The ten-minute drive to the hospital feels like an hour. Everything I want to say frantically swims through my brain. I consistently change and revise my speech, making sure I use the right words.

When I spot Brady’s Camaro in the parking lot, I know he’s still here.

I practically run into the sliding doors before they open, and I am finally where I should have never left an hour ago. My squeaky footsteps echo in the hallway as I swiftly walk toward the waiting room.

When I enter the small area, I’m thankful they’re there and not in Vince’s hospital room. Maura is fiddling with her phone next to Grant while Brady’s head is tipped back with his eyes closed. Kara is right next to him with her head on his shoulder, and I want to scream at her to get the fuck off my man. A huge sigh comes out of my mouth before I realize it, and Brady’s head pops up. Maura and Grant look up while Kara continues to sleep on Brady.

“Sadie,” he says as he rises to his feet.

Kara’s head falls down onto the chair with a thud, waking her up. “What the fuck?” she questions, holding her head with her hand.

“I’m not going anywhere, Brady,” I tell him.

“Let’s go, guys. Give them some privacy,” Maura instructs, standing up.

She and Grant both start to leave the room, but Kara stays put.

“Kara?” Grant turns around, waiting for her.

She reluctantly gets up and follows them out, boring holes in my head with her eyes the entire time.

Once they are all gone, I grab Brady’s hand, leading him over to a chair. I kneel down between his legs and place my hands on his face. “I’m here to stay. I’ll wait in this waiting room if you want, but I will not leave this hospital without you. I love you, and whatever you go through, I go through. We will do this together, Brady. You no longer have the option to do this alone,” I lecture.

His eyes stay on mine, but my Brady isn’t there. There’s a hollow shell of a man in front of me.

“You can ignore me, push me away, and yell at me, but I’ll come back to you every time to stand by your side. I’ll hold your hand, hug your body, and soothe your worries, but I will not walk away. I will not leave you,” I finish speaking.

A tear rolls off his cheek. He stares down at me, and a horrible feeling flows through me that maybe this was a terrible idea. Maybe he doesn’t want me anymore.

I lean up and softly kiss his lips, tasting the salt from his tears. He doesn’t respond to my affection, so I slowly pull away, embarrassed.

Then, Brady puts his hands on the back of my head, drawing me to him. He gives me a gentle kiss on my lips, raising me up and pulling me onto his lap. Kissing his way to my ear, he whispers, “Thank you.”

I stay in his lap with his arms around me and mine around him. The three others eventually make their way in, quietly sitting on the other side of the room.

A doctor comes in a little while later and informs Brady and Maura that they can go in and see their father. Maura puts her phone in her purse and walks out of the room. I take my seat next to Grant, but Brady walks over to me, holding his hand out. I look up into his eyes, and there’s no sign of the angst that filled them moments ago. When I place my hand in his, he lifts me off the chair and leads me toward the door in silence.

Vince looks comfortable, lying in the bed with an IV attached to his arm. Maura and Brady walk to either side of the bed, and I keep my distance in the back of the room. I don’t want to push Brady too far; this was a huge step for him.

Maura takes her father’s hand, squeezing it, while talking to him. Brady leans back in the chair, staring at his dad.

With all the Carsen’s in the room, the similarities are uncanny. I can’t believe I knew all three of them separately but never realized they were related.

The doctor tells us that Vince should be okay but needs to be closely monitored. Then, he hands some pamphlets regarding rehabilitation facilities to Maura. The nurses come in and insist we all go home and come back in the morning. They say there’s nothing anyone can do. Vince just needs his rest.

The five of us file out of the hospital.

Brady follows me to my dorm to drop Jessa’s car off, and then we go back to his place. It’s early morning when we finally crawl into bed. Brady positions me on top of his chest again, tearing my ponytail out and letting his fingers seep through my blonde hair.

“I’m sorry for tonight, Sadie,” he whispers.

I slowly pick up my head, resting it on my hand. “I know.”

“It might take some time for me,” he admits.

“That’s okay,” I reassure him. “I’m not going anywhere.” I lay my head back down on his chiseled chest.

“I didn’t know it was possible to love you even more,” he says casually, continuing to play with my hair.

Picking up my head, I stare into those caramel eyes that have given me so much in such a short amount of time. “Me neither.” I graze his chest with small kisses.

---

On our way back to the hospital, Brady holds my hand tighter than normal. He’s quiet again but not in a bad way, just in a guarded one. Maura will be meeting us there with her husband, and the three of them will confront Vince about admitting himself into a rehab facility again.

I squeeze Brady’s hand, and he glances over at me after he parks the car.

“I’m here for you,” I remind him.

He smiles. “I know. It’s just…if he doesn’t go, what then?”

Brady stayed up most of last night. Thinking I didn’t hear him quietly get out of bed and leave the room, he came back early this morning, climbing back in. He needs space, and I understand that.

When he was getting ready to leave for the hospital, he never questioned if I was going, never told me to stay behind.

“Don’t jump ahead. Let’s see.” I nod, and he mimics the motion.

Inhaling a long deep breath, he turns off the ignition and climbs out of the car.

Silence consumes us as we walk the hallways with people shuffling back and forth. Maura and Brandon are already in the room when we arrive. Brady stops outside the room. I opt to stay in the hall, out of courtesy for Vince.

I cup Brady’s face with my palms, my heart tearing from the worry in his eyes. “I’ll be waiting.”

He leans down and briefly kisses my lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Before he enters the room, I watch Brady’s back rise and fall when he sucks in a breath. When he shuts the door, I rest my back along the wall, and then I surf on my phone to kill the time.

A half hour later, Brady’s actually smiling when he comes out, telling me Vince agreed to go to rehab. I wrap my arms around him, happy for all of them.

“I have some bad news though.”

I push back and see his lips turned down.

“He’s going to a facility in Michigan. I’m driving him, and I will be gone for four days.”

“Oh,” my selfishness escapes my lips. I’m going to miss him.

“I know.” He leans his head in the crook of my neck, and his arms tighten around my stomach. “I’ll be back on Christmas Eve though.”

“I’m happy for you, for Vince, for Maura.” I squeeze him more firmly, and he pushes back from me.

“Thanks. I’m relieved.”

It’s the first time I see the tension of his dad’s alcoholism ease.

“Now, let’s go home. I leave tomorrow morning, and I want to make the most of our time left.” He wraps his hand in mine and leads me down the hospital hallway.

Although I’m going to miss him, I think I have an idea that will keep me busy. I just need to find some recruits to help me out.

---

One week later, I’m anxiously awaiting Brady’s return.

Texting and calling during the four days Brady was away, we decided to have a full house on Christmas at his house. We are hosting my mom and grandma, Maura and her family, Grant, and Jessa along with her family. Jessa’s family came here to visit her for the holidays since she’s not comfortable with going back home yet. Rob went home a few days ago, and he invited Jessa, but she declined, wanting to be with her family.

I hear the Camaro pulling into the driveway, and it takes all my self-control not to run down the steps and jump into his arms. Instead, I scramble around the room, making sure everything is in its place. I toss a few pillows onto the bed and reposition his guitar in the corner along with a picture of Theo and me on the dresser.

Grant and Jessa have been a huge help these past few days. We redecorated the third-floor master suite for Brady and me. We have painted it a misty blue, and I bought a brand-new white comforter along with white-and-black drapes. Although I can’t change the memories of this room for Brady, I hope that, by us making new ones in it, he’ll be able to move on.

“Sadie!” Brady calls up from downstairs.

But I stick to my plan, keeping quiet. His footsteps make their way up the stairs as I bite my lip in anticipation.

God, I’ve missed him these last four days. It’s the longest we have been apart since we got together, and I honestly don’t remember what it was like, not having him in my life.

I hear him stop at his bedroom door.

“What the…” he says.

Surely, he’s confused, seeing all of Jessa’s stuff adorning his room. His footsteps quickly turn toward the second staircase.

I lie myself on the bed and strike my best sexy pose even though I’m still wearing jeans and a T-shirt. As his steps become louder and closer, my heart swells with need and desire. When his face reaches the top of the stairs and I see the fauxhawk brown hair of my boyfriend, an ache fills inside me.

“What’s this?” he cautiously asks. “No…really?” he questions as his eyes search the room. He walks toward the closet, seeing my clothes on one side and his on the other. Then, he ventures into the bathroom and sees my toothbrush alongside his.

Coming out of the bathroom, he looks at me again. He silently asks me with his eyes, and I give him a small nod of my head, making him smile widely.

Finally, Brady jumps on the bed and kisses me. “You sure?” He backs away from me a little.

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” I fist his shirt and bring him down to me.