element of risk to it, which I’d like to avoid. So if you guys want to meet with me, I can use Skype.” I take Dev’s hand and hold it firmly, so he’ll know how determined I am about this. “It’s simple. I love the work, I love being a part of the team, and I’m not going anywhere.” I look at my sister. “Unless Ozzie doesn’t want me to work there anymore. I know I can’t force anyone to hire me.”
May pats my leg. “Don’t you worry about Ozzie. He thinks you’re amazing. He wants you to stay, but of course he’ll understand no matter what your decision is.”
I look at Dev. He seems angry, and I really want him to understand, so that he won’t be mad at me anymore. I crook my finger at him. “Come closer.”
He leans in.
“I’m getting tired, so before I fall sleep, I just want you to know that when I got locked in that panic room with you, I was mad. But that anger only lasted for about two minutes. Because after that, I started to get to know you. And I realized how much fun you are, and how smart you are, and how much I like spending time with you. Please don’t be mad that I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
“Are you trying to tell me that you enjoyed your false imprisonment?” Some of the worry lines have left his face and his dimple is starting to make an appearance.
“Yes. I am saying that now. However . . . I am high on drugs, and therefore, you cannot use these words against me in the future.”
He leans in and kisses me very tenderly on the lips. I try not to wince too much when he accidentally bumps my nose.
“You get better, and then we’ll talk.”
“Yes, we will.” I look up at my sister. “How awful is my nose?”
“Wellll . . . you know that bump that you never liked?” She’s referring to the bridge of my nose, the one thing about my face that I could never appreciate no matter how many times May told me it gave my face character.
“Yes?”
“It’s gone. When the plastic surgeon went in there to fix you up, he couldn’t save it.”
I can’t stop smiling. “Talk about being in the wrong place at the right time.” I look over at Dev. “Look at me. I’m beautiful now.”
“You were always beautiful to me, from the first time I laid eyes on you. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever known.”
“I’m going to give you guys some alone time,” my sister says. She walks out of the room and her footsteps fade in the distance.
I look at the man hovering over me and smile. “Thanks for visiting me. How are my kids? How’s Jacob?”
“Everybody’s fine. Miles has your kids, and he’s being very cool about it. We’ve reached an understanding.”
My eyebrows go up at that. “You have? Do tell.”
Dev shrugs. “I just gave him the straight scoop. He has my phone number. Anytime he has a problem, he knows he can call me, day or night. Your kids were at my house last night. They had a sleepover with Jacob.”
I grab Dev’s hand. “Did it go okay?” I’m so sad I missed that event. I’m also worried that I wasn’t there to referee. My kids need that more often than I’d like to admit.
He pats my hand. “It went perfect. It was Jacob’s first sleepover, and he could not stop talking about it after your kids left. Everything’s going to be fine. Everything.”
When he says everything like that, I know exactly what he means. He’s not just talking about my concussion or my broken nose, or this weird situation with the Bourbon Street Boys, or with us or our kids. He means everything. Our world. The one we’re creating together. It’s going to be just fine. There’s just one more thing I need to clear up.
“I need to talk to Miles,” I say, attempting to sit up.
Dev gently pushes on my shoulder. “Just relax. There’s plenty of time.”
“No, I need to do it now.” I hold out my hand. “Can I borrow your phone?”
Dev hands me his cell without another word.
I dial Miles’s number and start speaking as soon as he answers. “Hi, it’s me.”
“Jenny? Hey. How are you feeling?”
“Fine. Thanks for asking. Listen, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Just . . . listen. Okay?” I take a big breath and let it