Mariah POV
The room was quiet again.
Nick had just shut the door behind the rest of them, and the sound of their footsteps receded into the hallway, but he didn’t move. Of course, he stayed. I don’t think I could’ve let him go if I tried.
He didn’t say a word for the first few minutes. Just pulled the chair closer to the side of the bed, his eyes never leaving me. There was a storm behind them—rage, heartbreak, guilt—and something softer beneath it all. Love. Relief.
“You should rest,” he said quietly.
I gave him a weak smile. “I’ve been resting. That’s all I’ve done.”
He reached for my hand again, and I laced my fingers through his. The warmth of his touch grounded me. It was the only thing that felt real in a world that had turned upside down.
“I thought I lost you,” he w
