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made her feel suffocated. If he were awake, she’d have no more promises for him now than she’d had that summer night before she went to Paris.
    But here, watching him fight for his life, not sure if she would ever get a chance to speak to him again, Ashley was certain of one thing.
    She loved Landon Blake. Loved him with a strength that took her breath away. The odd thing about it was that admitting she loved him didn’t change anything. Not really. Strange that you could care for someone so fiercely and still be sure he was all wrong for you. And yet, the thought of losing him …
    Ashley held her breath. Maybe that would stave off the sobs building in her heart. All her life people had hurt her or looked past her or misunderstood her.
    But not Landon. He had loved her with a singleness of purpose, believed in her long after she’d stopped believing in herself. But for all his kindness-for every time he’d walked away when she needed space or smiled when she deserved a cold shoulder-all she’d ever given him was grief.
    Tears slid down the sides of her face, and she let her head fall against the railing of the hospital bed. Her time was almost up, and Ashley knew she might not have another chance. She squeezed her eyes shut and lifted her head, hoping that when she opened them, Landon would be awake, smiling at her, promising her he was going to survive.
    Instead, he lay stone still, his chest still rising in time to the rhythm of the machine.
    She drew an unsteady breath and bent close to his ear. “Landon, it’s me-Ashley.”
    Three small sobs worked their way to the surface, and she hesitated, waiting until she had control once more. “I keep thinking of all the times you made me smile. When you brought me those silly comic strips in high school and took me sailing. When you showed up at Cole’s baby dedi 33

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    cation and when you kept seeing me everywhere-like at that cafe or at the grocery store.”
    Fresh tears burned her cheeks. She sucked in two quick breaths and tried to find her voice. “Remember when you told me you wished I’d look at you like I loved you?”
    Ashley smothered another wave of sobs with the sleeve of her jacket. “I’m …
    I’m sorry I never said it before.” She steadied her voice. He deserved to know the depth of her feelings. The words he wanted to hear had to be said. Now. In case he didn’t make it. In case he never-She couldn’t finish the thought. “I love you, Landon. I’ve always loved you.”
    She sucked in another breath. “I still don’t-” She wanted to add that she still didn’t want anything romantic with him, but she stopped herself. What was the point? He was unconscious, anyway. But in case he could hear her, she wanted him to know she cared. “That’s all.” Another sob constricted her throat, and she waited for it to pass. “I wanted to tell you before another minute passed.”
    As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Ashley felt as though her heart had grown wings. No, she wasn’t in love with Landon. But if love could be measured by how much a person cared, then indeed she loved Landon deeply, and having told him so lifted a mountain off her shoulders. Everything about who she was and how she appreciated this man was suddenly alive and bursting within her, as though she’d somehow been in a prison and now she was finally free.
    It was a feeling as wonderful and delicious as Christmas morning. And in the bustle of the ICU, in the remaining moments she had left with Landon, she had the sudden assurance that he was going to survive. She thought about Irvel and the job at Sunset Hills. The way her heart felt softer already.
    Yes, they were both going to survive.
    “Everyone’s praying for you, Landon.” She sniffed twice. “The little boy you went in after-he’s doing great. You saved his life.” She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. “You’re going to
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    make it, Landon. I know it.” She squeezed his hand