Dancing with a stranger

Chapter|22

It was midnight and me, grace Charlie and Kian were sitting in the hospital waiting room. My father was the only that didn't make it out in time. Lorenzo offered to watch Liyah after he got checked out.

My mother and Sean weren't in the building the firefighter told us. They must have escaped just in time.

"Miss De Santi" that's me I say standing when the doctor came out. " it looks like everything's going to be okay. He just has a few places where he was burnt really bad and smoke inhalation." "We're just going to keep him overnight to be cautious"
"Are we able to see him?" "Yes but he's resting right now."

I went into his room and he was sleeping. I sat down in the chair next to his bed and grabbed a hold of his hand. He squeezed mine letting me know he was here. " I love you," I tell him and kiss him on his forehead. He smiles. " I love your sweet girl."

I was ready to go home. Kian has a few stitches on his hand and his left eyebrow. Charlie dragged Kian out of the building without a scratch. The other guys were fine too. But they couldn't get to my father in time.

I couldn't be more glad to be home. I put Aaliyah in her bed in our room. I wasn't taking any more chances. Went into the bathroom and stopped off my clothes. Kian followed turning on the hot water.

He picked me up and placed me in the shower with him. Letting the water take over both of us. I faced the shower while he helped me wash my body.

He got out wrapped a towel around him and grabbed me a towel and dried me off and slipped one of his T-shirts over me. I hopped up on the counter and helped him change his bandages. After I finished he kissed me. "Thank you" he whispers into the kiss. Then he picked me up and carried me to the bed. He put on some shorts and checked on Aaliyah before getting to bed and pulling me close to him.

The warmth of Kian's body next to mine, his steady breathing as I nestled into him, felt like the most peaceful thing in the world after everything that had happened. It was a strange mix of relief and sorrow. My heart ached for the loss of my father, but at the same time, I was grateful Kian was alive-grateful for the quiet moments like this, when I could hold him close, knowing we were both still here, together.

The house was quiet now, the only sound being the soft hum of the night outside. Aaliyah was safe. Kian was safe. Even after everything we had been through, the chaos and the heartache, we had made it. For now, that was enough.

Kian's hand slid over my waist, pulling me even closer. His breath was slow, steady-almost like he was afraid to fall asleep, like he was afraid if he let go of this moment, it would slip away. I could feel his fingers gently tracing circles on my skin, sending warm shivers through me.

"I should have gotten to him sooner," Kian murmured, his voice low, almost distant. "I'm sorry... about your father."

I squeezed his hand, pulling it up to my chest, trying to give him some comfort even when I wasn't sure I had much left to give. "You did what you could. You saved me... you saved us."

He didn't respond, but I could feel the tension in his body, the guilt still lingering beneath the surface. I could feel it in the way he held me-like he was trying to protect me from more than just the danger outside, but from the things he couldn't change.

"We're here now," I said, my voice soft but firm. "That's all that matters."

Kian nodded, his lips brushing against my temple. "I'm not letting go of you. Not ever."

I smiled, the warmth of his words settling in my chest. "I wouldn't want you to."

We lay there for what felt like hours, the world outside quiet and still. The fear and chaos of the past days felt distant, like a bad dream that was slowly fading. In this moment, I was at peace.

And for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to believe that everything would be okay.