She hesitated, then finally looked into the cameras. “Easton saved my life, and I saved his. That’s the kind of shared experience that leaves two people connected. I’m grateful for everything he has done, and I ask for everyone to please respect his privacy. He didn’t ask for this, and he didn’t sign on for cameras shoved in his face. He’s a man who did his job. That’s all I’m going to say for now. Thanks, everyone.”

They continued to ask questions, but River smiled brightly, shaking her head. Eventually, they started to filter out, having been given all she was willing to share.

“How did I do?” River asked Zoey, who looked a bit wide about the eyes.

“Better than I would have. They’re pushy, aren’t they?”

“It’s part of the life. But soon, if I can keep getting producing gigs instead of being in front of the camera, they’ll forget all about me.”

Brushing her bangs away from her eyes, Zoey adjusted her glasses up on her nose. “Do you want me to go get Easton?”

Yes. Absolutely. But as she watched the remainder of the paparazzi lingering in the hallway, ignoring the staff’s requests to leave, she knew that he’d hated one camera in his face. This…it was too much to ask of him.

“I’m okay. He’s probably going to want to steer clear from these guys for a while.”

There was no point in dragging him deeper into her world. They both knew she’d be leaving his soon anyway.

• • •

When River decided to talk to the press without him there at her side, Easton respected her decision. He didn’t like it, but he respected it.

He also couldn’t stand waiting in a private room down the hall, door closed, knowing she was being surrounded fifty feet away from him. Pacing the room didn’t help, and neither did sitting still. The result was standing up and sitting down at irregular intervals, trying and failing to be patient as River went through her interrogation session down the hall.

Graham had made himself comfortable, stretched out on a clean hospital bed with one foot kicked up on the rail. Right arm folded behind his head and left making liberal use of the remote control, Graham was not the supportive, calming presence he claimed to be.

If Easton had to hear his best friend crunch through one more mouthful of ice chips, he wasn’t going to be responsible for his actions.

“She’s fine, man. River’s a tough cookie. Besides, if she needs anything, Zoey will let us know.”

They’d planted Graham’s fiancée in the room, not that it helped Easton feel more comfortable at all. “What’s she going to be able to do if they crowd her too much?”

Graham seemed utterly unconcerned. “Zo will handle it.”

Easton dropped back down into his seat. “Aren’t you worried about her too?”

“Nope.” Graham scooped up another handful of ice chips, crunching them so loudly, Easton couldn’t believe his teeth didn’t hurt. “Zoey has something neither of us are equipped with: perspective. She’ll know if we’re needed.”

“Where did you get those anyway?” Easton grumped.

“Some nice nurse got them for me. Duncan, I think his name was?”

The door opened, a nose and a pair of glasses popping inside the crack. “She got through the interview fine,” Zoey promised, slipping in the door and closing it behind her. “But there’s still paparazzi out there, so she said to tell you to hide out for a while longer. They’ll clear out soon enough.”

Graham hooked an arm around Zoey’s waist, pulling her giggling into the bed with him. The pair were officially the last thing Easton could handle. He pushed to his feet.

“I’m not staying in here anymore.”

“Okeydokey. Have fun, buddy.”

Easton could still hear Graham chuckling as he left the room, whispering to Zoey. “Five bucks he hits someone.”

“Graham, that’s not funny.”

“It’s a little funny…”

“Tell Duncan not to give Graham anything else,” Easton said as he went past the nurses’ station. “He’s a pain in the ass.”

Muscles strung tight with strangers-induced tension, Easton strode down the hallway. Sure enough, there were stragglers in the hallway outside her room, trying and failing to look innocent as they lingered. When the closest cameraman noticed him, his face brightened with renewed zeal.

“Easton,” he said, sticking a camera in his face. “What can you tell us about—”

Easton didn’t give the guy a chance to finish the question. One hand on the camera, he pushed it down, staring at the cameraman.

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t do anything. He just stared.

With a cleared throat, the cameraman stepped aside, giving Easton access to River’s room. “Sorry, man.”

Easton closed her door behind him, then pulled the privacy blinds. He grabbed the room’s recliner and dragged it in front of the door, wedging it beneath the handle.

“Wow. I thought you were going to eat that guy.”

Easton didn’t reply to her teasing tone.

“Come here.” When he didn’t move, she flapped her hands at him. “Come on. Sit over here with me.”

“You look pretty,” he muttered, dropping down to sit on the edge of her bed.

“That almost sounded like a compliment. It’s hard to tell, though, because your beard is glaring at me.”

“Don’t let it get to your head. I’m still mad you let all of them in here and kicked me out.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to make it up to you.”

Hmm. That was a lot better idea than anything Easton had been considering. A hand pressed against his chest, stopping him from leaning down and kissing her.

“Easton, we need to talk.” Her voice was quiet and too serious. “They’re releasing me tomorrow. The doctor came in before the press briefing. I guess I’m keeping my toe after all.”

The toe was great news, but Easton’s heart squeezed down so tight, he wondered if it was possible to feel it ripping in half. He knew what she was going to say, and he didn’t want to hear any of this.

“Our original plane flight was scheduled for tonight. Bree and Jessie are going to leave on it, but I rescheduled mine for tomorrow.”

And just like that, what was left of his hope crumbled like dust. Sitting back in his seat, Easton tried not to look as devastated as he felt. “You’re leaving tomorrow.”