Page 128 of Whispers of You
Dad shook his head vehemently. “I almost died because a disturbed person targeted my son. My family. You did nothing but try to help.”
I wanted to hear him. To believe his words. But too much fought against them.
“Holt,” Dad said gruffly. “I’ve seen the change in you over these past couple of weeks. I’ve seen Wren’s love change you. She made you see what no one else could—that this was never on your shoulders.”
It was true. Wren had shown me that we had to face things together, no matter what came our way. Because we were our strongest selves when we had the other backing us up. And even in those most difficult moments, life was never sweeter than when she was by my side.
My throat tightened, and tears burned the backs of my eyes. “I just need her to be okay.”
My dad took both of my shoulders, dipping his head to meet my gaze. “Wren is going to be just fine. So long as she wakes up to you.”
Pain dug its talons into my chest. “I’m not bailing on her.”
“I know that,” he said. “And it’s a good thing because I don’t like to think that I raised an idiot. And if you keep blaming yourself for this, that’s exactly what you are.”
I wanted to laugh. I knew it was what my dad wanted from me, but I couldn’t get my throat to make the sound. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Footsteps sounded, and my gaze caught on the man with the tanned skin and warm smile who had introduced himself to us before Wren’s surgery. I was already moving toward him.
Dr. Sanchez came to a stop in front of me. “Ms. Williams came through the surgery wonderfully.”
I waited for the relief to hit, but it didn’t come. It wouldn’t. Not until I saw those green flecks sparking in her eyes. Not until I heard that uninhibited laugh.
“You fixed her lung?” I pressed.
He nodded. “The tear was moderate. We were able to repair it using minimally invasive techniques, so her recovery from the surgery itself shouldn’t be too bad. But it will take some time for the lung to reinflate.”
I frowned at the doctor. “Her lung not working doesn’t sound like the surgery wentwonderfullyto me.”
Dad stepped forward. “Apologies for my son. He’s a bit on edge.”
Dr. Sanchez gave me a sympathetic smile. “I get it. Why don’t I take you to her? That way you can be there when she wakes up.”
I felt a flicker of something in my chest and nodded. “Thank you.”
Dad patted my back. “I’ll go loop everyone else in.”
The waiting room on the surgery floor was jam-packed with people who loved Wren. My mom, Nash, Grae. Lawson’s boys: Charlie, Drew, and Luke, even though Lawson had had to stay behind to deal with the aftermath of what had happened. Abel.
I turned, pulling my dad into a hard hug. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I love you, Holt. I know I may not always be there for you in the right way—”
“You show up. You love me. Couldn’t ask for more.”
Tears filled my dad’s eyes as he released me. “Go to our girl. Make sure your face is the first one she sees.”
I jerked my head in a nod and turned to follow the doctor. He led the way to a bank of elevators. But just before we reached them, a familiar figure stepped into the hallway.
Chris gripped the brim of a ballcap, shaping and reshaping it. “Holt.”
My name was a hoarse whisper, more sound than an actual word.
My steps slowed and then halted altogether. I didn’t have the first clue what to say. But Chris spoke before I had a chance.
“I didn’t know. I swear. God. How could he—?” Chris cut himself off with a shake of his head.
“I know you didn’t.”
