Her pussy sure was wet enough when I slipped my fingers inside her.

I felt the bile building up, and I opened the truck door. I jumped out and began throwing up.

Colt was out and standing there within seconds. “Jesus, Will, are you all right?”

I shook my head and threw up again.

Luke walked up and put his hand on my back. “It’s gonna be okay, Will. I promise you.”

I stood up and wiped my mouth as I looked at him with tears rolling down my face. “You don’t know that, Luke. He touched her. God knows how far he went. I pray to God she doesn’t remember. Oh God, I hope she doesn’t remember.” I felt my knees give out as I began crying harder.

Colt and Luke both grabbed me as my legs buckled from underneath me. Colt pulled me into his arms as I let out every emotion I had been holding in. They helped me back over to the truck, and I slowly got into the back seat where I attempted to get control again.

Grace got back into the truck and asked Luke what happened. When he told her what happened, she wrapped her arms around me.

“I swear to you, he didn’t get that far. Her pants were still on, Will, I swear to God.”

I pulled back and saw Colt quickly wiping away his tears. I nodded my head and looked down at what Grace was holding. She had Lex’s doll.

“Emma,” I whispered as I looked up into Grace’s eyes.

She smiled and nodded her head. “Come on, let’s get back before she wakes up.”

We weren’t that far from the hospital, but it felt like an eternity before I was walking back through the emergency room doors. I overheard as the nurse told Lauren, Libby, and Taylor that Alex had been moved to a room.

As everyone walked to the elevator to head up to the floor where Alex’s room was, Libby grabbed my hand. I peeked down at her, and she smiled at me. My heart instantly felt better from just having Lib here with me. I closed my eyes and waited until the elevator door opened, and we exited.

We walked up to the nurses’ station. A nurse told us that only two people could visit at a time. Colt and I looked at each other.

He nodded his head. “Let’s go,” he whispered.

I looked back at Libby.

She nodded her head and mouthed, It’s okay.

Colt and I stopped at Lex’s door and looked at each other. I glanced back at the door, pushed it in, and walked inside. Colt followed, and he walked directly up to Lex as I held back.

He started crying. “Oh God. Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry…oh God, I’m so sorry.” His body was shaking as he cried harder.

I closed my eyes and opened them again before I walked around the bed, still not looking directly at Lex. When I got to the other side of her, I took a deep breath and looked at her. My heart slammed against my chest, and a feeling I’d never experienced before washed over my body. I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. I was afraid she could hear us. My heart had never beat so fast and so hard in my life.

I looked at her swollen face and swallowed hard. Her right eye was black and blue and three times the normal size. Her lips were busted open. The whole right side of her face was bruised. I put my hand up to my mouth and attempted to hold back the sobs wanting to come out.

Colt looked at me and shook his head. He turned and walked out of the room as I tried to regain some sort of composure.

Thirty seconds later, Libby walked in. She looked at Alex and started crying as she made her way over to me. She turned me to face her, and she wiped away her tears.

Taking in a deep breath, she whispered, “Be strong for her right now. Do you hear me, William Gregory Hayes?”

I quickly nodded my head. I somehow reached deep down inside me and pulled out the strength I needed to settle down. I would be here for Lex.

I’ll be the strength she needs right now.

Taking in a deep breath, I turned back to face Lex.

I took her hand in mine. “Lex, baby, I’m here now. I promise you, Lex, you’re safe. I love you so much. Please wake up for me, baby.”

I needed her to hear the love in my voice. I needed her to come back to me.

“Lex, I love you so much. It’s time to wake up now, baby.”

Will…

“Alex? Baby, please wake up now. Grace brought you Emma. Oh, Alex. Please, honey, wake up.”

Mom…

“Hey, baby girl. Daddy’s here now, Little Bear. You’re all right.”

Daddy…

My face hurt. My body hurt. I just wanted to sleep, but everyone was talking to me.

Will…

I need you, Will.

Someone took my hand.