I remember her coming to the hospital with Archer a couple of times, but I was always so out of it that I never spoke to her. Probably another thing I should feel like garbage about.
“Okay, Cullen, I have some good news. Your hand isn’t broken, just very badly bruised. You also managed to avoid further damage to that broken pinky. It’ll probably take a couple of weeks to fully heal, so no more MMA fighting.”
I look up at her teasing and give her a forced, tight smile.
“There isn’t much I can do in office, but I’m going to prescribe you some anti-inflammatories that are a little stronger than the over-the-counter stuff. Other than that, it’s going to be rest, ice, and elevation. Treat it like any other soccer injury you’ve gotten.”
“Thanks, Dr. Oaks,” Hud answers for me.
Dr. Oaks comes up to me and puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. My eyes connect with hers, full of concern and care.
“He’s right here, Cullen.” She gestures to Hud. “He’s healthy. He’s here with us. Withyou. I can see the shadows behind your eyes, but you have to find a way to let them go. Alright?”
She gives us both one last smile, then exits the room.
“Come on, babe.” Hud helps me off the table and we head to the reception desk to pick up my prescription.
“We can drop your prescription off and come back for it later. It’ll probably take a while to be filled,” he explains, navigating us out of the Urgent Care parking lot.
“Okay,” I mumble.
“While we wait, I want to take you somewhere.”
My shoulders hitch, not caring what we do. I close my eyes, letting Hudson lead me wherever he wants, but after a while, the smooth ride gives way to rough dirt and gravel.
My eyes fly open, the memory of red and blue lights flashing off the pines, and the feeling of being jostled as we follow the ambulance back down the dirt road fills my body.
“Hudson, what the fuck are we doing?” No point in masking my anger and panic.
“Trust me?” Hud asks, his voice calm and sure.
“Are we really going to—”
“It’s time we face the river.”
Chapter twenty-four
Cullen
“What the fuck are we doing here?” My heart is racing faster than the current in the river just ahead of us.
“Trust me, Cull. We need this.” He comes to a creeping stop in his usual spot on the bluff, the water glinting in the afternoon sunlight. I notice the tremble in his hands before he draws in a steadying breath.
“You’re not okay, babe. Whatever this is,” Hud says, his hand gesturing to my shaking body. “It’s scaring your parents. It scaresme.”
I’m trying not to hyperventilate, but everything feels like it’s closing in. I can see the tire tracks where the Ambulance drove, footsteps still imprinted in the ground from the police officers. I can still hear my scream as Hudson jumped, the feeling of the cold water as I followed in after.
It’s too much.
I need out.
“Take me home, Hudson,” I grit out, my jaw clenched so tight I could crack my molars.
He turns in his seat, cupping my cheeks. “Do you remember the day you found me in bed during one of my episodes?”
I manage an imperceptible nod.
“You took charge. You knew what I needed when I didn’t even know myself. You were understanding without really knowing the depth of what your actions meant. You pulled me out of that darkness just by knowing I needed a small push.”
