Page 184 of Return Policy

“Hey, Sunflower,” he says weakly, reaching for me, and I slide my hand in his.

“Oh, thank God.” I lean over him. “Thank you, God. Thank you.” My shoulders tremble, and Elijah places his hand weakly on my back.

“You scared the shit out of us, man,” Julian tells Elijah.

“Yeah.” Theo clears his throat. “Thought I was gonna have to find another roommate.”

Elijah laughs weakly. “Love you guys too.”

“Let’s give them some privacy,” Noah says, and the guys funnel out, the door clicking shut.

Elijah looks at me. “Have I told you today that I love you?” Those three words open the flood gates, and I fall against his chest, sobbing.

“Babe,” he says gently, rubbing my back. “Why are you crying? It’s okay. I’m okay. I promise.”

“Why am I crying?!” I bolt up, glaring at him. “Are you kidding me? I saw your body bounce across the damn football field, Elijah. It was fucking terrifying. I have half a mind to make you quit football altogether.” The corner of his mouth curves upwards.

“I’m fine, babe. I swear.” He rubs his knuckles along my face before taking both my hands and placing them on his chest. It rises and falls beneath them as his heart pounds against my palms. “You feel that? It’s beating. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I can't lose someone I love again,” I whisper as the tears continue to stream down my face. “I can’t loseyou.”

“You won’t,” he assures me with a soft smile. “I’m right here, baby. I told you I’d never leave you.”

“The idea of losing you fucking petrifies me. So yes. I am crying. And no, you better never let that happen again. Because I love you so much, I can't even breathe, Elijah.”

He pulls me in for a soft kiss. “The doctor said I’m going to be fine. I just have to rest for a few weeks.” An amused smirk forms on his lips. “He said he’d be back to talk to mywifelater.”

“They would only let family see you.” I smile with flattened lips. “So I used my fake.”

“You didn’t think to tell them you’re my sister?”

“Feels weird to say you’re the sister of someone you’re fucking.”

A low chuckle escapes him. “I guess it would be pretty weird if they walked in on us doing this.” He slowly pulls me toward him for a gentle kiss. “I love you, Sunflower.”

“I love you too, Honey Bee.”

53

ELIJAH

My body aches.

My mouth tastes like shit.

And my head throbs to the rhythm of“xanny”by Billie Eilish.

I want to take a damn shower, and even more than I care about all those things, I want to wring Seth’s neck and watch the life drain from his eyes for everything he’s put us through.

Theo, Noah, and Julian just left for the airport, and Sophia’s head is resting on the mattress at my side. She exhales a shaky breath as I play with her hair.

“I really missed you,” she whispers.

“I’m right here, sweetheart.” She looks up at me. Something’s swimming in those gorgeous green eyes, I just can’t decipher exactly what it is. “You okay?”

She nibbles on her lower lip. “I need to show you something.”

Her serious tone causes my stomach to sink. “Okay…” I scoot over in the bed, giving her space to sit next to me with our backs propped against the raised mattress. She glances at me, and I rest my forehead against hers. “You can tell me anything, remember?”

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