Mitch’s eyes flew open as he felt Jonah stir next to him. For a moment, he was completely disoriented. He didn’t know where he was or how he got there. But as his eyes adjusted to the darkened room, he could see Jonah and Pop, and it all started coming back to him.

It felt like a lifetime ago that he received the text from Jonah saying he was at the hospital.

Mitch’s stomach tightened as he remembered the panic and dread he felt before he got there, and then the hours of uncertainty after that as he sat with Jonah and waited.

But now they were here in Pop’s room, and everything was good.

“Where are we?” Pop’s voice was faint and gravelly, and he was completely still except for his pupils that were moving back and forth, scanning the room. “Jonah? Mitchell?”

“We’re right here, Pop,” Jonah said, half-standing as he leaned in closer. “We’re at the hospital, but you’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I feel…” Pop’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment, then opened again as he focused on Jonah’s face. “I don’t know how I feel. Rough, I think.”

Mitch couldn’t help but grin. “You’ve been through a lot today, but you fought through it.”

“You sure did,” Jonah nodded. “And we’re going to stay right here with you, okay? You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“That’s good,” Pop murmured. “Such good boys.”

His breathing became heavier and Mitch waited quietly with Jonah until it was obvious Pop was fast asleep again.

“I guess he’ll probably be in and out of it like that for a while,” Mitch said, taking Jonah’s hand. “I’m glad we were here with him when he woke up, though.”

“There’s no way I’d be anywhere else,” Jonah said. “For all the times he’s been there for me…”

“And for me,” Mitch nodded. “You’ve both been the most important people in my life since… forever. I can’t even imagine not having either of you around. I don’t even want to think about it.”

Mitch could feel a lump forming in his throat. He hated to think about how his life would have turned out without Pop and Jonah in it. If they hadn’t been around to show him what a loving family looked like—and shown him that same kind of love and acceptance from day one—Mitch might never have experienced it at all.

“I don’t like to think about that stuff, either,” Jonah said. “But I’m going to be around for a while. I’m not leaving him here like this. New York is too far away if something happens.”

“What will you do about your job? Have you talked to your boss yet?”

Jonah shook his head. “Not yet. But I’ll figure something out. I haven’t thought it through completely, but my mind is made up that I’m staying—at least until he is back at home and can take care of himself.”

“I’m glad,” Mitch said, meaning it. “I know he’ll probably give you a hard time about it, but I think he’ll be glad, too. He needs you right now.”

Mitch wanted to tell Jonah that Pop wasn’t the only one who needed him, but now wasn’t the time. Jonah was focused on what was best for Pop, and rightly so. The last thing Mitch wanted to do was to make this moment about himself.

He wanted Jonah to stay for purely selfish reasons, and even though he definitely planned on telling Jonah all of those reasons at some point, that conversation would have to wait.

Right now, it was enough to know that Jonah would still be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. They still had some time.

There was still a chance that things could work out the way Mitch wanted.

The dream was still alive.