Walk the Line (Kings of Chaos 5)

“Hey, baby. I’m going to crash in here with you tonight, okay?” I run my fingers over his strong jawline and cup his face. He turns into my palm, and I close my eyes and enjoy the closeness. “You have to sleep, or they’re going to kick me out.”

“B.”

“Mmm-hmm?”

“Love.”

I kiss his lips and whisper, “I know.”

His lips twitch upward, and I step away and turn toward the nurse.

“We have your cot set up with a pillow and a blanket.”

“Thank you so much.”

“I also brought you a little self-care kit. It’s not much, just a comb, toothpaste, and a toothbrush.”

“That’s plenty,” I look at her nametag. “Amy.”

“I’ll be on the night shift, so if you need anything, you can call up.”

“Thank you.”

I feel ten years older as I sit, remove my shoes and crawl beneath the white blanket. A part of me hopes I’ll wake to find this entire day was nothing more than an impossibly morbid dream.

Chapter Fourteen

Freeze

I groan as I swim through the layers of unconsciousness. My eyelids feel weighted as I force them to open. I go to sit up and instantly regret it as dizziness hits. I raise my arms and rub my eyes as I struggle to acclimate to my surroundings. The events of yesterday slam back into me. I run my hand down my body and pat the top of my legs. Jesus Christ. I can’t feel that. Rage explodes, and I cry out.

“J.”

B stumbles to my bed, half asleep as she leans over the railing. “Hey, you’re okay.”

“Okay? I can’t feel my fucking legs.”

“I know. I know. There’s so much swelling and heavy meds.”

“Is this permanent?”

“We don’t know,” she whispers.

I clench my fists. “You don’t know.”

“There are too many different factors to consider, giving you a diagnosis would be premature—”

“When.”

“When what?”

“Will we know?”

“It could be anywhere from six months to a year from now.”

“Did the doctor tell you that?” I ask.

“He did, but I also know it to be true.”