My phone comes alive and it pings right away with a bunch of missed calls. Most of them are from Liam and my heart shatters at seeing his worry.
The next set of text messages I have are from Jaxson and Sam.
Fuck!
Jaxson: Call me immediately.
Sam: Girl, call me. Liam and Landon got into it. They're both at the hospital and Liam could use you.
The hospital?
“Is everything alright? You just got really pale.” Terry touches my cheek.
“No.” I glance up at her, biting my lip. “Liam is in the hospital.”
“The hospital. What?” Her jaw goes slack. “What happened? Is he okay?” She turns the key back in the ignition of my car to turn it back on. She’s ready to go for me.
“Yeah. Give me a sec. Let me see if I can figure what is going on before we go anywhere.”
“Of course.”
I dial Sam's number, knowing she will more than likely give more details away than Jaxson.
"There you are. Finally," Sam breathes into the phone answering on the first ring. There’s lots of noise and commotion in the background of where she is.
"I'm sorry. I needed a moment. What happened? Is Liam okay?"
"Liam will be fine. Landon on the other hand, not so much."
“Jesus. What happened?"
Though I think I'm pretty sure I already know my answer.
"I wasn't in the room when everything went down. Jax said that Liam was in a daze when he pulled him off Landon. Liam didn’t even know what he did, but he beat Landon to a bloody pulp. He's at Memorial getting his fists looked at. You should get down here."
“I’m on my way.”
Before I even finish my sentence, Terry is peeling out and en route to the hospital.
“Great. They are taking him back now, head for the ER entrance and they should lead you to where he is.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
“Anytime. I’ll let him know you’re on your way. Hopefully, it’ll calm him down a bit.” She chuckles softly.
My leg bounces the whole ride to Memorial; it’s only twenty minutes away, but it feels like an eternity. I’m nervous about seeing Liam. There’s so much to say and at the same time nothing to say. I love Liam and he has proved to me he loves us, even after knowing the truth. If he didn’t want us he could have bailed. He chose us and in return we choose him. Not like there was a question. We’re a family. My only hope is now that he knows I know, nothing changes for him. I think about texting him, but everything I feel like I need or want to say would be better for face to face, and Sam did say she was going to tell him I was on my way.
Terry pulls up outside the ER drop off lane and puts the car into park. My hand plays with the metal handle and I make no move to get out of the car, my nerves getting the best of me. Terry turns to glare at me, as the red and white lights of the ER sign glow brightly over us. “What are you waiting for? Go.”
“What about Matty?”
“I’ll watch him out here. You need to go see him first. Text me when you’re ready. I’ll be out here planting trees in my animal crossing.” She reaches in beside her seat and pulls out her Switch. I shake my head. She’s been addicted to that game for the last month and bought a Switch just for it. “If he wakes, I’ll buzz you or he can help me play.”
I kiss her cheek. “I don't know what I’d do without you.”
“Go. We will be fine.”
I smile and turn to the backseat, placing my hand on Matty’s leg. He twitches slightly but doesn’t wake and I take the second to make a silent promise to him that everything will work out.
“While we’re all young, Holls.”
I spot Jaxson on his cell walking back and forth down the hall of the emergency department. When I tap him on the shoulder, he smiles at me, but holds up his finger telling me to hold on a second. “Hey, I’ll call you back, Holly just arrived…Yes, I’ll let you know… Love you.” Jaxson clicks his phone closed and pulls me into a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“How is he?”
“They took him in for x-rays about ten minutes ago. He should be back in a room by now.”
“I can't believe Landon went to see Liam after talking to me. Did he have a death wish?”
“Apparently so. Liam says Landon was waiting for him in his office for hours. If I didn't realize I’d forgotten some paperwork in his office I don't know what Liam might have done to Landon. He was zoned the fuck out when I pulled him off his brother.”
“I don't know if I can totally blame him.” I wanted to hurt Landon too.
“How are you holding up?”
“Still in a bit of a shock. I keep hoping I’m in a dream. Though this is more like a nightmare. I’ve never been more confused in my life.” I sigh heavily and run my fingers through my hair.
“Does it change anything for you?”
“I only wish I could forget what Landon told me.”
“That's how he feels too,” Jax mumbles and his eyes drift down the hall.
“Did you know? Before today that is?” I ask curiously.
“Yes, he told me after the accident. I thought it would be smarter not to tell you, since Landon at the time had no plans to. And you saw Liam after he found out. He couldn’t handle the thought of losing you and Matty. He thought the only way he could handle
