Page 160 of Fierce-Colson

“I talked to her,” he said. “That’s what she told me.”

“She said she loved me,” Bella said, turning her phone around for him to see it.

“Because she does.”

“Do you love her?” Bella asked. “Or aren’t I supposed to know?”

“I do love her.”

“Are you getting married?” Bella asked.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself right now.” Bella stared at him and he could tell there was more going on. More going through her brain. “What? Just say it.”

“Should I tell my mother what happened?”

He didn’t want to. If it was his choice he’d say no.

“Do you want to?”

“Should I?”

“You have to ask yourself if her reaching out helps you, or not. If she doesn’t respond, how will it make you feel? Right now, in this moment? How would you feel?”

Bella hesitated. “I’d be upset. And sad. I guess it would prove everything I keep thinking will happen.”

He wanted to agree, but knew better than to say that just yet. “Then you have your answer for now. Let’s see how things go. Maybe we’ll be home in a few hours and you can think it over again. Until then, why don’t you lie back and close your eyes. Try to relax.”

The nurse came in, gave her the Tylenol and a small cup of water, then his sister put her head back and shut her eyes.

He knew they might be in for a long night, so he did the same and just tried to shut his nerves down.

Over the injury. Over the importance of Marly not only in his life, but Bella’s too.

Over the fear that maybe Holly could become part of Bella’s life if that message went out tonight.

38

FAMILY EMERGENCY

Marly rushed into the ER, gave her name, got her band and then was shown to Bella’s room.

“Hi,” she said, coming around the corner.

“I heard your heels clicking on the floor and knew it was you. You could have gone home to change.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “If I could have canceled that meeting I would have. The minute it ended, I walked right out the doors and drove here.”

All that advice her mother gave her. She hadn’t expected to feel it so quickly.

But it wasn’t life or death.

Bella wasn’t her child.

She did what she could and so far it felt like everyone was fine and accepting of it.

Even if Colson looked like he’d aged multiple years since she’d seen him days ago.

He stood and went into her arms. “You didn’t need to rush,” he said.