I pulled me knees up to my chest, buried my face, and cried. Layton had told me he had something special planned for my birthday. The thought of it made me sick to my stomach.
What if I never find out what his plans were? What if he wakes up and hates me for being the cause of all of this?
What if he doesn’t wake up?
I cried harder.
“Whitley, stop this right now. This was not your fault, and you have to stop beating yourself up over it. You’re going to have to leave at some point,” Courtney said.
I snapped my head up and looked at my best friend, who had stood by my side for everything.
“I. Can’t. Leave. I’ve already told you, Court. I won’t leave him. I’ll never leave him alone. I can’t leave him alone. Everyone always leaves him. What if he wakes up, and no one is here?” I said.
Reed stood up and walked over toward me. He bent down and looked into my swollen red eyes. “Whitley, I’ll stay with him. We won’t let him be alone…ever. I promise you. ”
I shook my head back and forth. “No! Reed, you know how he is with promises. I promised him I’d never leave him. I’m not leaving until he wakes up. So, would you both please just stop asking me to leave? I’m not going to leave him!” I practically shouted.
Reed looked up and over at Courtney as she nodded.
As he stood up, he kissed me on the forehead and wiped away my tears. “Okay, Whitley. No more asking you to leave. How about some food? Can you eat some food for me, sweetheart?” Reed asked.
I glanced over toward Courtney and noticed how she was looking at Reed with so much love in her eyes.
I was so hungry. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had eaten. I nodded and gave him a weak smile. “I could really go for some Chick-fil-A,” I said.
He smiled and nodded. “Sandwich or nuggets?”
“She likes the nuggets…but get her enough sauce to dip her french fries into also. ”
We all snapped our heads over toward the bed. Layton’s eyes immediately caught mine. I threw my hands up to my mouth and started crying as I jumped up and ran over to him.
“Layton! Thank you, God. Thank you so much. ” I began kissing him softly all over his face. I picked up his hand and began kissing it.
“Are you okay, baby?” He lifted his hand and rubbed the side of my mouth where it had been cut.
I grabbed his hand and held it against my face as I nodded. “I’m fine. No, I’m perfect now that you’re awake and looking into my eyes again. I’ve never been better. I love you so much, Layton. Please don’t ever leave me. ”
He smiled that smile of his that made me weak in my knees—the smile he had given me when I first met him on the side of the road.
Then, his smile faded. “Where is he?”
I knew he was talking about Roger. “I don’t want to talk about him. I just want to sit here and thank God for bringing you back to me. Are you in pain?”
I turned and looked at Courtney. “Maybe we should let them know that
he’s awake. ”
She nodded and made her way out to find a nurse.
Reed walked up and smiled. “Jesus, dude. You scared the shit out of us. What in the hell were you doing, playing hero, when that asshole had a gun?”
“Is that why I hurt so fucking bad?” Layton tried to laugh but stopped himself.
“Yeah. He shot you in the stomach, but you’re one lucky son of a bitch. It missed everything it needed to miss. ”
Layton winked at me. “Good. I need to be ready for Wednesday. ”
I tried to smile, but I felt a tear roll down my face. “Layton, it is Wednesday. ”