Page 52 of Rival Hearts

“Good,” Jett said, “because I’m sure my family will be exuberant, and I need you to be awake enough to control them because I doubt I’ll really be in the mood for a bunch of loud people in the morning.

Riley laughed. “Fair enough,” she said. “Then I shall try my best to wrangle them up for you.”

“Thank you,” Jett said before she laid back and closed her eyes. It didn’t take much time for her to fall asleep.

Riley decided to keep her promise and moved from the chair to the couch. She, however, didn’t fall asleep as easily, but after about half an hour her exhaustion caught up with her and she nodded off—only to be woken up a couple of hours later by a large group of people bursting into Jett’s hospital room, just as loud as Jett predicted and barely a minute past eight in the morning.

Riley sighed and sat up, looking at Jett’s mom, Brody, Becky, Hannah, Emma, Ember, and Natalie.

“Lucinda and Josephine are planning to come by later in the day whenever they have a break from work,” Becky said and Riley nodded, a little groggy.

“You said Jett woke up last night?” Jett’s mom asked.

“Yeah,” Riley said, “but she went back to sleep. I’m sure she’s still tired.”

Riley heard a loud groan come from Jett’s bed, and everyone in the room fell silent and looked to Jett.

“She is, in fact, still very tired,” Jett said.

Brody grimaced. “Sorry bro,” he said. “Maybe we should come back later?”

“I would really appreciate that,” Jett said.

Becky laughed. “It’s good to see you awake, kiddo.”

“It’s good to be awake,” Jett said. “Oh, I do have some questions for you about the fire.”

“I figured you would,” Becky said.

“Did the woman I gave my mask to survive?” Jett asked. “Is she okay?”

“Yes,” Becky said. “Some smoke inhalation issues, but she will be fine. You saved her life, Jett. There were about a dozen casualties, and the mayor and I went on the news last night to address the situation. No fatalities. I’ll text you a link to the recording of the story.”

“Thank you,” Jett said.

“Of course, kidd. We’ll leave to let you get some rest and come back later. In the afternoon.”

“I love you,” Jett said.

“We love you, too,” Becky said.

Jett’s mom gave her a light hug and whispered something in her ear. Jett reared up and gave her mom a hug back.

“I love you, Momma,” she said.

After everyone else left, Riley stayed standing by Jett’s bedside, but she wasn’t sure what she should do. Jett smiled at Riley and Riley smiled back.

“Do you want me to leave, too?” Riley asked, “I can come back later.”

Jett frowned. “Do you want to leave?”

“Not really,” Riley admitted.

“Then can you stay?” Jett asked.

“Of course,” Riley said. And she did just that, going back to sit in the chair next to Jett’s bedside.

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