I don't remember how I got to the hospital. Sadie drove, but I don't remember getting in the car. I don't remember the drive or calling the guys to tell them that it had happened. I don't remember Kathy calling, and I don't remember talking to her. Yet here we all were, sitting in the waiting room. Kendall was in the ICU so we hadn't been able to see him yet. We were told it was a hit and run, that they had no suspects. He had been t-boned on the driver's side and the car just drove away.

I wiped another tear from my eye. All I wanted was for someone to tell us that he was okay. He was in surgery right now and they had only given us a few updates. Every time I saw a doctor walk by, I wanted to yell at them and ask why they weren't telling us anything. The waiting was the worst part. Kathy sat next to me and handed me a cup of coffee. We had been waiting for nearly an hour with no end in sight.

"He's going to be okay, sweetie. You have to believe that." Kathy wiped a tear from her cheek, trying to be strong for everyone.

I shook my head. "I don't know if I can, Kathy. He's been my rock for almost six months. If anything happens to him, if he's not okay…" My voice trailed off. I couldn't finish the sentence. I didn't want to think about what would happen if he didn't wake up.

"You can't think like that. My boy is a fighter. He'll get through this."

"How can you be so strong at a moment like this?"

"I'm a mom, it's my job. Don't get me wrong, I'm an absolute mess. But until I have something to worry about, I won't worry."

I took a sip of my coffee and looked up. Two more doctors had walked out and still nothing. I was about to say something when one more walked out.

"Mrs. Schmidt?" We all jumped up. The doctor looked around at the group. "My name is Dr. Gerels. Kendall is out of surgery. He's still unconscious, but he's stable." I breathed a sigh of relief. Stable. That meant he'd wake up soon. "A few of his ribs cracked on impact which caused his right lung to collapse. His left wrist has a mild sprain and should heal soon. Other than that, he has some cuts from the glass and is a little bruised up. He should be fine, but we are going to monitor him for the next few days. At this time, it's still unclear as to when he will wake up."

I could tell everyone was relieved. It sounded like Kendall was going to be okay. "Dr. Gerels, when can we see him?" I needed to see him. I had to know he was really okay.

"With the state that he's in right now, only family is allowed to see him." He looked at me, and I think the realization hit him. "I'm sorry, miss, but until he wakes up or is more stable, family only.."

Tears started streaming down my face again. I was just told my boyfriend was fine, and now I was being told I couldn't see him until he woke up. The doctor had turned to leave when Kathy spoke up. "Now you listen here. This girl is my daughter. I don't care if she's not my biological daughter, but she's family. And I can promise you that when that boy wakes up, she's going to be the first person he asks for." She was staring straight into his eyes. "Do you want to be the one to tell him that he can't see girlfriend? Because I'm sure not going to be."

Dr. Gerels could tell Kathy was serious and wasn't going to budge. His eyes went soft. "Okay, but just her, the rest will have to wait." We all nodded. I said goodbye to Sadie, Carlos, James, and Logan, and promised to call them the minute he woke up. Before they left, I pulled Sadie aside.

"Could you do me a huge favor?"

She nodded. "Anything."

"I need you to pack me some clothes and bring to me. I'm going to be staying here; I'm not leaving his side. I'd also need the black blanket off my bed and the pillow from the left side." She nodded, making a list of everything I needed. "There's a bag in the back of my closet. It should have at least one outfit of Kendall's and if not there's one in my bottom dresser drawer. Just one outfit and then his sweatshirt that's on top of my dresser."

"Got it. Do you want me to bring you back anything to eat?"

"Not right away. I'm still too worried to eat, but I can just grab something here."

Sadie pulled me in for a hug. "I'll grab everything and be back in a little while."

"You should get some rest, I can wait."

"Sophie, I know you like to be stubborn, but it will take me no time at all. If you or anyone needs anything else, just call." I thanked her, hugged Carlos, waved goodbye. I looked at my phone. It was only nine o'clock, but it felt like midnight. I had spent most of the day at the beach with Sadie and being in the sun usually wore me out. We had gone home and made dinner when my phone rang. It had only been seven at the time. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Kathy and Kent were the first to go in to see Kendall. They had offered to let me go, but I wasn't ready. I didn't know how I was supposed to react when I saw him and I wasn't prepared. Kevin offered to hang back with me, and we headed down to the cafeteria for more coffee.

"I don't think I've ever seen people drink so much coffee." He was trying to lighten the mood and I appreciated the distraction.

I nodded. "Maybe it's a hospital thing. When my grandpa had surgery on his knee, I think my parents almost drank the place dry. I always joked with them and said there must be coffee hormones in the air. Hospitals have this weird coffee atmosphere."

He laughed. "I see what you mean. It explains why there's always a fresh pot." We sat down at a table. "How are you holding up?"

"Not well. I'm trying, but it's so hard. Your mom seems so put together. I wish I was strong like that."

"Trust me, this is killing her. Family is the most important thing to my mom. I think it's hard for her and I think she's scared we could lose him."

"I am too. What if he doesn't wake up, Kevin? I don't think I'm strong enough to handle that."

"You can't think like that, you have to think that he's going to be okay."

I brushed a tear off my cheek. I hated crying in front of other people, but right now I didn't care. "It was sweet how your mom stood up for me. The only other person I had in my life like that was Aunt Tess. Hearing her call me her daughter made me realize how much I love all of you."

Kevin smiled. "That's good, because we're pretty fond of you too. I know for a fact my brother is. I've never seen him this happy, Soph. I'm glad he found you."

Despite our current situation, I smiled. "I'm glad I found him. I don't know where I'd be right now if he hadn't saved me. It's amazing how much he's changed my life, but it's definitely been for the better. I didn't even want to go to the lake house, but my mom made me. I never would have met him if she hadn't forced me to go."

"You know, he called me that first night. He told me he had met this girl that was crazy beautiful and he could already feel himself falling for you. He told me that you weren't like any other girl that he had met, and he was drawn to you." Kevin smiled, almost as if remembering the conversation.

I couldn't help but blush. "I think I was feeling the same way. All I really needed was a friend, but he ended up being more than that."

We sat at the table for a few more minutes talking when Kathy and Kent walked down. "You two can head up now." Kent hugged his son before we headed back up.

My stomach churned. "I don't think I'm ready for this."

"Yes you are. You'll be fine."

"Kev, would you mind if we went in separately? I'd just like to be alone with him."

He nodded. "Sure, I'll go in first." We stood outside his door. "But before I do, I want to give you something. They gave us Kendall's 'personal effects' when we got here. I think he was going to give you an early anniversary present because it was on him. I'm not going to show you, but I will tell you, it's not what your mind will immediately go to." He opened my hand and gently placed the gift in my palm.

I was still staring at him, puzzled, when he walked through the door. I looked down at my hand and gasped at what I saw. Kevin told me it was an anniversary present, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. In my hand, I was holding a small, black velvet box.