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Uncle Boone nodded "I agree After we get there and you’ve seen theo find a quiet place and call But not the whole team Just the ones he’s close to He needs his real friends around hiht now"

I wasn’t sure West would want that, but if this was the end, then he needed it

"Did he text you?" Brady asked ive you any details?"

I shook my head and handed hi back the phone tothere for him I don’t understand whatever it is y’all have, but thank you"

He didn’t have to thank ed, and we all tensed up I wanted to hurry and get to hi They have him back there That’s all I know We’re on the fourth floor left aiting room

I quickly typed: We are on our way Almost there

Then I handed the phone to Brady He read the text to his parents Then the phone dinged again, and he read the inco it to htly and prayed I wasn’t sure what to pray for because I knew West’s dad couldn’t be saved from this But I prayed anyway

Once we arrived at the hospital, Uncle Boone let us out at the entrance before he went to park I didn’t wait on anyone I ran inside and headed for the elevators If West got the news his dad had passed away, I wanted to be there beside him I wanted him to have what I hadn’t Someone who understood

When the elevator door opened, I hurried on and pressed the button When the doors opened again on the fourth floor, there stood West His eyes were bloodshot, and they locked onon me

"Hey," he said in a hoarse whisper

I stepped out of the elevator and reached out o back," he said, tightening his hold onme closer to him "Said he was stable, but there isn’t much they can do other than try toto sleep and waking up to find his dad gone Today was a close call I threadedrooreed

The white walls were so sterile Hospitals had always felt cold to me I wouldn’t want to die here I’d like to die somewhere I loved, somewhere that made me feel safe Which, finally, made me realize what I would pray for I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer that Jude Ashby didn’t have to die here That he could die at hoht you?" West asked as I opened ht behind ot out of the car I didn’t want you to be herewithout ainstme He needed me for his own reasons Ones I understood But I needed hied his way intothat text and not being there with hi to this hospital I had never been in love, so I had nothing to compare it to, but there was no question in my mind that West Ashby had become the most important person in my life I was in love with him I could be whatever it was he needed me to be Even if that would always be just a friend