“Mommy!”

“Miss Pearson!”

Eric appeared at the exact moment danger struck.

A sharp focus overtook his features, and his eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he sprinted across the grass toward the cherry tree.

He threw out his arms toward Hadley.

She fell straight into him.

In a heartbeat, Eric caught her fully, instinct taking over as he wrapped her up, shielding her head, limbs, and everything in between. The impact knocked him off balance and sent them both tumbling backward. The grass softened the fall, but the weight crashing down on him was no small thing.

A quiet groan slipped out. Eric’s face tightened with discomfort as he shifted beneath her.

Before he could speak, he looked at the woman who had landed on him—and suddenly a haze of blurred memories surged.

Beneath the warmth of a bright afternoon, a girl nestled in the limbs of a cherry tree beamed and waved from above.

“Eric! Get over here! The cherries are huge this year! I’ve already picked a bunch!”

“Let’s clean them later and share. I’ll even save the biggest one just for you!”

“I’m climbing down now!”

“Just wait for it!”

Her laughter bubbled as she began to descend. Then her foot missed, a sharp scream cut the air, and she tumbled from the branches.

Eric’s eyes snapped shut. He shook his head hard.

What did that mean?

Why had that moment flashed through his mind out of nowhere?

He couldn’t even make out her face. Everything felt distant and unclear.

L?tτ ch?ρτ?rs ιn gl?ov?l.о

“Eric? Are you okay?” Hadley watched him closely after the fall.

He looked dazed at first, then squeezed his eyes shut again, as if trying to push something away.

“Eric? Say something.” Her voice came out shaky, laced with fear.

She couldn’t forget the trauma his head had already endured. It hadn’t even been a full year since that intense operation. Maybe this fall had triggered something dangerous.

“Eric?” She tried again, calling his name once more—but he didn’t react. Worry tightening in her chest, Hadley lightly tapped his cheek.

“Can you hear me? It’s me… Eric?”

That gentle voice finally snapped Eric back.

His gaze locked onto Hadley, void of expression, eyes dark and unreadable. Then he caught her wrist in his grip.

“What did you just say?”

Caught off guard, Hadley blinked.

“I asked if you were okay.”

His breath grew heavier, his mind a mess.

Confused by his reaction, she asked, “Are you? You look pale.”

Still dazed, Eric nodded, then shook his head.

.

.

.