Holding On To Heaven (Allendale Four 2)

“Babe,” I heard whispered and I blinked, searching for the eyes of the angel.

I found four.

A sob wracked through me. “I’m so sorry.” I meant it. Seeing their faces. How could I give that up?

“It’s not your fault.”

I shook my head.

“It’s not your fault.”

I bit my bottom lip.

“It’s not your fault, Heaven.”

I felt warm lips on my forehead and another on my cheek, followed by a press on the back of each of my hands.

“Rest. Sleep,” a voice said.

I opened my eyes and they stood crowded around my bed. My mother, exhausted and drained, against the wall. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never again,” Oliver said, dropping his forehead to mine. “Never again.”

33

Eight Weeks Later

It felt a little like déjà vu when Oliver arrived at my house looking like a hundred and fifty million bucks in a dark blue suit and with a matching bowtie. He stood at my door holding a bouquet of silver roses that matched my glittery dress.

That I wasn’t wearing because he was an hour early.

I opened the door in my ratty Clemson sweatshirt and a pair of shorts and one eye made up. “What are you doing here? Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said with a lopsided grin. “I just couldn’t wait to see you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

“Yep.” He rocked back on his heels, squinting with brilliant eyes. “Love your makeup.”

“Shut up.”

I let him in and he followed me up the stairs to my bedroom. All the new stuff I got for my dorm room was spread around the room. The comforter that matched Amber’s. The shower caddy. I didn’t need these things here but I was living here now, so…right.

“I’m glad you came early, but something tells me you had an ulterior motive.”

He stood in my doorway, looking too big and definitely overdressed. “What? I can’t be excited to see you? Maybe snag a little time alone before the big event?”

I passed him and he grabbed my arm, giving me a kiss. It wasn’t a gentle peck, but the toe-curling, heart-shattering kind.

I rubbed my lips when we parted and eyed him skeptically. A year had passed since the Winter Formal at Allendale High, and we’d been invited back to pass the crown down to the next generation of royalty. Oliver had been tasked with driving me and the other guys would meet us there.

“You came here to keep an eye on me,” I said, walking to the bathroom to resume my makeup application. “You’re babysitting.”

He scoffed. “What? No.”

I dug around for my mascara wand. “You know this is the first time I’ve been alone since I left the program.”

The program. The hospital. Peaceful Harbor. Whatever you want to call it.