My mind is racing. I need to get out of here. Go home. Go to Ellie.
I turn to look through the window, spotting Rick standing next to the reception desk, watching, waiting for me with a frown on his face. I hold up a finger at him, hoping he’ll give me a minute, before I turn away.
“Is Tony with you?”
“Yes. Well, he’s coming to the hospital right now. Gracie’s still here with me too. The hospital was able to call Ellie’s parents and they’re coming to get her. It was so crazy, Jackson. Everything happening all at once,” Hayden says.
“Is she going to be okay?” My voice is hoarse and I swallow hard. I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Yes. He broke her nose when he knocked his head into hers. That’s why they kept her overnight. She took a pretty hard hit to the head,” Hayden says.
“I’ll be right there. I’m leaving now.” I don’t even have to consider where I need to be. I’m going home to Ellie.
“She’s woken up once, but only for a few minutes. She was groggy. I think they’re keeping her sedated.” Hayden’s voice lowers. “It was so scary, Jackson. I feel so terrible, but I didn’t see her text until I got out of the shower, and that was like fifteen minutes later. I think about if I’d been any later, what would’ve happened? When we got there, I found him on top of her in the car. He was crying, saying he didn’t mean to—to kill her. She was passed out, but I didn’t know, and I became hysterical. God.”
Hayden chokes on the last word and starts to cry. I close my eyes, hating this. Hating that I’m not there.
“I’ll call you back in a few. Let me hop in my car,” I tell her, ending the call before I walk back in to speak with Rick.
“Jackson.” Rick smiles, approaching me with his hand out. “So glad you’re here. Ready to talk?”
“No,” I tell him gruffly, noting the surprise in his gaze. “I have to go. Something came up.”
Rick frowns. I’m sure he doesn’t get turned down often. “Jackson. I rearranged my entire schedule to fit you in this morning. And I don’t know if I’m going to be able to fit you in again.” He pauses. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I do, I understand.” I tell him with a firm nod. “And I get it. Sorry to waste your time, sir, but my girlfriend is in the hospital. I gotta go.”
Before he can even say anything, I’m tearing out of his office, my mind going a million miles a second, telling me I need to leave.
I need to get to Ellie.
By the time I’m driving through the south end of Fresno—in record fucking time I might add—I receive a call from Tony.
“What’s up?” I answer, knowing he’s been with Hayden this morning at the hospital.
“They released Ellie. She’s going home with her parents,” h
e says.
“How is she?”
“She’s okay. Awake at least. Tired.”
“How bad is it? Tell me the truth. Don’t sugarcoat it,” I demand.
“Her nose is swollen and she has two black eyes,” he says.
“Fuck. I’m going to murder that guy,” I say through clenched teeth.
“He’s in jail,” Tony says. “Got arrested for public intoxication and assault. Maybe a few other charges. Not sure.”
“Where is she now? At her apartment?” I can’t even compute exactly what Tony is telling me. I don’t know how to feel about it. I don’t know what to do. My emotions are everywhere. I feel helpless. Disappointed in myself. When things got rough, I wasn’t there for her. And if I plan on having any sort of career in music, I won’t be here for her most of the time.
Which makes me feel like absolute shit.
“Her parents took her home. She’s with them,” Tony says.
I punch the steering wheel, frustration rippling through me. “I’m going up there. I’m calling her right now.”