Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
I didn’t know. I’d been too focused on keeping him at arm’s length to ask those kinds of questions, or even see his house. He’d put maximum effort into whatever this was, and I’d pushed him away at every turn unless it involved Juniper.
And now Juniper was—
Don’t think like that. My heart pounded in my ears and my stomach twisted as my mind ran amok. Juniper would never be able to meet Lina because I hadn’t been able to save her, and now Hudson was her best chance to keep her here where she belonged, and not with Lina.
Gavin was almost there.
“Please, please, please,” Caroline whispered over and over, my thoughts echoing her plea.
Hudson broke the surface, facing the opposite direction, and my heart lurched into my throat. “Got her!” he shouted, then started swimming in a sidestroke toward us, Gavin at his side.
“Oh, God!” Caroline ran into the water.
“She’s breathing!” Gavin called out.
I heard Juniper cough, and my knees gave out, hitting the sand instantly. “Thank you,” I whispered up at Lina. “Thank you. Thank you.”
Hudson lifted her into his arms once he was able to touch the bottom, then carried her out of the lake as she coughed again.
“Juniper!” Caroline got out of Hudson’s way, then quickly followed him back to shore, her clothes soaked to midchest.
“She’s all right,” Hudson assured his sister, looking down at Juniper before glancing over at me. “She’s all right.”
Juniper coughed again as Hudson sat her down on the sand a couple feet to my left, then crouched in front of her. “How you feeling, June-Bug?” He picked up her foot.
Caroline knelt next to Juniper and stroked her head as Gavin walked out of the water, dropping down on Hudson’s other side.
“I’m okay.” Juniper took deep, ragged breaths, and glanced at her mom. “I went so deep that my foot got tangled in a branch or something. I couldn’t see. I tried, but I couldn’t pull it free.” Her breaths started to slow. “Uncle Hudson got it, though.”
My chest clenched.
“Okay.” Caroline pressed a kiss to Juniper’s forehead. “Thank you, Hudson.”
He nodded. “It’s a decent scrape.” He peered down at the raw patch on the top of her right foot. “But I think you’ll live. You suck in any water down there?”
Juniper shook her head. “I held my breath the whole time.”
“I’m proud of you.” He smiled at her, the curve falling as he looked over at his trembling sister. “Hey. She’s okay. The orange made it way easier for her to spot. You did everything you were supposed to. We were all here. She’s okay,” he repeated.
She swallowed and nodded.
“You were not supposed to swing without an adult still in the water,” Hudson lectured, then rose to his feet and helped Juniper to hers, Caroline and Gavin quickly following.
“I figured you were close enough,” she muttered as Caroline pulled her into a bear hug, locking her arms around Juniper. “And in my defense, you were. But I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Caroline tensed, and I saw the words in her eyes that there wouldn’t be a next time, but to her credit, she just nodded. “I love you.”
I wasn’t sure I could have done the same.
“I love you too.” Juniper sagged against Caroline.
“We need to watch her for coughing, fever, lethargy, any of the signs that she’s got water in her lungs, but barring that, I think she’s fine,” Hudson told Caroline. “Why don’t you take her up and get the scrape cleaned out?” He nodded up the trail.
“Can you walk it?” Caroline asked Juniper.
“I think so.” The two started up the steep trail, Gavin walking close enough behind to catch Juniper if she fell.
I watched them until Hudson stepped into my line of sight.
“Allie?” He offered a hand and I took it on reflex, rocking back onto my feet and standing with his help. “Hey. You okay? You’re shaking.”
Was I? “I love her,” I whispered, my eyes stinging.
“I know.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest.
“I didn’t want to. I just thought I’d help her, and that would somehow make up for me living and not Lina, but I love her, Hudson.” My voice broke.
“She’s okay.” His hand swept up and down my back.
“Are you okay?” I asked through rattling teeth.
“Scared the shit out of me for a second before I saw her, but I’m more concerned about you at the moment.” He rested his chin on the top of my head. “Just give it a second, the adrenaline will work its way out of your system.”
God, I was leaning on him.
“I’m all right.” I moved to push out of his arms.
“Will you just let me hold you for once?” His arms tightened. “You don’t have to handle everything on your own, Allie. You can be scared, and you can love Juniper even if it’s messy. Messy is good, love. Messy is where the best parts of life happen. You don’t have to be in control at all times. It’s okay if you fall apart. I promise I will be right here to put you back together if you just let me.”