Page 170 of Ransom

"I have every right! You made me promise to raise him. To love him like my own. Well, guess what? I already do. And he deserves better than watching you give up."

Maggie struggles to her feet. I reach for her, and she slaps at me. "You're a fucking traitor. I need... I can't..." She turns tome, eyes blazing. "And you can go fuck yourself with your fancy doctors and false hope."

She storms toward the door, but I'm faster. I catch her arm, pressing the file into her hands.

"Take it. Read it. That's all I'm asking."

She tries to shove it back at me. "I don't want?—"

"Tough shit." I hold firm. "You owe Max that much. Two weeks, Maggie. Look at what's possible. If you still want to give up after that, fine. But don't you dare walk away without even trying."

She clutches the file to her chest, tears streaming down her face. "I hate you both." She turns blazing eyes on Blair. Her voice breaks. "You better find someplace else to sleep tonight. You're not welcome in my home. Tomorrow, you can come and pack your shit."

The door slams behind Maggie, and Blair makes a sound like she's been punched in the gut. My heart twists at her pain. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against my chest.

"She'll read it." I press my lips to her temple. "She has to process, but she'll look at the options. Hope will win out."

Blair's fingers dig into my shirt. "What if she doesn't? What if she dies hating me?"

"Hey, she could never hate you." I stroke her hair, feeling her tremble. "You're her best friend."

"Was." Blair's voice cracks. "Did you hear her? Pack my shit? Just like that—thirty years of friendship gone because I wouldn't let her give up."

"You did the right thing." I cup her face, brushing away tears with my thumbs. "Sometimes loving someone means fighting for them, even when they're fighting you."

She pulls away, wrapping her arms around herself. Her eyes scan the garage like she's seeing it for the first time. Lost. Adrift.

"What do you need, sweetheart?"

Blair's shoulders slump. "I need..." She swallows hard. "I need to not think for a while. Take me somewhere? Anywhere but here."

"The old spot?"

A ghost of a smile touches her lips. "Yeah, that sounds perfect."

I take her hand, threading our fingers together. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

She grabs her keys, but I gently take them from her trembling hands. "Let me drive."

Blair nods. Together we close up the garage, locking the bays, then climb into Robert's old truck. I've never driven it. I didn't have my license back when we were kids. It feels good to be in the driver's seat, and even better having her right next to me.

I'm home.

As we pull out of the garage lot, she leans her head against the window, and I rest my hand on her thigh. The simple touch says what words can't—I'm here, I've got you, you're not alone.

"She's my family," Blair whispers. "Has been since high school. How could she just throw me away like that?"

"She's scared. And sometimes when people are scared, they lash out at the ones they love most."

Blair covers my hand with hers, squeezing tight. "Don't let go."

"Never." I lift her hand to my lips. "I promise."

52

BLAIR

Istare out the window as Ransom guides Dad's truck down the familiar dirt road. The radio hums in the background, a whisper of sound that can't break through my spinning thoughts. My hands twist in my lap, fingers tangling and untangling.

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