Page 128 of Ransom

Yeah, it was.

I stand rooted in place, watching Mia work her magic with Max. The soft murmur of their voices carries across the room, punctuated by the occasional vrooming sound as they push toy cars across the floor. But my attention keeps drifting to Blair's silhouette against the window.

Her shoulders are tight, her spine rigid. The moonlight casts shadows across her face, and I can't read her expression. My chest aches. I want to fix this, to make it better, but I don't know how. Should I order food? Get her to rest? Pull her into my arms? Big picture, I'm going to do everything I can for Maggie. But right now, I don't know what the right thing to do is. I’m never in this position, and I don’t like it one fucking bit.

Fuck it.

Letting my instincts lead, I cross the room, coming to stand beside her. Up close, I can see the exhaustion etched into her features, the blank look in her eyes that scares me more than her tears did.

"A million for your thoughts?"

The corner of her mouth twitches upward, just slightly. "A penny's not enough for a billionaire?"

"It's not that." I turn to face her fully, wanting her to understand. "Your thoughts... they're worth more to me than any amount of money. I want to know everything going on in that head of yours. The good, the bad, the stuff you think doesn't matter."

She looks at me then, really looks at me, and something in her eyes makes my breath catch.

"Right now?" Her voice is barely a whisper. "I'm thinking about how surreal this is. Eight hours ago, all I was thinkingabout was us. Maggie was stable, and I could pretend she would stay that way."

"And now?"

"Now I'm wondering if I'm strong enough for what's coming." Her words hit me like a physical blow. "If I can be what Max needs."

I want to grab her, shake her, make her see what I see—this incredible woman who's already been everything to everyone around her. But I know that's not what she needs right now.

Instead, I just say, "I'm so fucking sorry. For all of it. I'm sorry for Maggie. I'm sorry for Max. And I'm sorry for you. And I wish I could make it all fucking disappear."

Blair turns sideways, leaning against the window. Her smile is sad. "Wishful thinking. I used to do a lot of that."

"Yeah?" I step closer, drawn to her like always.

"I'd imagine Maggie just... getting better. Like magic." Her fingers trace patterns on the glass. "That one morning she'd wake up and the cancer would just be gone. No explanation needed."

"Like a miracle."

She hums. "I had this whole scenario planned out. The doctors would be baffled. They'd run test after test, but everything would come back perfect." Her voice catches. "And Max would get to grow up with his mom."

My heart twists. "I get it. After my family..." I swallow hard. "I used to imagine my dad walking through the door. Like the whole thing had been some terrible mistake."

"Did it ever get easier?"

"Not exactly. The wishes just... changed." I meet her eyes in the reflection. "I started dreaming about you instead."

She turns to face me. "Me?"

"Yeah. Stupid stuff, mostly. Like I'd be getting coffee somewhere, and you'd just be there. Or I'd look up from working on a car, and you'd be standing in my garage doorway."

"What would I say?"

"Usually nothing." I laugh softly. "You'd just give me that look—you know the one. Where you're trying not to smile but can't quite help it."

"I remember that feeling." Her voice goes soft. "What else?"

"Sometimes I'd imagine going back to Badger Falls. Just... showing up one day. Throwing you over my shoulder and driving off into the sunset."

"Very caveman of you."

"Hey, they were my fantasies. I got to be as dramatic as I wanted."

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