Page 87 of Honeyed

“But I failed. You almost—”

“You didn’t. You saved me. You could feel that I was in danger and you came running. I can only attribute that intuition as us being so close, so in love, that you feel what I feel. Warren, don’t break under this. I need you to fight because we have a hell of one coming up.”

How is she so much stronger than me? I am in awe of her, lying here injured and still behaving like a warrior.

“I can’t believe he … I read the PI report,” I tell her, and a look of empathy flickers over her face.

“I’m so sorry. We never could have known who he truly is. But don’t you dare disappear into that head of yours. None of this is your fault, you couldn’t have prevented this.”

“How does one kid end up on a path like mine, and another on one as horrible as his?” It’s what’s been plaguing me since I read the truth.

She squeezes my hands in hers. “It’s just life, baby. It happens. It’s horrible and sad and a part of me does feel for him, but again, none of that is your fault. You went through just as much trauma, had so many obstacles that others haven’t had to deal with. Someone like that … I don’t know. Mason didn’t seem right from the start so maybe he was always that way, but what do I know.”

That thought sinks in, and I hate that we’ll have to deal with more of him with whatever trial he’s going to get.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” I say, and Alana nods in agreement.

“We’ll get through all of it. Because we’re us. You and me, we’re forever.”

She promises this, and I straighten to my full sitting height. It’s time to be the man she’s always deserved, the hero in my own story and the boy with a tragic past who finally gets a say in what happens to him.

I’ll do all of that with my wife, my best friend, by my side.

36

ALANA

“Can I get you anything else? An aspirin, a pillow, maybe another iced tea?”

Mom fusses over me like I’m five and home from school with a fever.

“Mom, I’m fine.” I try to swat her away, but Warren pins my hand to my lap.

“She’s just a concerned mama bear.” He kisses my temple.

“At least someone appreciates my care.” Mom smiles warmly at my husband.

“Honestly, you don’t have to be so obvious about how much you prefer him over me.” I roll my eyes.

“Eh, she does the same with Cass.” Patrick shrugs.

“And August,” Evan chimes in, and August fiercely blushes. “Wait! Do you like everyone more than your actual children?”

Mom scowls at him. “I won’t hear any more of that. I’m allowed to be worried about my little girl after all that.”

It’s been a week since Mason Klein attacked us in the alley behind Hope Pizza, and my family still won’t let me out of their sight. Case in point, they all showed up at our tiny two-bedroom house for Sunday dinner, bringing along a ton of food, concern, and even some friends in tow. Wilson is currently helping Nonna scoop ice cream sundaes, August has been kicking Dad’s butt in a relaxed game of poker, and even Gabrielle stopped by to drop off some flowers. At which time, Liam promptly disappeared to do God knows what.

“I love you,” I tell her earnestly because I know she’s just flustered with being unable to control everything that’s happened and will happen.

“To the moon and back,” she answers, using the age-old line.

Warren holds me closer, almost inside his arms like they’re caging around me. He’s been doing this the last couple of days, as if he can protect me from anything. It not only gives me comfort but makes me feel safe when the shaky anxiety comes. Mostly at night, when the nightmares do.

Hopefully, none of those come true since Mason is behind bars. A temporary restraining order has been put in place for the next four weeks until the hearing will be held, at which time we’ll be asking for a permanent order to be put in place for both of us. Hopefully, we won’t have to deal with him coming back around due to him being in prison, but trials can take a long time, getting out on bond is a thing, and there is no guarantee how long he’ll go away for.

The prosecutor has a strong case, and we have very good lawyers at our disposal advising us what to do, but it’s not like he’ll get put away for life on the charges stacked against him. We can hope for a good long while and hope that whenever it comes to sentencing, the judge on the case sees what a threat he poses to our family, but that will come in time.

Right now, all we can do is try to live each day with positivity and love, putting the dark cloud behind us.

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