step I take.
Doc pulls my hand away from the injury once we’re safely inside. “Let me see the damage.” He peers at it, then looks at the back. “It doesn’t look terrible. Whoever shot you has shitty aim.”
“Thank God,” Charlotte murmurs. “And your mother is going to flip when she sees you like this. She was a wreck before we even left the house.”
“Fuck,” Jase groans. “Ma was all, ‘find my baby, take care of my baby.’ She’s gonna kick my ass when she sees you and she won’t believe ‘her baby’ is the reason why he got shot in the first place.”
I take a deep breath as Doc leads me into his makeshift exam room and helps me onto the table. “You need to call her, Jase. Tell her everyone’s okay.”
“That’s a conversation I can’t wait to have,” he grumbles. “Doc, you got any whiskey while we wait for you to sew him up?”
“I stocked up after the last time you were here.” He smirks. “You know where to find it.”
Jase places a hand on my good shoulder and the corners of his lips curl upward. “For a guy who’s always bitching about consequences, you pulled a real dick move for starting that whole shit storm. But you did good.” He nods at Charlotte. “You were trying to protect us and your girl. I know we haven’t really seen eye to eye, you know, like ever, but I’m glad you’re okay,” he says in a gruff voice. He scrubs a hand down the front of his face. “Now on to the fun stuff.” He pulls out his phone and wanders out of the exam room. “Ma? Yeah, it’s me.”
Then his voice trails off as the Doc finishes hooking my wire up to the IV at the top corner of the bed. He looks at me with a smile. “In a few minutes, you’re going to feel no pain,” he says. “I’m going to grab some supplies, and I’ll be right back.”
He closes the door behind him and I look at Charlotte. “My mom was really worried, huh?”
She nods. “Yeah. I felt really bad, but your dad insisted she stay home. I really thought for a second she was going to stow away in the trunk or something.”
“She’s always been on my side,” I murmur. “The only one, really.”
“You know, I get that you think your brothers and father are on a different side, but tonight, they heard you were in trouble, and nothing could keep them away. They love you, Xan. You have to know that.”
I let out a deep sigh. “I know.”
“Especially Jase. Him saying all of that right then?” She shakes her head. “He was worried. Really worried.”
“That’s nice to know since he’s usually the one threatening me with death,” I say, the overhead lights blurring my vision slightly.
“You’re just a really difficult prick who thinks things should be his way or the highway,” she murmurs, her lips gently grazing mine. “You need to trust a little more, be open-minded. Just because people have different opinions, it doesn’t mean they’re out to get you.”
“You’re right. I’ll try to be nicer. I promise.” The room spins as I try to lift my head and it crashes back down to the pillow. I reach up to stroke the side of her face, her features swimming in front of me. I blink fast to keep the image of her smile steady. “I think we need to get out of here. To start our own life, one that we control. I love you, Char. I want to be with you forever. I want to protect you. I want to make you happy,” I slur, my voice thick and heavy as if I’m talking through a bag of cotton. “Let’s-s get married, okay? We can elope. Vegas-s...tomorrow...” My words fade out as I tumble head first into my pain-free euphoria, but in the depths of my mind, I hear her response. It’s the last sound I hear before blackness consumes me whole.
“Okay,” she replies in a soft whisper. “Tomorrow.”
Epilogue
Xander
One Year of Tomorrows Later
“So, I’ll see you tonight?” Charlotte says with a grin before opening the car door.
“Every night for the rest of your life,” I murmur, grazing her lips with mine.
She lets out a breathless giggle against my mouth. “You’re insatiable.”
“Thank you,” I say with a wink. “Have a great day at school.”
She gets out, hoisting her backpack over her shoulder and blowing me a kiss. “Love you.”
“I love you, too,” I