I shake my head, a fresh wave of tears spilling down my cheeks. How can I have tears left in my body?
“If he’s dead just tell all of us.” I gesture around the room with my hand attached to his twin brother’s. “Everyone deserves to know.” I sniff, then wipe my nose with my arm. To his credit, Artemis doesn’t react to the fact his arm was dangerouslyclose to my boogers. These guys are romance movie level stand up guys.
“He’s not dead, amiga. Please? Come with me. You can sit with Raffi while he sleeps.”
My feet carry me to his side before I consciously choose to even stand up from the chair. “You got them to agree to it?”
He nodded. “If something happens and they need to treat him you’re going to have to leave, okay?”
It’s not even a question. Of course I’ll leave if they need me to. I just want to be by his side.
“Bien. Let’s go.”
My feet squeak to a stop on the linoleum floor as it hits me I might not be ready to see him like this. Apollo’s warm hand wraps around my waist, guiding me forward until we get to Raffi’s room.
He gives me a squeeze. “You ready?”
Swallowing hard, I can’t stop my body from shaking again. I’m not, but I need to be, so I wrap my hand around the handle, twist, and push it open.
CHAPTER 38
Raffi
Hospitals stink. Not even of something whiffy like potpourri, but of bleach, or whatever the cleaning solution is they use to make the whole building smell of chemicals.
Could be worse, could smell like blood. I’ll take small mercies where I find them right now.
I know where I am before I open my eyes.
There’s a familiar ba-dum-bum-bum throbbing in my brain and pulsing pain in my head. Something went down last night on the ice. Last thing I remember was skating out for the first period.
Flashes of Wyatt signing he loved me, my name across Victoria’s shirt, and the game intro skate flash in my brain. Relief settles into my chest. I might be hurt, but at least I remember who my people are, where I am, and what happened.
Better than last time, at least.
Someone’s holding my hand, their warmth radiating into me as they sit in silence, just holding onto me.
Forcing my eyes open, it all takes a moment for thebanging in my head to simmer down to an acceptable level. After a few blinks, I take in the room. Victoria’s holding my hand on one side. Apollo sits on a chair in the far corner of the room, and Mom’s got the chair to my left.
It’s bright out, but the room only has one small window and the blinds are pulled. When my gaze lands back onto Victoria, she offers me a tired smile. Her hair’s pulled into a ponytail, her skin seems paler than usual, and her bloodshot eyes have dark lines under them that suggest she probably hasn’t had much sleep.
Fuck.
“Hey, Firecracker.” My voice is croaky, dry, hard to force out.
“Hey yourself.” Her chin trembles as she blinks back tears. “You remember.” The last bit’s barely a whisper.
“I do. You okay?”
She arches a brow so high I’m afraid it might jump off her face, but that eye roll. I damn near get a hard on right here in my hospital bed. Her face says “Of course I’m not okay, you idiot.” And I love her for it.
“Cap.” I nod across the room to Apollo.
“Hey, Raffi, how you feeling?”
I close my eyes briefly. “Like my face collided with a wall.”
He nods, his movements slow like exhaustion is pulling him down. “Close enough. I’m going to step out and tell the nurse and the guys you’re awake. Okay?”
