Cracking my eyes open I see my sister and brother beside my hospital bed. Hannah gasps as Elijah runs a relieved hand down his face and groans, “You’re awake.”

“Where’s Paige,” I rasp. “Tell me she’s alive. I need…”

“She’s okay,” he says.

Hannah glances between us and adds while touching her neck. “She got cut up pretty badly but they had a plastic surgeon in to do the stitches. The driver had all the right insurance so that’s good. They should heal well.” Taking my hand, my sister whispers, “I didn’t know you were in love. Why didn’t you tell me? After our fight, I should have called.”

“Elijah told you,” I hoarsely whisper.

“Yes! But I wish it had come from you. I know it’s my fault. I’ve been…not great in the whole older sister department.” She drops her head and caresses my wrist. “I guess you’re not my ‘little brother’ anymore, huh? Guess I have to start thinking of you as a man.”

“Duh,” I smile, making her look me in the eye. “I tried to tell you that in Florida.”

“I know.”

We squeeze each other’s fingers as I glance to Elijah and ask, “Ethan’s baby?”

“She was born ‘bout an hour ago. They named her Kaya Marie Cocker.”

“Pretty.”

He nods and adds, “Dad and Mom are fighting about your girlfriend.”

Closing my eyes I grimace at the image. “Doesn’t fucking surprise me in the slightest. Go get her.”

“Mom?”

“Paige, you idiot. I need to see her.”

Elijah smirks. “I’m glad the truck didn’t rob you of your charming personality.”

“Or my life!” I smirk back. “I need more pain meds, too. How big was the thing?”

“Just a huge fucking truck. Not a semi, or you wouldn’t be here. I’ll see what I can do about getting your girl here.” He rakes determined fingers trough his hair, the other hand in his suit pocket as he strolls out of the room.

Hannah sighs and motions to dozens of elaborate flower arrangements stuffed into this small space. “Word got out.”

“How bad is it?”

“Uncle Jaxson is in jail. Uncle Jake beat up some paparazzi guy and crushed his extremely expensive equipment but since it’s Ethan’s child being born Uncle Jaxson told the police it was him. Clearly he wanted Jake to see the birth of his granddaughter! The photographer argued but when the cops heard, ‘Why would I want to go to jail? I broke the fucking camera!’ they took Uncle Jaxson away. Dad’s working on getting him out by tonight. Especially since he told them to do it.”

“Laughing hurts,” I grin. “Try to be less funny. Anyone else get in trouble for me?”

Ethan strolls in with a swaddled bundle in his arms. “Yeah, me. You stole my thunder you narcissist.” He twists to show me a sleeping baby girl whose tiny fingers are resting on the pink, fuzzy blanket. “Look what I made all by myself?”

Hannah laughs at his joke piggybacking on the narcissist comment, but I’m staring at the creature like the miracle she is. I can’t believe I want one of these now — that’s the miracle. “Give her to me.”

“Not a chance. She has to stay clear of germs and you’re a fucking mess, Gabriel. You get cleaned up and we’ll talk. I just wanted to show you, and make sure you’re okay.” He heads out, cooing to his daughter, “Your second cousin is an attention hog, Kaya Marie, so he went and got hit by a truck today. Yes, he did!”

Mom walks in, her gaze resting a moment on watching Ethan as a father. She turns her head and holds out her hand. I reach for it and our fingers squeeze. “Gabriel, you scared me. Don’t do that again. I’m going first, you understand?”

“Mom, don’t even talk about that.”

She kisses my forehead and whispers against it. “I love you so much it’s not even funny.”

“I love you, too.”

Straightening up she and Hannah share a look like this was not fun for either of them. Inhaling sharply to change the subject, Mom stiffly smiles, “Your father is angry with me. Did your brother and sister tell you what happened?”

“They said enough and I already knew it was going to be hard. He doesn’t like Paige.”

“He doesn’t know Paige!” she grumbles, pushing her long hair back. “But I met her, and she’s just adorable, honey.”

“She’s fucking beautiful, is what she is.”

Hannah laughs and shakes her head with Mom mirroring her.

My Uncle Jason, dad’s twin, sticks his head in the room. “How’s it going in here?” He glances around and sees it’s just the three of us. Locking eyes with me he strolls in wearing grey jeans and a blue, cotton, long sleeved shirt. Aunt Sarah, his much shorter wife turns the corner, pushing curly red hair from her face, wearing a dress that matches his shirt.

“Gabriel! You look like shit!”

“You gotta stop sugar coating things, Aunt Sarah.”

Since he mixes all my albums, Uncle Jason and I have that bond. We always talk business so he asks, “How was the tour?”

“Sold out in every city. Canada was hard. London got better…when I had company.” I hold his look with meaning.

His eyes narrow and he glances to Mom and Hannah since my comment was purposefully mysterious. “What’s this? Your boy meet someone?”

Mom smiles, “Yes. Maybe you can help us.”

“With what?”

“If Dad wants to be stubborn, let him!”

She touches my arm. “Don’t get upset. You need rest.”

My aunt and uncle are very interested in finding out what happened. Mom explains it to them as Hannah and I watch and wait. We’re expecting Uncle Jason to offer a solution but it’s Aunt Sarah who gives the key. “Well, that’s ridiculous. What does he think, that it’s contagious? Every family I’ve ever known has an addict or alcoholic in it. Look at my brother Nathan!”

Jason and Mom stare at her as the realization dawns on them. I know Nathan but not well. He lives in Detroit so we didn’t see him much at family functions over the years, but since he owns a comic book chain we loved it when he came to visit. He always brought all the best graphic novels, even showing us which ones were going to be huge before they hit big.

Hannah takes the words right out of my mouth. “I didn’t know Nathan ever had a problem.”

Uncle Jason mutters, “Excuse me. I’m going to find Justin.”