“Oh my God.I have several phone calls from Raven.Voicemails that say I need to call her back.That it’s urgent.I just thought she was worried about me, even though I told her that?—”
He places two fingers over my lips.“This isn’t your fault, Daniela.This is all on me.”
“What’sall on you?I don’t understand.”
He gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing.“Eagle.He OD’d last night.He’s in the hospital, and I’ve got to get there right away.”
I widen my eyes.“Oh my God… I should’ve answered Raven’s calls.”
“No.Like I said, this isn’t on you.”
“But—”
“No.”He breaks away from me.“My brother needed me last night, and I wasn’t here.I was too busy…”
He doesn’t need to finish the sentence.
He was too busy withme.Making love tome.Being withme.
I cast my gaze to the floor.“I’m so sorry.”
“This isn’t on you,” he says once more.
I swallow, look back up at him.“You don’t need to bother taking me home.I’ll go with you.To the hospital.”
He shakes his head.“I can’t ask you to do that.Not after everything.Not after?—”
This time I stophimwith fingers to his lips.“Stop.Stop it right now.I want to be at your side.I’ll get dressed quickly.We need to get to the hospital.”
He nods, finally acquiescing.“If you don’t mind.”
“Why on earth would I mind?”I run my hand up and down his arm.“I care about you.This concerns you, so I want to be there for you.And for your brother.And for Raven.”
He simply nods once more.
Then he takes my hand and leads me back to the bedroom, where he gets dressed quietly.
I go to the bathroom, brush out my hair, and put it up in a high ponytail so it will be out of the way.I wash my face quickly and then return to the bedroom where Hawk is dressed.
He takes my hand, leads me out, and we get into his car.
We don’t talk much on the way to the hospital.I just keep my hand in his, hoping that I’m giving him some comfort.
I don’t know what else I can do or say.
Already I see the weight of this on his shoulders.He’s going to blame himself for what’s happened, and I don’t know what I can do to stop that.
I keep my phone on my lap, hoping for it to ring.With news from anyone.Raven or Vinnie.
What about Belinda?
I hope they left her at home.I know how much she hates hospitals.
We pull up, and Hawk leaves the car with the valet parking attendant.Still not speaking, he grabs my hand, and we walk inside.
I wait for him to speak to the volunteer on duty.
When he doesn’t, I clear my throat.“We’re looking for Eagle Bellamy,” I say.“We’re immediate family.Where can we find him please?”
