Bad Seed

“Gentleman, my patient needs rest. I don’t think I need to remind you that she’s been through quite an ordeal and has a fairly significant concussion. She should be sleeping, not fighting with all of you. Now, one of you may stay the night with her, but the rest of you need to get going.”

“I’ll be staying,” my father told her.

“No, you won’t,” I said. “Grant will.”

My father’s eyes grew hard on mine as my hand slipped into Grant’s. I felt him curl his fingers around me as he looked at me. I wasn’t backing down from this. I didn’t care how much it hurt them. My father and my brother couldn’t push me around any longer. I knew that they thought they were protecting me in their own misguided ways, but I was done letting them. I was living my life however I saw fit, starting now. Starting with taking a stand in this damn hospital room.

We all stared at one another as the nurse drew in a deep breath.

“All right. I’ll get him something to make him comfortable. In the meantime, the two of you? Out.”

“I’m not leaving her here with him,” my father said.

“And I’m staying in the waiting room,” Hollis said.

“Unless the two of you want to be escorted out by hospital security, you will leave and not come back until visiting hours resume tomorrow at ten in the morning,” the nurse said.

“The sign says eight,” my father said.

“Well, I said ten. After all, my patient needs her rest.”

My eyes connected with my brother, and I challenged him for the first time in my life. His eyes were boring into Grant’s, and I could feel the tension rising in the room.

“This is insane. Grant, she’s my damn little sister,” Hollis said. “You’re my best fucking friend.”

“Out,” the nurse said again.

“This isn’t about you and me, Hollis. Our friendship has nothing to do with this. I care about your sister, I always have. And I care a hell of a lot about you too. I don’t want this to ruin our friendship, but I’m not leaving her. Not even for you,” Grant said.

Hollis stood there looking dumbfounded as the nurse went to call Security.

My father held up his hand and shoved Hollis out the door. “We’ll go. But this isn’t over,” he said, pointing at Grant.

Finally, the two of them left and Grant let out a deep breath.

I lay back down in my bed and slid my hand away from Grant’s. I turned over on my side and pulled the blanket up to my chin. I was horrified, and in pain, and angry. I knew it was going to be a fight for Grant and me to be together and I hoped in the end that Grant would find me worth it. He shifted on the bed, and his hand came down onto my hip, and he slowly began to stroke my leg.

“Sorry,” I said.

“For what?”

“For them. For all the horrible shit my father said to you. Again.”

I felt him stand from the bed and walk over to the chair in the corner. I closed my eyes and willed all of it to go away. Every single part of it. The hospital. Ike. My family. I wanted to wake up in my own apartment in my own bed waiting for Grant to come see me.

I was ready for this nightmare to end.

“You don’t have to apologize for them. Look, I know they are driving you crazy, but they do love you. Very much. They just don’t know how else to show it. I’m a big boy, I can handle anything they throw at me if it means I get to be with you.”

I turned over in my bed and took stock of Grant. He sat with his knees spread wide as he slouched in the chair. His elbow was resting on the arm of it, and his fingers were stroking the stubble on his face. He looked incredible, equal parts rebellion and sex.

I bit down on my bottom lip as a chuckle fell from his.

“When you’re better,” he said, reading my thoughts with a grin. “Right now, you need to rest.”

I had no problems taking my cue from him. Because I knew all he wanted was the best for me.

CHAPTER 22