But right now, I don’t care.
I’m not leaving this hospital until Ashton opens his eyes again and I know he’s okay.
Luke lets out a long, exhausted sigh beside me. “I’m so damn tired,” he mutters, scrubbing both hands over his face.
I glance over at him. His eyes are bloodshot, his shoulders slumped forward like the adrenaline finally drained out of him.
“Want me to grab us some coffee?” I offer quietly.
Luke grimaces. “The coffee here is shit, but I wouldn’t say no to a Mountain Dew.”
I give his shoulder a firm squeeze. “You got it, man.”
“Thanks, dude.”
He leans back into the couch again, staring at Ashton.
I push myself to my feet and slip out into the hallway.
The corridor outside the room stretches long and quiet, the fluorescent lights buzzing softly overhead. My sneakers squeak against the tile as I wander down the hall until I spot the vending machines tucked into a small alcove.
I stop in front of them and pull out my card. The machine hums as I swipe it.
I press the button for the soda and wait, staring blankly at the rows of aluminum cans and water bottles while the gears inside whir. A moment later, the Mountain Dew rolls forward and clunks down into the tray.
When I bend down to grab it, a pair of boots step into view beside me.
My stomach tightens.
I straighten slowly and find Mark standing there.
He’s intentionally close, looming over me like he’s trying to make a point. He towers above me, broad shoulders filling the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest. His gray eyes lock onto mine, cold and assessing.
I don’t say anything, and neither does he.
The silence stretches tight between us.
Finally, I step forward to slip past him, but Mark moves first. His hand shoots out, stopping me. Before I can react, he plucks the can from my hand.
“I’ll take this to Luke,” he says flatly. He looks down at me, bushy eyebrows drawn together. “You should go home.”
My jaw twitches. “No,” I say evenly. “I’ll stay.”
His nostrils flare slightly. “I appreciate you helping Luke find Ashton,” he continues, his voice calm but edged with steel. “But he’s with his family now.” He gestures vaguely down the hall toward the hospital room. “You don’t have any reason to be here.”
My tongue swipes across my piercing. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“If you really care about Ashton,” he says slowly, “you’ll leave him alone. You’ll put some distance between the two of you. You won’t jeopardize his future more than you already have.”
For a second, I just stare at him.
Then a laugh slips out of me, quiet and bitter.
Mark’s brows draw together. “What’s so funny?”
I shake my head, running a hand over my face. “You thinkI’mthe one jeopardizing his future?”
“You are.”
