My brothers could see that, and they tried to tell me he was an arrogant jerk, but I didn’t want to hear it. I’d invested so much of myself into the relationship by then that I needed it to work.

  Ridiculous.

  I can see that now, but then? I couldn’t see the proverbial forest for the trees. I was in love, don’t you know?

  Ugh.

  I get so mad when I think about what I allowed to happen to my own life. Despite that, I know I should cut myself a break after everything I went through, all while finishing nursing school and launching my career. It was no wonder that Jared found me more than pliable when it came to accommodating his life. I didn’t have the time or the energy then to fight for what I wanted for myself.

  Now I do, and right in this moment, what I want is more time with Milo.

  Beyond that, who knows?

  Annie and I end up in the break room around two after a frantic few hours dealing with six new patients and three others going home.

  “I’m starving,” Annie says as she downs half a sandwich and chases it with a Diet Raspberry Snapple.

  “Same.”

  “Are you still taking next week off?”

  “Yep.”

  “Did you ever sell the cruise to someone?”

  “Nope. I’m going on it.”

  Annie’s eyes lift over the glasses she wears when her eyes can’t handle contacts. “By yourself?”

  “Nope.”

  “Are you going to make me pull this out of you?”

  “If I tell you, you have to promise you won’t tell anyone else.”

  Her eyes bug, giving her the appearance of a spooked owl. “Oh. My. God. You invited that sexy Milo Giordino, didn’t you?”

  “You won’t say anything?”

  “Of course I won’t, Gi. If you can’t trust me by now, who can you trust?”

  That’s true. She’s been my ride-or-die friend since the day I started on 5 East. “I invited him to come, and he accepted.”

  “That is awesome. I love this so much.”

  “I do, too. He’s fun, funny, sweet…”

  “Sexy as fuck.”

  “Is he? I hadn’t noticed.” In fact, I haven’t stopped thinking about shirtless, sweaty Milo since I happened upon that delicious scene a couple of weeks ago.

  “Sure you haven’t,” she says with a snort of laughter. “I can’t believe you’re taking that hot guy on your honeymoon. The ultimate revenge on asshole Jared.”

  “He came by my house last night.”

  “What? Holy shit! What’d he want?”

  She’s visibly fuming by the time I finish filling her in.

  “I can’t freaking believe he hasn’t paid the tab by now. And that you got sued! Fucking hell, Gi. He has some nerve coming back around with his tail between his legs because he doesn’t want to fork over the money for the wedding that wasn’t.”

  “Right?”

  “Good for you for telling him where to go.”

  “It was rather satisfying.”

  “I’m sure it was!”

  “The whole time he was there, I kept looking at him and wondering how I ever thought I loved him.”

  “Any feelings you had for him died when he told you he couldn’t go through with the wedding.”

  “Yes, they sure did.”

  “He wasn’t worthy of you.”

  “Did you always think that or just since the implosion?”

  “Kinda always, but who wants to hear that when they’re planning a wedding?”

  “If you ever see me in that situation again, tell me, will you?”

  “I will. I promise. It was hard to watch sometimes. You were so, so good to him, and I just wanted to ask what he’d done for you lately.”

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about why I tried so hard to make that relationship work when I knew deep inside it wasn’t.”

  “You lost your family. It’s only natural to want to create a new one for yourself.”

  “A therapist would have a field day with me and all my issues.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you,” Annie says fiercely. “He was the problem. Not you. And the reason he came back to you wasn’t just about the money. By now, he can probably see that he lost a treasure in you. It’s no mystery to me why he’d want you back.”

  “Well, he can’t have me.”

  “That’s the spirit. So you and Milo are going on your honeymoon.”

  “Yep.”

  “That ought to move things along.”

  “Or show us we’re only meant to be friends.”

  “I don’t think that’s going to happen. I saw the way he looked at you when he was a patient here.”

  “How did he look at me?” I ask, feeling a wave of heat overtake me. Is it hot in here, or is it me?

  “Like he wants to have you for dinner.”

  “Oh my God, Annie. Stop it. He does not.”

  “He does, too. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.” She lets out a low hum as she smiles at me. “That small cabin, one bed, nothing but time to hang out. You’ll find out what’s what with him.”

  I didn’t, until right this second, think about the sleeping arrangements. Duh. It’s a honeymoon cabin. Of course there’s only one bed. I swallow hard at the thought of sharing a bed with sexy Milo.

  “Girl, you’re lit up like fireworks on the Fourth of July,” Annie says with a laugh.

  “I like him.”

  “I know you do, and that’s a good thing, Gi. He’s a great guy, and if anyone deserves a great guy, it’s you.”

  “We all do.”

  “You first.”

  “Thanks for letting me talk endlessly about myself since everything happened. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.”

  “I’m just glad to see you rejoining the land of the living after all the bullshit with him.”

  “It’s nice to be back.”

  * * *

  MILO

  Almost seven weeks after getting shot, I’m transported home by Nico late on a Friday afternoon. I take in the familiar sights on the way with a greedy exuberance for the outside world and the palm trees I love so much. I’ll never again take routine things for granted, such as going to work, cutting grass, cleaning the pool, hanging out with family and friends, driving my truck. I’ve missed my life more than I knew until I’m back out among the places that make up my daily routine.

  “Mom and Dad are bringing dinner over,” Nico tells me. “Everyone will probably end up at our place at some point tonight.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “We’re all so freaking glad to have you coming home.”

  “It’s good to be out and about again.”

  At a stoplight, he glances over at me. “In case I haven’t said it lately, I’m so sorry you lost such a big chunk of your life to this insanity.”

  “Knock that shit off, or I’ll go live with Mom.”

  “You’re not living anywhere but with me.”

  “Eventually, I need to get my own place, especially now that you have a family of your own.”

  “You’re my family, and you’re not going anywhere. That’s the end of that.”

  “Listen to me,” I tell him. “I know you love me, that you always have, and you always will. I can’t begin to know what this has been like for you and Sofia. If the roles were reversed, I’d be just as crazy as you’ve been. I’m sorry we all had to go through it because her ex-husband couldn’t handle her moving on from him. But you and I… And Sofia and I… We need to find a way past it, so it doesn’t continue to hang over us forever. I don’t want that for any of us.”

  “I hear you,” Nico says, sounding weary. “Sofia and I have been talking about that, too. We’re working on moving past it, but we’re not quite there yet. You’ve got to be patient with us when we want to wait on you hand and foot at home for a while.”

  “You’ve only got me for two days before I’m getting away for a week.”

  “Away to where?” he asks, sounding shocked.

  I can’t believe Mom didn’t tell him. “Gianna invited me to go on a cruise with her.”

  “What? When did that happen?”

  “Two days ago. I can’t believe you haven’t heard this already.”

  “I’ve been working nonstop. She just came right out and asked you to take a cruise with her? And what did Jason say about it?”

  “The cruise was supposed to have been her honeymoon, and Jason said it’s fine with him as long as I do nothing but rest and relax.”

  “Wow. Good for you, bro. I know you like her a lot.”

  “I really do, and I can’t wait to spend a whole week with her.”

  “A honeymoon is one hell of a first date.”

  Laughing, I say, “Right?”

  “She’s cool. I like her for you.”

  “Well, that’s all that matters.”

  “Haha. Very funny.”

  “You have no idea, do you?”

  “About what?” he asks, sending me a confused look.

  “How much your opinion has always meant to me. If you didn’t approve, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun for me.”

  “I approve,” he says gruffly.

  When I shift my gaze toward him as much as I can within the constraints of the neck brace, I’m shocked to see tears in his eyes.

  “Sorry,” he says. “It’s just gonna take some time.”

  “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Except on Gianna’s honeymoon.”

  “Yeah, except for that,” I say with a grin. “But what I meant is I didn’t die, and I’m not gonna, so quit your worrying.”

  “Working on it, bro.”

  “I know you are. I’m just glad this didn’t come between you and Sofia.”

  “That’s taken some effort, too.”

  “Things are okay with you guys, though, right?”

  “Yeah, we’re good. But it’s been rough for us to have you in the hospital. We’re glad to have you coming home.”

  “Me, too.”

  “You should invite Gianna over tonight for your welcome-home party.”

  “Yeah, I will.” My phone is buried in my backpack, and I can’t get to it from where I’m sitting in the truck. “I’ll text her when I get home.”

  A short time later, Nico pulls up to the guard shack in our gated neighborhood, and I’m stunned to see a Welcome Home, Milo! banner attached to the small building. “What the heck?”

  “The neighbors love you. The Millers did that.”

  “That’s really nice.”

  Doug, the lead security guard for our neighborhood, leans out of the shack to greet me. “Welcome home, Milo. It’s so good to see you back where you belong.”

  “Good to be here. Thanks.”

  He lifts the arm on the gate and waves us through.

  As Nico drives the winding road to home, I see Welcome Home, Milo! signs on every lawn in the development.

  “Wow.” I’m truly moved by the outpouring from the neighbors.

  “That’s what you get for being Miss Congeniality around here.”

  That comment is much more in keeping with the way Nico normally talks to me than all his mopey sadness has been lately. “Haha, you know it.”

  “They all brought more food over, too.”

  “It’s very nice of them.”

  “As Dad would say, you get what you give in this world, and you give a lot. I’m glad to see you getting it back.”

  “Even though I wouldn’t want to be shot again any time soon, it’s been nice to feel so much love from everyone.”

  “The one benefit of nearly dying is finding out how lucky you are.”

  “Yeah, for sure. Not to mention meeting a hot nurse and getting sponge baths.”

  “No need to gloat.”

  It’s nice to laugh with him again after weeks of incredible tension. I’ve felt almost as sorry for him as I did for myself in all this.

  My dad’s car is parked in front of the house when we pull up. Both my parents come rushing out of the house, along with Sofia and Mateo, to welcome me home.

  “Don’t crowd him,” Nico says.

  “Hugging is not crowding,” Mom says, teary-eyed as she greets me. “Welcome home, love.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I hug Dad, Sofia and Mateo, ruffling his hair and making him giggle. I’ve missed the little guy, even though he’s been in for visits.

  Before we know it, we’re swarmed by neighbors wanting to say hello and welcome home and drop off more food. Nico invites them in, and before long, we’ve got a full-on party going that only grows as my sisters arrive with Austin, Everly and Wyatt in tow.

  When I realize I never texted Gianna to invite her to join us, I signal to my mom, who’s the closest to me. “Can you grab my phone out of my backpack? I want to text Gianna.”

  “I talked to her earlier and told her to come by.”

  “Oh, great. Did she say she was going to?”

  “Yep.”

  “Did you tell her what to do at the gate?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem.”

  “Was there news in her case?”

  “That needs to come from her. I can’t talk about that with you, which you know after being raised by an attorney.”

  “Yes, I do know that,” I respond, smiling at her. “I hope you can make it all go away. She’s so stressed about it.”

  “I know she is, and of course I’ll make it go away. Have you met me?”

  “I’m very thankful for my Doberman mother, especially when she’s going to bat for my friends.”

  “Glad to do it. That guy she was going to marry is a piece of work. I think she dodged a bullet with him.” She no sooner says that than she winces. “Too soon for bullet references.”

  “It’s fine,” I say with a wave of my hand.

  “No, it’s not.” She seems to try to shake off disturbing thoughts related to guns and bullets. “Are you hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  “I’ll fix you a plate.”

  “Thanks.”

  While I wait for her to return, I compose a text to Gianna. Heard you were invited to my welcome home party. Hope you can make it.

  She writes back a few minutes later. Yes! I’m on the way. See you soon.

  Hearing that she’s coming makes me so fucking happy. Happier than I’ve ever been, if I’m being honest. I have no complaints about my life. I’ve been inordinately blessed with a wonderful family and childhood, great friends, a job I love and plenty of everything. It’s only been in love and romance that things have been lacking.

  Until recently, that is.

  It’s just so funny to me that getting shot might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened, because I met her. Ridiculous, right? Nico is eating himself up with guilt about me taking a bullet that was meant for him, but that bullet may end up being the luckiest break of my life. Not that I’d say that out loud to him or any other member of my family, especially not after what they went through waiting to hear if I would survive.

  But I’m amused by the hand of fate in this situation.

  My mom returns with a plate of delicious Italian and Cuban food and a tall icy Coke that tastes particularly good to me, probably because she serves it to me in my favorite Miami Marlins glass. It’s very nice to be home.

  Everly comes over to give me a shy smile. “How’s your boo-boo?” she asks.

  “Much better.”

  “That’s good. Did they stick you with lots of needles? I hate needles.” She suffered from leukemia, and my sister saved her life by donating bone marrow. That’s how Maria and Austin met.

  “They did, and I hate them, too.”

  “Do you want a brownie? Rie and I made them.” We love the nickname she gave Maria almost as soon as they met.

  “I’d love one.”

  “Be right back.”

  “Is she bugging you, Milo?” Austin asks.

  I still can’t believe my sister is married to one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. That he’s an awesome guy, too, is a bonus. “Not at all. She’s adorable. She’s getting me a brownie.”

  Everly returns with three brownies balanced on a napkin that she hands to me. “Elena said you need to be fattened up, so I brought you three.”

  “Elena said that, did she?”

  Everly nods, her serious expression making her cuter than she already is.

  “You want to come up here and sit with me?”

  She nods again.

  Austin intervenes before she can leap onto my lap by lifting her and settling her between my legs.

  “Help me eat all these brownies you got me.”

  “She’s already had three,” Austin says.

  “What’s a couple more?” I ask him.

  Everly giggles as I hand her half a brownie. She pops it into her mouth before Austin can object.

  “Your uncle is spoiling you, baby girl,” Austin says, smiling at us.

  “That’s what uncles are for, right, Ev?”

  “That’s right!”

  “I’m the funcle.”

  “What does that mean?” she asks, looking up at me with big eyes.

  “It means fun uncle.”

  “Funcle. I like that.”

  I have a feeling she’s going to call me that for the rest of our lives, which is fine with me.

  She’s still snuggled on my lap sharing brownies and other treats my mother brings to “fatten me up” when Gianna arrives.

  The energy around me changes when she comes into the room. Everything feels electrified. I wonder if she feels it, too. I hope so, because over the last few weeks, she’s become the most important person in my life.

  Chapter 11

  GIANNA

  Seeing him cozied up to Everly makes my ovaries stand up to take notice of what a good father he’ll be someday. They’re so cute as they whisper and giggle and feed each other bites of brownie. And when he looks up and sees me there, his warm smile is the best thing I’ve seen all day. He always looks so happy to see me. A girl could quickly become addicted to a man who makes her feel like she’s the sun that lights up his world.