She tilts her head in curiosity. I can tell she’s itching to get out of here and fetch the doctor. “Britton?”
“Keller? Where is he?”
“Who, darling?” My mother’s guilty eyes dart to the side and I know she’s aware of exactly who I’m talking about.
“Keller. Fighter. Tattoos. Big.” I lick my dry lips in another attempt to wet my mouth. “Where is he?”
My mother grabs a large container with a straw and puts it between my lips. “Drink, darling. They said the medications would dehydrate you. They’ll hang another bag of fluids to help.”
I suck in gulp after gulp of cool water, letting it soothe my ragged throat. “Thanks,” I say when I’m done. “Now. Where. Is. Keller?”
“Let me get the doctor, darling. She needs to know you’re awake.”
“Mother!” I shout, my voice more clear now that I’ve had some water. I know my mother’s weak spot, and I’m not afraid to use it against her. She will not manipulate me like she did ten years ago. “Tell me where he is right now or I’ll inform the hospital staff to keep you out of my room.”
Her eye
s go wide. “You wouldn’t.”
Mine narrow. “Try me.”
With a huff, Rose Shelton-Reeves flicks her hand through her shoulder-length, blonde hair, tossing it back. “If you must know, that… man, is in the waiting room. He’s been quite rude and very disruptive.” She grimaces.
“Send him in.”
“Britton, darling, you can’t—”
“It’s your choice, Mother. Send him in, or I’ll call the nurse, have you removed, and then they will fetch him for me. I’m over eighteen years old and not a child. I decide who visits, not you.”
My mother gasps, probably remembering how she kept all of my friends from visiting me in the hospital after “the incident.” Either out of a misplaced sense of protecting me or because she wanted all of the sympathy for herself, I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter, because I’m not allowing her to run roughshod over me again.
“Fine,” she says, her lips pressed in a tight line. “I’ll get your friend and the doctor.”
“Great,” I respond, lying back and closing my eyes. I have so many questions for Keller, I don’t know where to begin.
There’s no time to gather my thoughts because Keller barges into the room, his expression one of exhaustion combined with aggravation, probably from my mother keeping him at arm’s length.
“Britt! Oh thank god.” He rushes to my side and collapses to his knees, throwing his arms around my waist and laying his head in my lap. “I didn’t know if you’d wake up. Jesus, I’ve never been so scared.”
My hands find their way to his head, threading through his messy dark hair. “I’m okay,” I say, a lump in my throat forming.
Keller’s entire body shakes and I realize he’s having some strong emotions of his own. This beautiful man lifts his head, our eyes meeting. I suppress a shiver, remembering the silver eyes of the girl as she died in my arms. Keller opens his mouth to speak.
“Miss Reeves!” the doctor interrupts, gliding into the room, electronic tablet in hand, skimming through what I assume is my chart. “Good to see you awake.” She gives me a kind smile and nods at Keller as he climbs to his feet. The doctor turns to Keller. “I see you finally got to see her.”
“I did. Thank you, Doctor.” Keller takes my hand and stays at my side. I notice he’s wearing a blue scrub shirt with his shorts.
“Well, I’m very sorry I couldn’t let you in. Next of kin has final say.”
“What?” I nearly shout. Two heads turn in my direction and four eyes widen at my outburst. “Are you saying my mother wouldn’t let you see me at all? How long have I been here?”
“Only twelve hours,” the doctor responds. “But you were missing for almost sixty.”
Oh god. Sixty hours with Max. My stomach heaves at the thought.
“Britt,” Keller whispers, noticing my distress. “We’ll talk later.”
I nod, swallowing back the nausea. The doctor steps up and does her exam, flashing a light in my eyes, checking printouts, flipping through screens on the tablet.