Page 124 of No Way Home
“Huh.” Juliette tucked herself against his side and offered me a handshake. “Nice to meet you, Bowen, Who is Nowhere Near As Hot As Griffin.”
Griff finally exhaled.
I chuckled, perfectly happy to play second fiddle.
Juliette’s eyes darted to Magnolia—who’d shrunk back half a step, trying to hide behind me.
I put an arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss into her hair. “Juliette, this is Maggie. But I call her Magnolia.”
Juliette and Griff shared a look. “You were right,” she said to him.
He clicked his tongue. “Find My Friends doesn’t lie, Jules.” One eyebrow flicked up. “I’m happy for them.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “Then I’m happy for them too.”
Magnolia relaxed against me and sighed.
Griffin rubbed his hands together. “You ready to meet the rest of the fam?” he asked, like we were at my parents’ house and not in an ICU.
When Griffin broke the news, Mom hugged Juliette so tight, it looked like her head might pop off. With Sage gone, and James still unresponsive, it was probably the only time Griff could’ve announced he’d eloped with a woman none of us had ever met, and Mom would’ve been okay with it. Dad just stood there blinking, too exhausted to be anything but gracious.
An hour later, we were back in our usual spot, staring at James through the glass while Mom and Dad sat next to him, praying their hearts out. But now Sage’s parents had returned from the funeral home. Loving on Willow, they stood watch next to us.
Magnolia glanced at me, a worry in her eyes that she wasn’t trying to mask anymore. I’d point-blank asked her if the longerJames stayed under, the slimmer his chances got. She hadn’t sugarcoated it. She’d just said yes.
He needs to wake up, she mouthed, looking helpless.
But I didn’t know what else to do. We’d tried everything we could think of—two at a time, of course. Griff and I belted Cash’s newest song in the most grating, off-key, twangy accents we could muster. Sophie had channeled her namesake’s sense of humor and told morbid, distasteful coma jokes. Mom whispered stories from his childhood. When that didn’t work, she threatened to force-feed him his least favorite food in the world: yogurt. James said it tasted like vomit. Dad swore at him once, hoping to scare him alive. And then he sobbed because he felt so guilty about it.
But no matter what we tried, James seemed perfectly content to stay in the state of in-between.
My hope was waning with every minute that ticked by.
Sophie must’ve felt it too because she muttered, “That’s it. Time to take matters into our own hands.”
“What does that mean?” Griffin asked.
Without answering, she took Willow from Scott. When she turned back around, her expression was as fiery as her hair. “It means we’re doingeverything we can to wake our brother up.” Then she strode towards James’s door.
“Soph.” I tossed my head toward the nurses’ station where we were being watched.
“You think I care?” Sophie power-whispered. “This girl has already lost one parent. She’s not going to lose the other.” Her jaw clamped, eyes burning. “The only thing I know is that love saves people. Isolation doesn’t. James is loved by alotof people, and he needs to feel that love. To be surrounded by it.” Her brows raised defiantly. “They can call the freaking cops and lock me up, if they want to. If James wakes up because I broke the rules, then it was worth it.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Griffin asked.
“Still worth it.” Sophie’s voice quivered, on the verge ofbreaking down. “At least I’ll know I dideverythingI possibly could. Now, who’s coming with me?” Her eyes ricocheted, searching for an ally.
“I’m in,” Magnolia said, stepping away from me and over to my sister.
Sophie beamed triumphantly.
“What if you get in trouble?” I power-whispered. “If anyone shouldn’t go in, it’s you.” Would they kick her out of med school?
Magnolia shrugged. “Sophie’s right. Sometimes you have to launch a Hail Mary.”
“Hell yes,” Juliette said. “Let’s do this.” She made the duet a trio.
Griff and I looked at each other.
