The door burst open so hard it slammed against the wall.

Mateo rushed in, eyes wild, hair neatly combed, wearing something neat too. The moment he saw me sitting up in bed, sipping the green smoothie Jake had brought, the tension in his shoulders shattered.

He crossed the room in three long strides and pulled me into his arms, careful but desperate. His hands roamed over my back, my hair, my face as he kissed me everywhere - forehead, cheeks, nose, eyelids, the corner of my mouth. Over and over like he was trying to convince himself I was really here and breathing.

I started laughing despite everything, the sound...