CHAPTER 41

　　HAILEY

　　Percie looked right into my eyes, and my heart just broke to see how deep sadness lingered in. “Come home with me.”

　　“But Dad—”

　　“We would understand. I’ll take the fall.” He took a deep breath, not breaking eye contact. “I need you right now.” He pressed his lips against my forehead. “I-I thought I’d lost you. I couldn’t watch it again. You couldn’t know the feeling of watching someone you love—someone you cared about slipping through your finger—or through your sight until they're gone. And I’d rather die before I’d go through that again, Hailey.”

　　I nodded, and I didn’t know if I should answer or kiss him again.

　　“Don’t ever do that stupid heroism again. Come with me. I need to feel you because right now, I feel like I’m still dreaming of you that every time I want to reach out to you, you slip through my grasp.”

　　I cupped his face. “I’m here. I’m alive. I’m right here with you.”