She’d been texting me every day since Brynn was shot. In a short amount of time, I’d grown to adore her. Kinda like how I’d fallen for her brother in a crazy short time.
She didn’t send another text. She rang instead.
“I really doubt you’re okay,” she said when I answered the phone. “Give it to me straight. We’re friends now, and friends don’t bullshit each other.”
I smiled, and for the first time in days, it was a genuinely happy smile. Funny how those who truly cared about us could do that for us even when we were going through something that had no joy in it. “I’m not okay, but I kinda am if that makes sense. I’ve got some really good people around me, including you, and that makes things so much better.”
“Good. Now, I’ve organised some home-cooked meals for you with the girls here. They’ve all pitched in and cooked a heap of casseroles and stuff for you guys. I’m going to ask King to drop them over late this afternoon. Will you be home?”
A new wave of emotion overwhelmed me and tears streamed down my face. How was I so lucky to have people like Skylar looking out for me? I squeezed my hand tighter around the phone as I tried to talk through my tears. “You’re amazing,” I choked out. “Thank you.”
“Oh shit, I’m sorry I made you cry.”
I dashed the tears away. “They’re good tears, I promise. And besides, I cry far more at the moment than I don’t, so this isn’t anything unusual.”
She was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice softened. “How’s your sister?”
I swallowed hard, the unrelenting pain slicing through me at the thought of Brynn lying unconscious on her hospital bed. It knocked the wind out of me, and I had to sit on the bed to stop myself collapsing to the floor. “I don’t know,” I whispered through more tears. “She’s still on the ventilator. The doctors don’t know when she’ll wake up.”
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice held tears now, too. “I’m going to come and see you today. Will you be at the hospital?”
“Oh no, don’t do that. You’re still on crutches and in pain. I’ll be okay. And besides, they won’t let you into the intensive care unit. It’s just family.”
“I’m fine. Don’t you worry about me. I’m still doing all the exercises you gave me, and getting better every day. And I don’t care if I can’t come in. I just wanna be there for you in case you need someone to talk to or cry with. I’ll sit outside. What time will you be at the hospital? I’ll ask King to drop me off for a few hours.”
She’d mentioned King twice now. I’d ignored the first mention, but my body wouldn’t allow me to do that twice. Because although my head stayed firmly committed to not starting up with him again, my body had completely different ideas. Kind of like my heart did.
Skylar King had the same level of determination as her brother, so I knew there was no point arguing with her. “I’ll be there in the next couple of hours until around school pick-up time.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later. Do you need me to bring anything for you?”
“No, you’re already doing so much.”
After the call ended, I took a deep breath. Today would get tricky if she managed to convince King to do those things for her. Hopefully he’d be far too busy to say yes.
6
King
I stretched my neck before shoving two Advil down my throat. I avoided washing them down with whisky. There was a hell of a lot of shit to get through today; whisky wouldn’t help with any of it.
It had been a long night sitting outside Lily’s place. I’d headed home for a few hours of sleep after Mace covered me early this morning, but it had been broken. Sleep was the last fucking thing on my mind, though. I could run on sheer fucking determination if I had to.
“Where’d you get to last night?” Axe asked, joining me in the office.
I settled my ass against the office desk. “Had shit to do.”
He gave me the look that told me he would wait for further information.
Scrubbing my hand over my face, I muttered, “I gave Mace the night off.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “He was watching the physiotherapist, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Since when do you take on that kind of job?”
“Fuck, brother, do we really need to play twenty-fucking-questions? I’d rather go over the shit we’ve gotta take care of today.”