Page 133 of Ransom

"But she told me—" He swallows hard. "She said she might not have lots and lots of time left. But it hasn't even been that long since she told me."

"Come here, buddy." I open my arms, and he crawls into them. "Your mom is the strongest person I know."

"But what if she's not strong enough this time?" His words muffle against my shirt. He’s saying all the same things I’ve been thinking. Every worry, every fear, out loud.

"Hey, look at me." I tip his chin up. "Remember what Mom told you about being brave?"

He nods. "That being brave doesn't mean not being scared. It means doing stuff even when you're scared."

"That's right. And your mom is being so brave right now."

"I'm trying to be brave too." His lower lip trembles. "But I don't want her to go yet."

"I know, baby." I pull him closer, rocking slightly. "I don't want her to go either."

"Will you stay with me?" His fingers grip my shirt. "Until I fall asleep?"

"Of course I will." I kiss the top of his head. "I'm not going anywhere."

Ransom stands in the doorway, a dark silhouette against the hall light. My fingers brush over Max's forehead, the same way Maggie does every night. His breaths slow, evening out as sleep takes him. I ease off the bed, careful not to jostle him.

Ransom backs into the hallway. I pull the door shut with a soft click, then lean against the wall. He mirrors my position on the opposite side, his blue eyes steady on mine.

"I don't know how to help." His whisper carries across the space between us. "I keep trying to ignore my instincts, to think about what you need instead."

The raw honesty in his voice makes my chest ache. "What are your instincts telling you?"

He swallows hard. "I want to take you to my bed." His gaze drops to the floor. "Just to hold you all night. So I know you're okay."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Because that's exactly what I want too—to feel safe, to let someone else be strong for a while. To forget about hospitals and responsibilities and just... exist. In his arms. Where everything used to make sense, even when nothing else did.

My heart pounds against my ribs. "Just sleep?"

"Just sleep." His voice is rough. "Nothing else."

I study his face in the dim hallway light, searching for any hint of deception. But his eyes are clear, honest. The same waythey were all those years ago when he'd tell me things no one else knew.

"You sure about that?" The words slip out before I can stop them. Because I'm not sure. My head is fucked, and I'm looking for an escape. And maybe that's not fair to him or me, but I can't stop. And Ransom isn't Adam. With Adam, sex would be just that, an escape. With Ransom, it would be so much more.

His jaw tightens. "Blair." The way he says my name—like a prayer and a curse wrapped into one. "Trust me, I want..." He drags a hand down his face. "God, I want everything. But not like this. Not with you hurting and worried about Maggie. Not with Max in the next room."

Heat floods my cheeks. Of course he's right. What was I thinking? My best friend is in the hospital. Her son is sleeping on the other side of the door, and here I am, entertaining thoughts about...

"Hey." Ransom's fingers brush my arm. "Stop that. I can see you beating yourself up."

"I shouldn't be thinking about?—"

"About what? Finding comfort?" His thumb traces circles on my skin. "Being human?"

I let out a shaky breath. "Everything's so messed up right now."

"I know." He takes my hand, his grip warm and steady. "That's why I just want to hold you. Let you get some real sleep. No expectations."

The sincerity in his voice breaks something loose in my chest. Because this is the Ransom I remember—the one who could see right through my walls, who knew exactly what I needed before I did.

Or almost exactly what I need. "I need a drink first. Better yet. Make it the whole bottle."

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