They’ve given me some good drugs, but all I can think about is seeing Alexander. I know he’ll come as soon as Madison tells him what has happened to me. While I want that badly, I’m also wondering about what will happen when he arrives here.

Paige has been by my side along with both our fathers and now they’re talking to the doctors while Paige glares at me.

I know they want me to stay in over night because I took a bang to the head when I went down, but all I really want is to go back to the hotel with Alexander.

My head still aches some and I know the doctors are only looking out for me, and probably want to cover their own asses as well. It’s the fact that I only have such a short time left with Alexander before we part ways. Only for a short time but nevertheless we still have to leave each other.

With the way the doctor continues to talk to both Ramon and Noah, you’d think I were a child instead of a twenty-one year old woman. Even Paige seems to be getting bored with them, and being in here.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her to leave when the door opens.

The doctor shakes his head. “You can’t be in here.”

“Like hell I can’t.” Alexander pushes his way into the room, his eyes on me.

Paige jumps up and gets in front of him. “You need to leave, now.”

A pulse throbs in Alexander’s jaw, which is a sign of his anger. “I will not be kept away from her.” He physically holds Paige still, and moves her gently but firmly out of his way.

He glances over me, and the minute he takes my hand, I burst into tears. He leans over and I wrap an arm around his neck as I bury my face in his neck and cry.

“Don’t leave me,” I whisper.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He cups the back of my head. “I’m afraid to touch you in case I hurt you.”

I slowly pull back. “I’m bruised a little bit.”

“And her head,” the doctor adds. “I take it you have no plans to leave?”

“Not unless Rachel’s with me,” I state.

“Only one person is allowed to stay I’m afraid.”

“And that’s going to be me,” Paige exclaims.

Paige is making it very difficult for me to want to be around her, which is why, I say to the astonishment of everyone, “Alexander will stay with me. He’ll make sure I’m okay.” I look at my dads. “I’m okay now Alex is here.” I give them a watery smile. “Please.” I’m not sure what I’m pleading for, but my father Ramon, looks between Alexander and I, and nods.

Noah moves to my bedside and kisses my cheek. “Alexander will call and let us know if you need anything okay?” He looks at Alexander. “And we will talk, but not right now.”

Alexander winces, but offers a wry smile. “I hear you, and you have my word that I’ll take good care of Rachel.”

Paige snorts. “You shouldn’t even be that close to her.”

“Paige please, stop this,” I beg.

She shakes her head and leaves the room.

“At least now I know why you and Paige are at each others throats,” Ramon states, looking worried.

“Dad, I haven’t been at her throat. She just won’t give me any peace, and I can’t put up with her anymore.” I sag into the pillows. “In fact I’m really tired.”

“Alexander, can I see you outside the room for a minute?” Ramon asks.

“Dad,” I moan.

“You rest,” Ramon says, leading Alexander outside.

I glance to my other father and watch as he frowns. “How long have you been together with Alexander?”

I sigh and instead of changing the subject—not that he’d let me—I admit, “I’ve been in love with him for years, but we’ve only stopped fighting our feelings this weekend.” Tears hover on my lashes. “I love him.”

He nods. “It’s … different.” He rubs a hand over his face. “Ramon and I love you Rachel.”

“But?”

He shakes his head. “There is no but. You’re our daughter and if anyone should know how difficult a relationship can be, then it’s Ramon and I. It wasn’t a piece of cake for us in the beginning, but with the love of our family, we made it work.” He smiles. “I’ll go and rescue Alexander, and I expect you to get some sleep.”

“I love you, Daddy.”

I don’t miss how choked Noah gets at my words and holding my hand out, I pull him closer. “I want to kiss your cheek.”

He smiles and positions himself. My lips brush against his rough cheek, and I whisper, “I couldn’t have better role models than I do with my dads. You taught me everything, including how to love. Don’t forget that.”

“I won’t.” He kisses my cheek. “Get some rest and let me know when they release you.”

“Will do.”

Closing my eyes, I hear the door closing, and then it opens and closes again.

I smile softly, knowing that Alexander is back.

“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.

“Hmm, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing those words out of your mouth.”

“I hope not.” He sits on the side of the bed. “I’ve spoken to your doctor and he said providing your headache doesn’t get any worse over the next couple of hours then I can take you back to the hotel.”

“Today?”

He laughs. “Yes … Today.” Settling beside me on the bed, he gathers me into his arms. “I hope they don’t kick me out for this.”

“You make me feel better, so I doubt it.”

“That’s good.” He goes quiet.

“Are you going to tell me what Ramon said to you?”

“I thought I wouldn’t.”

I meet his gaze and watch him wince. “He said he understood me being concerned about my cousin but he didn’t expect me to be as concerned as a lover. He had this dark look on his face.” He shakes his head. “I told him that I was sorry he was finding out about you and me in this way, but there was nothing to be done about it now. I love you, and I was done pretending I didn’t.”

“And?”

“He told me he’d have to think about it, and walked off when Noah appeared.” He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, at least not while you’re sick.”

“Plenty of time for that later.” I snuggle into his side. “So tell me how the skiing was.”

I hear the smile in his voice. “It was fantastic, although I was worried for a short time with how quickly the snow appeared. I should be used to that, but it’s been awhile since I’ve skied so hadn’t given it much thought. We all made it down in one piece. So yeah, it was good.” He sighs. “Just wish I hadn’t walked into a mess called Madison.”

“She hated staying behind, but I think she understood why I needed her to find and tell you.”

“Ryan took her for coffee and I left with Joshua, who took Paige back to the resort.”

“I’m sad that Paige is being like this. My sister has always been the more stubborn of the two of us, but I’m not sure what is going on with her this time around. Usually we talk things through, but she’s just flat out against us being together.” I nuzzle into his chest and breathe his scent into my lungs, knowing how much he loves me.

“I don’t mean this the way it probably sounds, but you don’t think she’s jealous do you?” He rushes on. “I mean that you’ve found the only guy you’re ever going to be with—” he smiles “—and she hasn’t.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that, but she’s usually supportive and just gives a warning—this time I don’t know how to handle her.”

“If I thought it would make things easier I’d talk to her. I feel like I’m letting you down because you’ll be back in your apartment at college with her and neither of you are at peace yet.”

“Perhaps it will do us both good being back there. Maybe she’ll feel more comfortable to talk to me about whatever it is going on with her.”

“I hope she comes around soon because if she’s making me feel unsettled, then her actions must be hurting you.” He kisses me on the top of my head.

“She can be moody, which we all know.” I settle closer still. “Let me have a snooze and then you can take me back to the hotel for our last night in Stowe.”

“Anything you want.”