I was shot. By Jasper. In the chest.

Oliver explained what happened on that cargo ship several times, but the words just don't seem to be sinking in.

"What?" I repeat for what seems to be the millionth time today.

"I know it's a lot. Just try to get some rest. Maybe the memories will start to come back to you," Oliver encourages.

He and I are the only ones left in the room after I begged my parents to give us some time alone. My dad just got worked up every time Oliver tried to explain what happened and I couldn't handle another fight breaking out. The doctor would come in every once in a while to check up on me, but otherwise, it was just us.

"No, I don't want to sleep anymore. I fought so hard to wake up in the first place."

Oliver's expression softens at my words and he gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. Honestly, I'm terrified to fall asleep again. I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to wake up this time around if I did.

"I understand, Cam. Do you want me to explain it again?"

I nod up at him, a little unsure. I don't know if I can bear to hear it again, but I need it to make sense.

"You and Jasper were arguing. I was trying to diffuse the situation and get you out of there, but honestly, Jasper has a worse temper than I do and there was no coming back from that outburst. He just got volatile. He pulled his gun out before I could even blink. I'm so sorry, Camden. I wasn't quick enough. I couldn't protect you like I promised," his voice chokes off in a sob.

I can see the tears forming in his eyes before he turns his head from me. My heart absolutely breaks for him.

"Oh, Ollie," I whisper, my own eyes threatening to brim with tears. "I'm still alive aren't I? You did everything you could have. No one could have possibly known there was someone on this planet even more trigger happy than Freya."

My feeble attempt at a joke is lost on him. He sits there quietly for a moment, cracking his knuckles nonstop. It's almost like a nervous habit or a tick, except with Oliver, it's one of the few warning signs that he's about to lose his temper.

"You need to stay away from me, Camden."

I do a double take at him, the tears no longer threatening to surface. Whatever pain meds they have me on must be affecting my hearing, because there's no way he just said what I think he just said.

"I'm sorry, what?"

One million and one times that I ask that question apparently, not that I'm counting.

"You almost died! You need to go back to your college friends and be with that frat boy. Or start over new somewhere far away. It's too dangerous for you here. I tried to protect you, but you just aren't safe. Jasper is just one of many enemies, they won't leave you alone if they think they can use you to get to me."

"You don't get to tell me what's best for me, Oliver," I stare at him incredulously.

My voice is deadly sharp as I try to lace as much venom in the words as I can. There's no way he's getting rid of me again.

"You shouldn't have me in your life. I'm not the boy you grew up with. I'm no good."

I sit up in my bed, ignoring the screaming protest in my muscles. He tries to push me back down gently, but I swat him off. I grab his face in both of my hands and force him to look me in the eyes.

I'm mildly self-conscious of the fact that my breath is probably horrible, but I've known Oliver for twenty-four years now. He's witnessed all of my most embarrassing moments, this certainly won't be the last.

"You're not getting rid of me. I knew what I was getting myself into when I asked to tag along. This is my fault, not yours."

He closes his eyes and clenches his jaw as he takes in a deep breath. His fists are clenched tightly on the side of my bed.

"I'm not going to repeat myself," he says sharply.

"Neither am I!"

In one swift motion, he stands up, pushing the chair out from underneath him as he does, and slams his fist into the wall beside him.

"Damn it!" he cries.

The outburst doesn't faze me. I've seen Oliver get angry like this countless time before. Hell, I've even seen him pick fights with people just to help release some pent up rage, but I know he absolutely would never take it out on me. I just stare at him pointedly until he seems to calm down a little.

"You done now?" I tease him.

He lifts his eyes to the ceiling, probably praying for the strength to deal with me.

"Camden..." He mutters as a warning.

He's trying to warn me that he's not in the mood to have this argument.

Too bad I am.

I scoot over on the bed and pat the empty space beside me. His shoulders slump in defeat as he gives me a pleading stare, but I just smile cheekily up at him. With a heavy sigh, he finally concedes and sits down next to me, propping his hands behind his head as he leans back.

I lean my head down on his chest and listen to his steady heartbeat, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt as I try to reason with him.

"Listen, Oliver. I know you want to protect me. I know this life isn't safe, I grew up around these kinds of people. The thing is though, I'm an adult. I can make my own decisions, and you and my dad have to stop trying to protect me from them. I'll make mistakes and so will you, but we have to trust that everything will be okay."

"You almost died. I thought I was going to lose you. I would have never forgiven myself if I did," he responds tenderly.

"There's no point in worrying about 'what ifs.' You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."

I lift my head to look up at him and raise my pinky up to eye level. He lets out a small chuckle, but he wraps his pinky gingerly around mine.

"Fine, you win this time. I've got to stop letting you bait me like this," he jokes.

He lowers his head down and I raise mine to meet his. Our noses skim against each other, as gently as possible since his is probably broken, and I close my eyes. My heart is racing, our lips a mere inch apart.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"