- Her nose is broken and she has a fractured rib. - says Ryan. - I will need to do some more tests, but you will certainly need surgery so that this nose doesn't get crooked. We don't want that to happen, do we?
I deny it with my head.
- Ryder, stay here and if you can, call Brooke's relatives.
- You got it.
- You're gonna be all right, miss! - says Ryan smiling. - It's gonna be great!
He puts an injection in my vein and little by little, I fall asleep.
***
I open my wandering eyes. My face hurts, as does my whole body. I look around noticing I'm in a hospital room. Automatically my mind returns to the dark room where Aron, Shane and Bruce attacked me. I remember the panic I felt, the sound of my nose breaking with the punch I got and the coldness in Aron's eyes. He was used to doing things and getting away with it. I didn't think I'd be any different. I took a deep breath as I remembered the relief I felt when Ryder approached me to make sure everything was okay. Ryder! What would my life be like without him? Suddenly, everything seemed to come to life when he was beside me. He was my guardian angel. Without him, at this point, I'd be in the hospital with much more serious injuries. Both physical and psychological.
The bedroom door opens while I settle in bed. I look in the direction to see a troop enter my room. My mother was the first I saw next to my father, but my gaze lights up when I face Ryder, who is standing at the door with his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a black shirt, which seemed to be a smaller number and squeezed against his muscles.
- My daughter! - my mother approaches, making her drama exaggerated and false.
I knew she wasn't really worried. She was probably very upset that she had to leave London and go back to New York.
- Mom? Hey, Dad? - I mean staring at you both in amazement. - What are you doing here?
- I'm the one who called them and told them what happened. - Ryder says approaching. - My uncle thought it best if someone from his family came to the hospital. I just didn't think there'd be a commotion.
I smile for him.
- Hey, stranger!
- What's up, sunshine? - Ryder says taking my hand. - How are you feeling?
- Well... - I try to smile, but the cut in my mouth won't let me, so I take your hand to the wounded place, making a face. - Like she got hit by a truck. My whole body hurts.
- My uncle said you'd be fine and that, in fact, your ribs are just dislocated. - he takes a break. - Only your nose had to be fixed, so it'll be purple for a while.
- Thank you for saving me!
- I panicked when I heard your muffled screams. I had to control myself so I wouldn't kill them.
- I can imagine!
He runs his hand through my hair and kisses my forehead again.
- I would never forgive myself if anything more serious had happened. - he says. - I've told you everything I've seen of Casey. She'll probably want a statement from you to open an inquiry. I already talked to my dad, in case he's the bail judge.
- I'm sorry to have to talk to your father! - I say by making a face. - I know that...
- You're more important than my picky with Mr. Cavanaugh. - he says smiling. - I also told your parents everything, so they're all up to speed.
I look at my mother, who's crying next to my father, and I turn my eyes. She loved doing that drama.
- I still don't understand why Aron acted this way. - says my mother sobbing falsely. - He seemed like such a nice, polite boy. Besides, it comes from a very traditional family.
- I thought you were engaged. - says my father with his frown, folding his arms in front of his wide chest. - At least, that's what was agreed when we left New York last month.
Sigh.
- We're not anymore! Aron broke up with me to stay with Tiffany.
- Tiffany? Our Tiffany? - says my mother in amazement.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Holy shit!
- From what I saw, Aron was not only sorry, he had a superinflated ego attack. - says Ryder with sarcasm. - He never agreed to lose and thinks he handed Brooke a platter when he broke up with her. He hoped to see you crawling behind him.
My father smiles at me, blinking.
- Brooke's always had a lot of high esteem. - he says with pride. - My daughter doesn't demean herself to anyone, not even to me.
- Yeah, she's brilliant! - Ryder says in admiration, making me blush.
Puckling his forehead, my father turns to him.
- I still don't know who you are, boy! - he says.
- Dad, that's...
- Ryder Taylor Cavanaugh. - he says in advance. - I'm a friend of your daughter's and I owe her a lot. It's a great pleasure to meet you in person.
- In person? - my father frown. - Did you know me?
