“You already said your head, bud,” Bennett tells me a look of concern taking over his features. “I called your dad, and him and your mom are meeting us at the hospital.”
I only nod doing as the paramedic has asked. I lay back and relax the best I can. As I do so the full impact of my fall hits me and the pain sets in even more. I can barely breathe.
“Please put this on,” the little spitfire says again holding out the oxygen mask. “We are a few minutes from the hospital and I would prefer to show up there with you conscious.”
I take it from her hold it to my face and slowly breathe.
When the ambulance comes to a stop and they open up the back door, there in the doorway stands my dad with my mother at his side. Both are worried, but my father wears it much better than my mom.
They both stand back waiting for them to unload me and wheel me by. Doctors wait inside as they take me into a room and pull the curtains closed.
“Can you tell me your name?”
“What?” I ask, looking around to find several medical professions standing around me. They are looking at me as if they are waiting on something. “What?” I ask again.
“We asked if you could tell us your name?”
“Ada…Alam.” I shake my head, trying to clear the fog. “Aaron,” I finally get the word out feeling like the entire room is spinning.
“We need a head CT, a full body MRI,” I hear someone start to rattle off orders. “Let’s get some bloodwork,” they continue and I can feel myself starting to dose off.
“Aaron.” A warm hand touches my arm and I look over finding a hazy figure at my side. I blink a few times and then a machine starts to scream. I try my best to fight it, but the harder I try the faster I fall.
And then I am met with darkness once more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kendall
I standoff to the side of the waiting area, biting my nails as I pace the floor. Constantly glancing between the nurses’ station, the doors I know Aaron is behind of, and everyone else who is worried and left with no answers.
I don’t even remember the drive here.
All I know is that Sutton and Lexi showed up at the shop and the next thing I know I was being loaded up in my father’s truck and driven to the hospital.
My dad didn’t leave. He didn’t ask questions about a man he didn’t even know about. He didn’t look at me for answers, but instead walked around the room asking everyone waiting if there was anything he could do.
I know the question will come later.
He is currently standing alongside Bennett and Brantley so I am sure that he is getting the quick notes version. I never want to be portrayed as a villain, especially to my father.
I truly hope they left out the part that the last time I saw or talked to Aaron I was a huge asshole.
“He’s out of surgery.” We all quickly turn to the sound of Aaron’s father voice. He looks exhausted, his eyes red, dark circles beneath them. “He’s still not awake but they say it could be awhile.”
“He’s gonna be pissed they shaved his head.”
I glance in Brantley’s direction to find him laughing.
“Would have been cool if they’d left a mohawk,” Bennett adds and the rest of the kids agree. But you can sense the tension in everyone. We were all worried.
“You should all go home,” his dad interrupts the laughter. “Even when he does wake he can’t have any visitors. Tomorrow after eight, but tonight they say he needs to rest.”
I don’t want to leave. I know I can’t see him, but somehow being here, close by, was something I needed.
“We can give you a ride home,” Sophie says as she seps back in Finn’s direction.
“I think I’ll stay,” I say, my lower lip trembling surprising me and Sophie too by the look on her face. Immediately she shifts forward, wrapping her arms around me.
