They’ll blame her and say mean things about her.

Plus, my family is already so sad over losing Mom and knowing what really happened that day will only make everyone’s pain worse.

Liam and I made a pact to protect her and he wasn’t allowed to break it.

“Sometimes you have to lie to protect the people you love, Liam.”

It was something I heard on TV one day, but it never really made sense to me until the accident.

Until after she was gone.

“I know. It j-j-just gets s-s-so hard s-s-sometimes.” His lower lip trembles. “And p-p-people at s-s-school…they…” He shakes his head. “Never m-m-mind.”

Liam was known for being sensitive, but there was something more happening here.

“What’s going on?”

He turns away, like he’s trying to avoid my gaze, but I don’t let him. “You can tell me anything, Liam. You know that.”

Now that Mom was gone, he was officially my bestest friend in the whole wide world.

I’d always keep his secrets.

He points to his face. “They k-k-keep c-c-calling me a m-m-monster.”

My heart folds in on itself. Not only did Liam develop a stutter from the accident, he also has a few facial scars from the glass.

It made the kidney I lost seem like a walk in the park because at least I could hide my injury.

Liam wasn’t so lucky.

I trace the large pink scar over his cheekbone, wishing I could make it disappear. “You’re not a monster.”

He was the farthest thing from one. He was kind and compassionate…and sad.

Just like Mom.

“Y-y-yes I am.” He scowls. “No one l-l-likes m-m-me.”

I’m about to remind him that his family likes him, but then he whispers, “E-e-except her.”

“Who?”

He grins. “Dylan.”

Oh, boy. I walked right into that one.

About a week ago Jace brought home some girl he met at school.

The two have been inseparable ever since.

Cole teased him about liking his new friend, but Jace claims she’s just really good at video games.

Given he beats Dylan every time they play though, I’m starting to have my doubts.

Then again, if he liked her, he’d probably let her win. I think.

I’m not really sure how it works. I think all boys are gross and have cooties.

“S-s-she’s s-s-so pretty,” Liam says. “And s-s-so s-s-smart and c-c-cool. And s-s-she doesn’t m-m-make fun of m-m-me.” His grin grows. “S-s-she’s perfect.”

I want to remind him how Mom always told us that no one is perfect, but it’s no use. He’s so far gone there’s no talking any sense into him.

I roll my eyes. “You’ve got it bad, dude.”

Worse than bad. He’s practically obsessed with her.

He doesn’t argue. “I’m g-g-gonna m-m-marry her one day. You’ll s-s-see.”

Oh boy. If I don’t stop him now, he’ll go on and on about her until sunrise.

“Here’s an idea. How about you don’t force me to listen to you talk about Dylan for the rest of the night.”

“Whatever.” He studies my face. “W-w-why don’t w-w-we t-t-talk about how you’re s-s-still too s-s-scared to g-g-go in the c-c-car?”

Nope. Not happening.

I cup my hand over my ear as I get off the bed. “What’s that, Jace? You need help doing laundry?”

I’d rather do a lifetime of chores than talk about my newfound fear of cars.

Liam frowns. “Bianca—”

I don’t hear the rest of his statement because I run out the door.

Chapter 4

“Liam didn’t die,” I yell as my eyes flutter open. “He couldn’t have. I talked to him after the accident.”

He’s still alive.

It’s a small ray of hope in a mountain of grief, but it feels so good.

Like a rainbow after a storm.

Standing at the foot of my bed, Jace and Cole exchange a glance.

“What do you mean you talked to him?” Cole questions.

“In my dream…I think.” I shake my head. “I don’t know but it felt real.”

Too real.

Jace plops down in the chair beside me. “What did you two talk about?”

Given I can’t tell them what happened to Mom because of our pact, I tell them the next best thing.

“Dylan. He has a crush on her.”

Jace winces. “Oh.”

Cole sucks in a sharp breath. “Yeah, that wasn’t a dream.”

“I know,” I exclaim, excitement rushing through me. “He’s alive.” For the first time in three days, I smile. “Where is he?”

It’s weird he hasn’t come up to see me. Then again, maybe he did, and I didn’t notice because of all the sedatives.

Jace and Cole exchange another glance before Jace speaks.

“Liam didn’t die during the accident, but—”

“He’s away at school,” Cole interjects. “He’s been busy with his exams and shit, but he’ll be up to see you soon.”

I’m so happy I could cry. “Really?”

Jace shoots Cole a murderous glare. “Outside. Now.”

I have no idea what that’s about, but it doesn’t matter.

Liam’s alive.

“Hey,” Sawyer—who’s apparently not a nurse, but Cole’s fiancée—greets me from the door. “Can I come in?”

Truth be told, I can’t believe he managed to snag someone as awesome as Sawyer, but I’m happy for him.

Given I can use the company, I wave her in. “Of course.”

Evidently, she’s not alone though because the girl who’s always hanging around Jace is right behind her.

I’m not sure what to make of Jace’s friend because she’s super quiet and standoffish.

Then again, I’ve been flipping out and attacking everyone for the last five days, so I can’t really blame her.

“How are you feeling?” Sawyer asks, taking a tentative step in my direction.

“Better.” Annoyance colors my tone. “But I’m getting really sick of Jell-O, pudding, apples, and vegetable soup.”

I’m beginning to think it’s the only shit they serve in this freaking hospital.

She hikes a thumb behind her. “I can go get you something—”

“No,” I say in a rush. “Please don’t leave. I love my brothers and all, but they can be a little—”

“Protective?” Sawyer supplies.

“Overbearing?” the other girl chimes in.

I can’t help but laugh because it’s obvious they both know them well. “Exactly.” Embarrassed, I decide to bring up the elephant in the room. “I’m sorry I’ve been acting crazy. I just—”

“No need to apologize. It’s totally understandable,” Sawyer says as she takes a seat on the chair beside my bed.

I can’t help but notice how pretty she is. Maybe not in the conventional sense like a model, but in the way that really counts.

On the inside.

She looks like she wants to give me a hug but thinks better of it. “You’ve been through a lot.”