Chapter 45

45

Two hours. One for surgery, another for anesthesia and recovery. That was all.

They were some of the longest two hours of his adult life. Her family showed up about half an hour in. Her father was demanding answers, her mother was freaking.

Devaney was trying to keep them both calm. Dorie was keeping a close eye on Dahlia. Darcey was in charge of them all.

It was controlled chaos.

His brother Ben was there, one hand on Fletcher’s shoulder.

Fletcher was aware of all of those things, but he wasn’t fully, either. He was just waiting.

Dixie had been given permission to stay nearby, so Dylan wasn’t fully alone up there with people she didn’t know cutting her open. She wasn’t. And Dixie would make sure she was taken care of. They all would.

It didn’t help one bit.

Someone said his name. He didn’t react.

Then someone was right in front of him. He looked into eyes the same stunning green as Dylan’s.

Dixie. She was back. She was watching him. Talking. She put her hands on his shoulders. He just looked at her. “Dylan?”

“She’s going to be fine, Fletcher. This isn’t like it was before, with your mom. It isn’t,” Dixie told him bluntly. She had a habit of that sometimes, being blunt. “Dylan is young, healthy, and this was just one of those things. The surgery went well. She’s in recovery now. No major signs of abscess or infection. You got her here in plenty of time, pal. Now…I want you to breathe and repeat after me: Dylan is going to be okay. Say it.”

“Dylan is going to be okay.”

“Good boy. Now, she has told me I am responsible for keeping you in the meantime. Until she can keep you herself. I’m going to do that. She is going to be okay. I promise.”

Fletcher acted without thinking—he pulled Dylan’s big sister closer and just hugged her.

She clung just as tightly.

He didn’t pull back until her father put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her away. He had questions.

Well, they all did.

But Dylan was going to be okay. Fletcher could breathe again.

He sank into the nearest chair and rested his head in his hands for a moment. Dylan was going to be okay. When he looked up, her mom was watching him. Sitting next to him.

She slipped a hand around his and didn’t say a word.