Chapter 142
I feel his hand close around mine, it’s warm and firm.
“Hey,” he repeats more gently.
I look at him but everything feels too loud in my chest and my heart is racing like something is chasing me.
Aaron squeezes my hands between his.
“Look at me p>
I try but my vision wobbles slightly.
“Breathe,” he says.
“I am breathing p>
“No. You’re panicking p>
“I’m not p>
“You are p>
Marcus glances at us briefly through the rearview mirror as Aaron leans slightly closer to me.
“It’s okay p>
I shake my head.
“It’s the bridge p>
“I know p>
“It’s the same place p>
“I know El p>
My fingers tighten around his instinctively.
“I thought we were going to die here p>
His grip on my hands tightens slightly.
“But you didn’t p>
My chest rises sharply.
“I can still hear the metal scraping p>
“I know p>
“I keep thinking someone’s going to start coming at us again p>
“They’re not p>
He nods toward the windshield.
“Look p>
I force myself to follow his gaze, at the road stretcheing ahead of us. It’s empty and calm.
Cars pass on the other sid, there’s no gunmen, no crashing vehicles and no chaos. It’s just a normal morning.
Aaron squeezes my hands again.
“You’re safe p>
My breathing slowly starts to even out.
“See?” he says quietly.
“We’re already halfway across p>
I glance out the window again to see he’s right, the end of the bridge is already approaching.
My shoulders slowly loosen but Aaron doesn’t let go of my hands yet.
“Better?” he asks.
I nod slowly.
“Yeah p>
The SUV rolls off the bridge and back onto the main road.
The tension in my chest finally starts easing and Aaron gives my hands one last squeeze before letting them go.
“Next time,” he says lightly, “try not to scare me like that p>
I manage a weak smile.
“Sorry p>
Marcus speaks from the front seat for the first time since we left.
“Almost there p>
My stomach tightens again but this time it’s nt fear, It’s in anticipation because in a few minutes… I’m going to be standing in front of my brothers.
The SUV slows as we turn into the long driveway leading to my brothers’ house. My chest tightens in a completely different way than it did on the bridge. This isn’t fear. It’s something warmer… heavier.
The house comes into view between the trees, exactly the way I remember it. Large, stone walls softened by climbing vines, tall windows catching the morning light. The lawn stretches wide and green in front of it, the gravel driveway circling the fountain that Lucas insisted on installing even though everyone told him it was unnecessary. Some things never change.
Marcus pulls the SUV to a smooth stop near the front steps. The two vehicles behind us stop a few seconds later, engines humming quietly and for a second I just sit there, looking over at the house.
Memories flicker through my mind so fast it’s almost overwhelming… me running across that lawn with Ivy when we were kids, shouting matches with my brothers on the front steps, late-night talks in the kitchen when the rest of the house was asleep. I didn’t realize howmuch I missed everything until right now. Now
Aaron nudges the door open beside me.
“You good?” he asks.
I nod quickly.
“Yeah p>
But my voice comes out softer than I expected.
I step out of the SUV, the gravel crunching under my shoes. The air smells different here… like fresh grass, damp earth, something faintly floral from the garden beds along the walkway.
I step down and start walking a little further towards when the front door opens. I look up just as someone steps out.
Ivy.
She pauses halfway down the steps when she sees me, and for a second she just stares like she’s not sure her eyes are working properly. Then her face lights up.
“Elaine p>
Before I can even answer she’s already running toward me.
“Ivy p>
She throws her arms around mw so hard it knocks the air out of my lungs. I laugh breathlessly, hugging her back just as tightly.
“Oh my God,” she says into my shoulder. “What are you doing here p>
I pull back slightly so I can actually look at her as my eyes scan her instinctively.
Her hair is tied up in a messy ponytail. She’s wearing jeans and a light sweater with a long coat over it like she’s heading out somewhere. Her cheeks have a bit of color in them again instead of that pale hospital look she had days back.
But I still grab her shoulders.
“How are you feeling p>
“I’m fine p>
“Are you sure p>
“Yes p>
“Like actually fine p>
She rolls her eyes slightly.
“Yes, mom p>
“I’m serious ivy p>
“I know you’re p>
I look her over again, my gaze lingering on the faint shadow under her eyes.
“You look tired p>
“Jezzz thnks I woke up early today p>
“You shouldn’t be going out if you’re tired p>
She groans dramatically.
“El p>
“What p>
“I’m not tht fragile p>
“You were literally in the hospital p>
“That was like a week ago p>
“It still counts p>
I cross my arms slightly, slipping into full big-sister mode without even realizing it.
“You should still be resting p>
“I have been resting, for days now p>
“Have you p>
“Yes p>
Ivy grabs my hands, shaking them slightly.
“I promise I’m okay p>
I search her face again, she looks healthy, annoyed and very much alive.
My shoulders finally relax a little.
“Okay,” I sigh.
She smiles triumphantly.
“See p>
Then her eyes light up with sudden excitement.
“Wait p>
She grabs my arm.
“Perfect timing p>
I narrow my eyes immediately.
“That tone worries me p>
“You should come with me p>
“Where p>
“Shopping p>
I blink.
“Shopping p>
“Yes p>
“Right now p>
“Yes p>
She gestures dramatically toward the driveway where another car is waiting.
“I was literally about to leave p>
I glance at Aaron out of the corner of my eye. He’s leaning casually against the SUV, watching the interaction like it’s a live shw.
I turn back to Ivy.