“No kidding,” I tell my brother.
“Where are you trying to go?” Reid asks.
“To the bathroom, so I can get changed.”
Reid rubs my arms softly. “Can you manage that on your own?”
“Yeah, she can,” Zane feels the need to interrupt.
We both ignore him. “Yes,” I say to Reid.
Reid frowns. “Are you sure?”
“Dude, you’re not going to help my sister out of her hospital gown and into clothes,” Zane butts in.
Reid cuts him a glare. “Are you going to?”
Zane pales. “Well...”
“Exactly.” Reid turns back to me. “Let’s get you to the bathroom, so you can change.”
We walk slowly to the bathroom. I keep expecting to feel normal soon, but I feel so depleted and dizzy. My legs feel like they weigh a thousand pounds. The walk to the bathroom seems to get longer and longer. Black spots dot my vision, and I feel sweat breaking out on my forehead. “Reid,” I start, and the world tilts.
Chapter 32
Riley
Strong arms wrap around me, and I feel Reid’s hard body against mine. "I think I’m going to be sick,” I mutter against his chest. He picks me up and carries me into the bathroom and lowers me to the ground next to the toilet. I feel a cold cloth on my neck a moment later, and that helps.
“When did you eat last?” he asks softly, running his hand up and down my back.
“Last night at the banquet.”
“Your sugars are probably low after losing all that blood and not eating anything yet. Zane went to get something for you.”
I put my head on my arms over the top of the toilet, feeling absolutely miserable. I hear Zane return a few minutes later. “This is a stupid hospital. Here. This is all I could find.”
“Thanks,” Reid says, and then I hear him break the seal on something. A moment later, a bottle of apple juice is placed in my hands. “Drink some, Baby. See if that makes it better.” I really don’t want to drink apple juice when I feel like I’m going to throw up, but I try. I take a tiny sip, fully expecting it to come right back up. When it doesn’t, Reid places a cracker in my hand. “Eat that.”
I force myself to eat it, hoping it will ease the nausea in my stomach. When I start to feel the tiniest bit better, I take another bigger drink of apple juice. A few minutes later, the nausea is mostly gone. “I’m okay now. Thank you.”
“Okay. Let’s get you dressed, so we can get you home.” He helps me to my feet and doesn’t let go until I’m steady. Thenhe uses his long arms to reach over and grab my bag. “Can you manage?”
I know he would help me in a heartbeat and wouldn’t make a big deal about it, but I’m feeling much better. “I’m good. I’ll call you if I need help.”
He gives me a concerned look but nods. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
As soon as the bathroom door closes, I work at getting out of the ridiculous hospital gown. I figure Reid’s probably already seen so much of me through the opening in the back of this gown anyway, but I choose not to think about it. Now that I’m feeling a little better, it only takes me a few minutes to change into the clean underclothing, leggings, and sweatshirt my mom packed for me. I slip on socks and sneakers and then step out of the bathroom. I don’t bother with my hair. It’s a mess from last night. I simply pull it back with a hair tie. I’ll mess with it later after I shower. Right now, I just want to get out of here.
Reid walks over to me and takes my bag from me. He puts the strap over his shoulder, and I’m ready to reprimand him for it. My bag has to hurt against his back, but my brother steps forward and takes the bag from him without a word. “Let’s get you two home.”
Reid takes my hand in his, and we follow Zane out of the room and out into the hall. Thankfully, Zane knows where he’s going. He tells me on the way that the nurse wanted to push me out in a wheelchair, but he put his foot down, thankfully. We stop at the hospital doors while Zane goes outside to get the car and bring it up. Reid stays close, and I can feel the tension in his body. I wish I could tell him not to worry, but last night was real and it’s fresh on our minds. When Zane pulls up, Reid and I walk out. Reid opens the front door of Zane’s truck and puts the seat down so I can crawl in the back. He starts to follow me, but I stop him. “Sit in the front where it will be easier for you. I’m fine.”
I think he’s going to argue, but he pops the seat into its upright position and climbs in. I don’t miss that he sits so that his back isn’t pushing against the seat, and fresh anger burns through me once again. He must feel it because he reaches back and puts his hand out, and I put my hand in his. Zane turns the radio on but doesn’t try to make conversation, which is unusual for my talkative brother. But I figure he has to be exhausted after last night since he was sitting up all night in a chair next to my bed. I close my eyes and rest, so thankful to be out of the hospital. When we stop, I open my eyes and blink. “Why are we at Mom and Dad’s?” I ask in confusion.
“Dad’s orders,” Zane says right before he climbs out.
I groan, and Reid squeezes my hand. “We’ll figure it out. For now, let’s head inside, so we can rest.” I hear the exhaustion in his voice, and it makes me change my tune fast.
