls her hair up in a bun, clasps her hands together in between her legs and stares at me for a moment. She sighs. “I don’t know if I should thank you or yell at you right now. I’ve thought a lot about this the last twenty-four hours and I’ve flipped flopped so many times I’ll just do both.” She swallows after her word dump. “Thank you for taking a bullet for me.” She put a hand up stopping me from talking when I open my mouth. “But why did you do it? If you would’ve died, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself.”

“Ray wasn’t there for you, that bullet was always meant for me. You have a son that needs you, I have…” I turn my head to stare out the window. I’ve never had a lot of important people in my life. I’ve always been a loner, always questioning people’s motives for wanting to get close so it was easier not to get close.

“Don’t you dare say you don’t have anyone because the waiting room staff would tell you a different story. I’ve met so many people who love you that have come to see how you’re doing.” Her eyes tear up, and she sniffles in between her words. “They told me stories about you and how much you mean to them. And then there’s Kase, he would’ve been destroyed.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, the tears falling down the sides of my face from hearing her describe what has been happening.

“Please don’t ever think I’m more important than you.”

I nod as she holds my hand. Thinking of the people in my life that are important, I surprise myself when the list ends up longer than I had originally thought. I created a family here in Gilley Cove and I was too burdened to notice it. Now that the burden has lifted, I see it.

“And I’m okay if you and Kase get married.”

I glance down at my feet and shift in the bed, folding my legs up.

“Ellie.” She waits until my eyes meet hers. “I’ll be all right. He might have loved me a long time ago, but who doesn’t have high school sweethearts they once upon a time loved?”

“This is a little different, Everly.”

She takes a deep breath. “Yes. A little. But we can figure it out. You’re in my life to stay no matter if you’re with Kase or not. You can’t take back meeting me.”

“What about you? What are you going to do?”

“That’s a loaded question. I had my perfect. I just need to see if it’s worth finding my way back to it.”

“Well, I’m here if you ever want to talk.”   

“Are you kidding, we’ll be talking all the time!”

We both glance to the door when Kase clears his throat. “I don’t want to interrupt, but I have chocolate,” he smiles, holding up a bag of chocolate covered almonds. My favorite.

“Oh, you win. All I brought in here was Reed and he was more interested in the bullet.”

     

 

“What time is it?” I grab Kase’s hand and peek down at his watch. My racing heartbeat won’t let me sit still. I cross and uncross my leg, fairly certain if I had a skirt on it would’ve chaffed my inner thighs already from the movement. I glance around the small office, papers askew on the bulletin board and the need to fix them makes me hop up. By the time I’m done, they are straight and lined up. Kase keeps quiet knowing I need something to do while we wait.

The zipping sound of a plane landing outside grabs my attention and I run to the window. “Is that them?” I ask.

“There shouldn’t be any other plane landing here,” Kase jokes. I narrow my eyes at him and he laughs. “Yes, it’s them. Let’s go.”

I push the door open and rush out, waiting for the plane’s engine to turn off. When the plane door lowers, Max is the first one out, followed by the others. I bounce on my tiptoes until I see him. He walks off with aviators on and a scruffy beard, glancing around. When he sees me, a smile spreads across his leathered face.

I jog toward him, still not all the way healed, but Kase would be all up my ass if I full out run. “Dad,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. I keep it loose knowing he had it rougher than I did since he was shot a few times.

“Hi, sweetheart.” His arms tighten around me. “It’s so good to see you.”

Old Spice fills my nose, a smell I’ve always found relaxes me. It means he’s close. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

“Right back at cha’,” he says, pulling back, and his eyes move down to my stomach.

“It’s healing great. Stop, worrying.”

“Never.” His eyes shift behind me. “You must be Kase.”

Kase steps forward and they shake hands. “Yes, sir. It’s great to meet you.”

“Call me Dalton. Thanks for sending a private plane. It’s better than the commercial planes who cram you in like sardines.” His gruff voice makes my heart happy. He’s rough around the edges and soft as butter on the inside, but he’d never admit it.

I sit in the back of the Jeep, letting Kase and my dad get acquainted. I knew they’d get along great. It’s been a month since Ray shot me and Kase’s focus has been razor sharp on one thing, helping me heal. He’s pretty much spoiled me to death. The only thing he hasn’t done was talk about getting married. Every time I bring it up, he changes the subject saying we have our whole future to plan it, let’s focus on healing.

Well, I’m healed.

I figured I’d wait until my dad left to have a serious talk about what we’re doing. I haven’t worn my ring since I left Texas and Kase hasn’t brought it up even though he’s made it clear that we’re together. Chalking it up to him needing time to deal with his feelings too, I haven’t pushed it.

Everly and Reed are coming out next month. She wanted me to heal without distractions and let Kase and I work our stuff out. He told me about the kiss in Texas. It stung to hear, but in the end, I’m glad he did. It helped him realize he wanted me. I talk to Everly almost nightly, but I keep my frustrations about Kase limited to Tori. I know I won’t ever feel comfortable talking about Kase to Everly, but it’s a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things.

Kase carries my dad’s bag up the stairs as we take the elevator. “He’s a good man,” my dad says as we wait for the elevator.

“He’s the best. But there’s a story, a huge story, behind our relationship.” I lean my head on his shoulder, my heart warms, so happy he’s here.

“He told me.”

I jerk my head up. “He did. And you still think…” I wince, afraid he’ll change his mind about him.

“So, it was an unconventional way to meet,” he shrugs. “Look at how most the youngsters meet now, online. Talk about being impersonal.”

We step into the elevator. “But—“

“No, buts. He’s told me how much he loves you and I believe him. He told me about the Lighthouse and the work you’ve started there. Ell, I’m so proud of you. I really wish I could’ve been here to see you graduate.”

“I know. But thanks to Kase, you can visit anytime you want,” I say as we walk down the hallway. Kase is already in the apartment by the time we get there and as soon as I walk in, I freeze. He’s down on his knee, holding my ring up. “Kase, what—”

He holds his finger to his lips, stopping me. “I actually never thought I’d have to do this again, but this is the important one. I got approval from your dad this time.” I glance at my dad and he’s sitting on the chair, watching us, smiling. Kase pulls in a deep breath and I run my hand through his hair. “We’re secret-free this time…” He pauses with a lifted brow and I nod. He blows out a quick breath, making me laugh. “Ellie, you were always my destination, even though our starting point was flawed. Your heart is one of a kind and it’s mine. I love you with everything I am, and I promise to not make you swim in the ocean.”

I cover my burst of laughter with my hand.

“Ellie, will you marry me? For sure this time?”

“Yes,” I murmur through my tears. He slips the ring on my finger and the wind tunnel I’ve been stuck in the last month slows down. Everything suspends in the surrounding air, the quiet moment bringing clarity. My life might be a puzzle, but with Kase by my side, I’ll always be able to piece it together. 

Ugh! I groan, staring at Kase walk around the apartment in his board shorts and then plop on the couch. No shirt. Abs on display like a jewelry store case, the one you’d like to have one of everything in. He cannot walk around here half naked. I stomp over and stand right in front of him. He’s reading a magazine, so I wait for him to glance up. He lifts his head and flashes a sexy half-smile.

“Ellie?” He cocks his head to the side, probably wondering why I’m irritated. 

“So, I know you and your ego barely fit into this room and as much as you think it’s so, your dick is not going to kill me.”

He belts out a laugh. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. It’s been two months and I’ve been given the green light to do all activities.”

“Your doctor doesn’t know how big I am,” he jokes. I smack my forehead knowing he’s being serious despite his playful tone.

“I specifically asked her if I could ride a Cowboy.”

His brows pop up. “And what was her response?”

I climb on top of him, straddling his hips.

“‘Giddy up, cowgirl.’”