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“You haven’t failed anyone. She made her own choices. Piss-poor choices at that. It was a misunderstanding, and instead of being an adult and talking it out, she made a terrible decision. That’s on her, Drew, not you.”
I’m looking at Carter for what feels like the first time. His stone-faced features tell me everything I need to know. He doesn’t blame me.
“Is she . . . Is she . . . ?” I can’t even bring myself to say the words.
“I honestly don’t know, man. She looked pretty bad, but from what I could gather, she was stable. Go to her.”
I don’t give myself another second to think. I run out the door to her.
43
Drew
I rush into the emergency room waiting area, and I immediately see Harper pacing. Carter must have called her. Or maybe she’s listed as the next of kin for Bailey. It feels like I am being stabbed in the chest as I move closer to her. She sees me approach, and her face goes red with anger.
“What the hell are you doing here, Drew?” Her hands start pounding into my chest. I allow her to take her fear and anger out on me. I deserve that, and so much more.
“What did you do to her?” Harper is yelling through her sobs. “Isn’t it enough you ruined some other girl’s life . . . Now you ruined my sister’s.”
“How do you know about that?” It’s not the right time to interrogate her, but I can’t help it.
“Cal told me.” Her eyes are narrowed on me. I nod.
“I’m sorry, Harper. It was a misun—”
“Stop.” She holds her hand up in front of my face. “Stop right there. I do not want to hear any of your excuses. I don’t care what happened. All I know is my baby sister is in the hospital, and I know it’s because of you. Sure, Bailey has made mistakes in the past, but this . . . she was clean. I’m betting it’s you. So, don’t fucking tell me you’re sorry. I trusted you to take care of her,” she screeches.
I wrap her in my arms and console her the only way I can. “Shh. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt her, Harper. I know you don’t want to believe me. She was gone before I could stop her. By the time I found her, it was too late.”
She stiffens.
“When she gets better, and she will get better . . . just please . . . understand, what she thinks happened isn’t true. Everything will be okay.”
She relaxes in my arms, and I let her cry.
I know she blames this on me, and she’s right, but it’s obvious she needs support and doesn’t care where she gets it from.
Her mother comes rushing into the ER and immediately starts barreling Harper with questions. I try my hardest to stay out of sight. I’ve never met Mrs. Jameson, and I certainly didn’t want the first time to be in a hospital under such shitty circumstances. I sit in my chair, furtively bouncing my knee. If the goddamn doctors don’t come out with some news soon, I’m going to tear this place down.
“How is she? Can we see her?” Her mom asks before turning to me, looking at me questioningly. “Who the hell are you?”
“Mom, this is Drew Lawson. He’s the owner of the club. He was there . . .”
I hate how that one sentence minimizes what I am to Bailey. She's everything and I'm tired of hiding it.
“I’m her boyfriend.”
Harper gasps at my declaration.
Her mom's eyes widen, but she quickly rights herself, standing taller.
“Then you better stay to hear this," she says, turning back toward Harper. “They said she was having a seizure. Do you know what happened?”
“They haven’t said much,” Harper answers, looking at me out of the corner of her eye.
I step forward, my tongue heavy, but I swallow and force myself to speak. “Bailey was upset—” I take a deep breath. “She was drinking at my bar. I don’t know much more than that.”
“Why was she upset? Why was my baby drinking?” her mother cries. Then she stops herself, narrowing her eyes and pointing a finger at me. “You did this.” Mrs. Jameson doesn’t ask, she accuses. “You and that god-awful club did this to my baby girl.” She looks ready to commit murder, which is different from what I expected after Bailey told me about her.
In truth, if Bailey wasn’t in that hospital bed, I’d tell this woman just where to go. I’d blame her for it all. If she weren’t so damn consumed with herself and money, maybe her daughter never would’ve turned to drugs to begin with.
No matter how badly she needs to hear that, I don’t say a word of it. It’s not the time or the place. Not while Bailey is possibly fighting for her life.
