I could not help but smile at hearing those words coming from Gabe, who knows if he was joking other than him, but I swear hearing him talk and seeing him awake was so much of a relief.

And I wanted to slap him and hug him at the same time, this pain in the ass of a friend of mine.

“Oh Gabe!” I hear Esme sigh as she perches herself on the edge of the bed next to him. All the emotion clear in her voice.

I see a small smile playing on his lips “I ain’t dead then? What you doing here, Carino?” his voice barely audible.

“What...