“I’m good,” I assured her and attempted to smile, but it felt so wrong.
“You should try to eat something.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Really, I am.” I wasn’t even close to fine. “Please, I’m okay.”
She nodded, reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear, and then moved back toward the waiting chair next to my father.
The sounds of crying, loud sobs, could be heard. But as I scanned over the waiting area, there wasn’t a person who could be responsible for such a cry.
Then the doors opened, and out walked Alexis, who was being supported by Colt. Chills covered me from head to toe, and a fear that something had gone wrong was so overwhelming that I was up and moving before I could think twice. Pushing open the heavy doors, I looked left and then right. Frantically, I scanned over each room as I passed until I got a glimpse of Colton’s bright blue shirt, and I paused. I could hear him talking, but I had no idea what he was actually saying. Moving in a little closer, I waited and listened.
“You’ve always been there for me, and I know I’m quiet and distant, but I’ve always listened, Mad. Even when you think I’m ignoring you, I’ve listened. You’re bright, and it may sound weird, but I’ve looked up to you my whole life. You see the good in everything.” I could hear the shuddering of Colton’s voice. “I love you.” My own tears began to fall. “You’ve gotta be okay, all right? You’ve just gotta.”
I stepped in and placed my arm over Colton’s shoulder, hugging his shuddering body. I still hadn’t looked at Maddison, knowing I would have to soon; I just need another minute or two.
“She’ll be all right,” I assured him, even though there was absolutely no way I could ever promise that.
We stood there for a few more minutes until he excused himself and said he needed to take a walk. When he was gone and it was only Maddison and me in the room, I decided to talk to her like I would any other time.
“I’m gonna look at you now, and even though they’ve said you have some bruising, I can almost guarantee you are still as beautiful as always.” I started at her waist, where they had her hands gathered, and slowly began to move upward, taking it all in.
Her chest, near her collarbone, was the space where it all began to show. The dark bruising and red blotches on her skin, along the side of her neck on the left and her jaw. The swelling was astronomical and was practically two sizes larger than normal. Moving further up her face along her cheekbone, I found I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from crying out.
“Still beautiful.” I finally forced the words out as tears rolled along my cheeks and dripped onto the sheet hanging over the side of her hospital bed. Her leg was extended and propped on a large cushion-looking thing. I couldn’t see the damage because of the bandages, but we’d been told it was extensive.
I stayed as long as I could hold on to my emotions. I held her hand, kissed her cheek on the good side, and told her that I loved her. I also told her that Mike was devastated, and he needed her so she better wake her ass up so she could tell him to stop being a pussy. I couldn’t almost imagine her laughing if she could’ve heard that.
The moment I stepped out in to the hallway, I felt it: the slow cave of my emotions, like the guarded force I’d built around them was slowly being chipped away with each step. By the time I had reached the doors, I hadn’t even realized I was crying until I stepped out into the waiting area and all eyes turned on me. I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t form, just me opening my mouth and then closing it like a fish searching for food.
I could feel my body growing limp, and I took in a deep breath. I could already see my father moving toward me, but then a strong set of arms engulfed me, and I looked up into a pair of big brown eyes. Blinking, I tried to register it all.
“I got her,” my father said, and then I was passed off. As we walked away, I chanced a glance, and that was when I saw him: Landon.
He stood next to Mike, and the way he watched me, it made me want to go back and let him hold me the way he was only seconds ago. It felt safe there, if only for a few seconds, and I wanted that feeling back.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Mike
It had been five days.
Five days since I last heard her sweet voice, and five days since I was able to look into her gorgeous eyes.
I sat at her bedside, much like I had every day and every night since Landon had found me and brought me back to the hospital. I was wandering aimlessly at the little mini mart just down the road from the hospital. It was a wonder that they didn’t call the police and report some strange man outside their business, but to be honest, I had no idea why it was there I’d chosen to stop and start pacing.
Now no one could get me to step away, not unless it was an order by a nurse or a doctor. I remained just where I was, talking to her and holding her hand. Whenever I managed to dose off, I did it with her hand in mine.
“I’ve had the key to our new place since Sunday.” I leaned forward toward her bed and traced the
