Barbie Bitch (Rejects Paradise 3)

I take hold of his hand and lace my fingers through his. “Just … no. I’m not but we can talk about it later,” I say over the lump in my throat. “How’s Milo? What happened to him?”

Colton watches me for a long moment, trying to figure out if he’s going to push the topic when finally giving in and trusting my judgment. “We don’t really know yet,” he murmurs, making me realize that we’re standing in a room full of our friends and Milo’s family. “Spencer went by his place and found him out back. He was beaten and barely breathing.”

“By who?” I demand, searching his eyes for some kind of answers.

“I don’t know,” he says, anger flashing in his hazel eyes, telling me just how much he’s come to care for Milo over the last few months. “He’s still in surgery. He had a few broken bones that needed to be set and a collapsed lung. We’re hoping that once he comes out of this, he’ll be able to tell us who did it and if it was random or a planned attack.”

“Planned attack?” I question. “Who would do that to him? Milo is—” I cut myself off, knowing exactly what kind of person would attack Milo. He was targeted because he’s gay, because he has the strength to love who he wants to love.

Colton meets my eyes, understanding exactly what it is that I've just worked out, and nods, silently telling me that whoever did this will have hell coming his way. “Come on,” he tells me, pulling on my hand and leading me toward a row of chairs.

Colton drops down between Charlie and Spencer and he pulls me into his lap. I curl into him and meet Spencer’s eyes. He looks completely broken and I find myself reaching out to him. “How long has he been in surgery?”

Spencer shakes his head and lights up the screen on his phone, looking at the time. “I … I don’t know,” he says, appearing too lost to try and work it out.

“Two hours,” Charlie murmurs from Colton’s other side. “At least, just coming up to it. Google tells me it could take anywhere up to six hours but add all his other injuries and he could be in there for a while.”

I let out a heavy sigh, more than prepared to sit here for as long as it takes.

The room falls into silence, everyone caught inside their own thoughts. Colton doesn’t move an inch, always keeping me in his arms as I silently cry while begging for my friend to be alright.

The only reason Milo was so scared to come out to the world was because of this very reason. He was terrified of what it would mean for him, terrified of the horrendous people who would want to hurt him, terrified of the rejection he’d get from his family and friends.

It’s a feeling no one would ever understand unless you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. I can’t even imagine the fear of being who you are, fearing falling in love with someone, and being judged because that person has the same body parts as you.

Don't we live in the twenty-first century? Why is homophobia still a thing? How can people still be so cruel?

The minutes turn into hours and then finally an exhausted doctor comes striding through the doors. “Rinaldi,” he calls, glancing around the massive room.

We all sit up straighter, watching with wide eyes as Milo’s parents rise from their chairs and go to meet with the doctor. Their conversation is hushed for privacy but I can read the relief all over Milo’s mother's face.

The doctor squeezes her shoulder and with a warm smile, walks away. I watch as Milo’s parents turn to each other and fold themselves into one another’s arms, their relief the loudest silence in the room.

They soon pull away from each other and make their way over to our small group. We all stand, waiting to hear exactly what they have to say.

Milo’s father gives us all a strained smile. “Milo is doing okay,” he finally says, glancing around to each of us. “The doctor says that he had some extensive injuries and needs to remain in the ICU for a few hours for observation. His surgery went well and they’re expecting a full recovery, however it will be a long road. He is just coming off the anesthesia so he’ll be sleeping for another few hours.”

Milo’s mother takes over. “We’re going to go and sit with him while he wakes. You’re all welcome to stay and wait or you can go home and come back later.”

“We’ll stay,” Spencer announces. “Can you let him know that we’re here once he wakes?”

Mrs. Rinaldi reaches out and squeezes his shoulder. “Of course, sweet boy,” she says. “I know he’s really going to appreciate that you all stayed, so thank you for that.”