chapter forty-two
Aston
Knox has been asleep for several hours now. The nurse let us know it’s normal and that his body will heal best when he’s sleeping. Also said he might be sleeping a lot over the next few weeks.
Weston took Katie back to his place to drop her shit off and give her time to shower. That was about an hour ago, so they should be back soon. Feeling bored and hungry, with Knox passed out, I left his room about fifteen minutes ago to go smoke and grab some food. The cops haven’t been by to take his statement yet. I’d imagine they’ll be here soon.
Walking back to his room from the hospital cafeteria, my phone buzzes in my pocket. Shuffling my drink and bag of chips over to my left hand, I use my right to pull it out of my hoodie. It’s Anderson.
Anderson: How’s it going up there? How’s he doing?
Not having both my hands available to text back, I hit the call button. It only rings once before his voice fills the line.
“Hey, bro.”
Walking over to the empty nurses’ station, I set my stuff down. “Hey, I’m heading back to his room now. I went to the cafeteria to eat while he was asleep.”
“How is he?”
“He’s in pretty bad shape, but he was awake and talking earlier, so I guess that’s good.”
“So, it was his dad?”
“Yup.” I swallow hard, my blood turning hot with this information.
“Damn. Is he going to press charges?”
“I honestly don’t know. Katie, Weston, and I told him he really should, but he passed out from his meds before we could finish the conversation. The cops haven’t come yet.”
“I explained to Mom and Dad what was going on, so they understood why you left. Keep me posted, alright?” I nod, not that he can see it.
“Sure thing. Bye, bro.”
I hang up and pocket my phone, then grab my chips and drink, making my way back to Knox’s room. Hopefully, he’s awake by the time I get there. My mind is still reeling over what he went through, why he’s here. How he never told me—or really, anyone except Katie—what he’s been going through his whole life. I wish I knew and could’ve helped him. This explains so much about why he’s the way he is, why he behaved the way he did at his dad’s business party in the spring.
I feel like a fucking dick for not figuring it out.
Approaching his room, I notice the glass sliding door is partially open. Walking over to the nurses’ station, I see his nurse and ask, “Is someone in Knox Finnegan’s room?” If they’re in there, checking his catheter or something equally personal, I don’t want to just waltz in and embarrass him.
Looking up from her computer, her friendly smile automatically pulls at her lips. “Yeah, an older gentleman went in there a few minutes ago.”
My stomach drops and my veins turn ice cold. “Call security now. That’s his dad and the reason he’s in here.” I don’t bother waiting for her response, my feet leading me to his room automatically. Shoving the sliding door open the rest of the way and flinging the privacy curtain open, I see who I know for certain is his piece of shit dad. He’s hovered over Knox, who’s now awake, his right hand fisted in his hospital gown, left hand planted beside Knox’s head.
Both of their heads jerk in my direction, and the scumbag removes his hands from Knox, standing at his full height. Without thinking, I’m storming over to him, dropping my shit on the foot of the bed and grabbing him by his pretentious ass lapels, throwing him against the wall forcefully. He grunts as he hits his head, and his eyes turn venomous.
Wrapping my fingers around his throat, I squeeze hard enough that his eyes go wide and his mouth drops open. Bringing my lips to his ear, I seethe, “You fucked up coming here, old man. Think you can get away with beating the shit out of your son? You messed with him for the last fucking time, you hear me? You’re a vile, disgusting man, and a pathetic excuse for a father.”
My grip on his throat loosens just enough so I don’t kill him, and he takes that as an invitation to spew hate. “Fuck you. Who the fuck are you, boy? The faggot who has my son sucking cock like a fucking bitch?”
Not wanting to hear another word out of his putrid mouth, I bring my knee up and crush it into his crotch. As he bellows out, I squeeze my hand on his throat harder, cutting off his ability to talk, cry out, or breathe. Looking him directly in the eye, I say, “You know what, you repulsive motherfucker? Yeah. Yeah, I am that faggot. You don’t deserve someone as fucking remarkable as Knox. You’re the dark that threatened to dampen all of his light, and I’ll be damned if you ever hurt him again. I hope you’re made someone’s bitch in prison. I hope they make you choke on their dirty cock, tear your ass open by fucking you raw, and I fucking pray that someone beats the ever-loving shit out of you. You deserve nothing less, you pitiful fucking asshole.”
The sound of walkie-talkies reaches my ears, letting me know security or the police are close to the room. Jamming my knee into his crotch one last time, I pull my arm back and punch him in the nose as hard as I fucking can, letting him drop to the floor like a sack of potatoes. A security guard and three officers bust into the room as he hits the ground.
Backing up to let them do their thing, I finally turn around and face Knox. He’s been quiet through this entire ordeal, and I hope he isn’t pissed about what I said or did, but I’m not going to apologize. I don’t regret it, and I’m not sorry.
When my gaze goes to his, he’s already looking at me. It’s impossible to read his face with all the bruising and swelling. “Hi,” I say awkwardly, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed. His dad is yelling obscenities behind me, and the officers are trying to detain him. I don’t hear any of that, though. All I’m focused on is Knox.
“Hi.” He tries to smile, but it must hurt because it turns into more of a wince. “Uh, th-thank you for, uh, what you just did and said.”
“You don’t need to thank me. He deserved it.”
“How did you know that I was here?”
“Katie.”
He tries to laugh. “Of course it was her.”
“Excuse me, fellas,” one of the officers says, walking up to us. “Hi, my name’s Officer Briggs. I’m going to need to collect a statement from you both about what happened here and what led to you being here, if that’s okay?”
“Well, I can let you know what happened just now, but I wasn’t here for everything else.” I turn to Knox to tell him, “I’ll step out and let you give your statement.”
Grabbing my hand, he surprises me by saying, “No, stay. Please.”
Unsure if I’ll be able to keep my voice even, I nod my head and squeeze his hand. I’m not going anywhere.