He’s been asleep for one day, 24 hours, they’re unsure about his full recovery until he wakes up. It’s not a case of when he wakes up either, it’s a case of if. I’ve been standing by the side of his hospital bed, almost unblinking, tapping my index finger on my leg like he usually does.
No, I don’t like that Dominik got near us to spy on us. But he just took a knife to his heart forme. Being hit and sent to the back of a truck with Rian is just a blur now. All I see is Dominik. Dominik and the pool of blood around him.
I finally got him to get out of his shell, for a second. Only a second but it was enough for me to see that with time, he’ll give in. We can make whatever we have work. And it is so much more than I thought it was, at least for me. It’s not just lust, or love, or want, it’s a need for closeness, soul to soul, being seen, heard, accepted, just as you are. And Dominik is that for me. And now he’s on the verge of dying.
Bip.
I keep hearing the machines and all it reminds me of is Christmas night's attack on Maya and Sammy. It reminds me of New Year’s Eve and Dominik rescuing me. And yet I couldn’t rescue him. I was too stuck with the fear of seeing Spencer, I failed him.
Bip.
With every breath he takes I feel like my life is the one at stake. My chest is heavy, I feel like I might faint at any moment. But right now I need to think about Dominik, not me.
I look at Dominik, his eyes closed, his face serene, his sharp features soothed in his sleep. I keep seeing his eyes in my mind and I can’t look away from him until I really see them open again.
“Vee, eat,” Josh says pushing a packet of cookies into my left hand. “Please,” he insists when I don’t move. Afraid that if I look away I’ll lose him. But if I keep going this way I might lose myself too. If I haven’t already.
“Thanks,” I say and open the small package. I hold Dominik’s hand with my right hand while eating with the other one.
“Hey,” I hear a soft raspy voice I’d recognise anywhere say.
“Dom, thank god!” I whisper get up and hug him. “Josh, call Damian, please,” I scream at Josh who’s standing by the door. Ever since Spencer’s attack on my life, either he or Rian stood 24/7 by my side. “How are you feeling?”
“Like an idiot. But a lucky one,” Dominik says and I arch my brow. “Did Spencer survive?” Dominik asks I feel guilty but he can’t know about Spencer. I promised myself no one else would be brought to this side of me.
“Yes,” I reply after a few seconds and clear my voice, “What do you think you’re doing?” I ask when he tries to get up and groans in pain. I hold my palm to his chest and keep him still in the bed.
“I’m leaving I have things to deal with,” Dominik says and both Damian and Josh come inside. I’m still pressing hard against his chest and he only stops struggling when Damian gets to him and threatens to put him in restraints if he doesn’t quiet down.
“I want you to remain still and follow the nurse’s instructions. Your phone is right there. Control things from here. Until you leave my hospital, you’ll do as I say. And believe me, I won’t clear you until I’m positive you won’t injure yourself out there!” Damian says and excuses himself out of the room.
It’s strange how Damian and I look so much more alike than Josh and I, and we’re not even related. His ice blueeyes are only slightly darker than mine. His skin tone is the same as mine. Features are similar to mine. The only thing that really differs between us is the hair. I have light rose blonde hair and his hair is the darkest shade of black.
“Love?” Josh calls and gestures with his head for me to accompany him.
“Will you be ok?” I ask Dominik, his green eyes glare at me and shine before he nods and grabs his phone.
“We need to talk,” Josh whispers so that Dominik won’t hear us across the room.
“I thought we were already talking,” I whisper back, louder and Josh’s nostrils widen in brief rage he represses. “What’s up?”
“I don’t want you with Dominik,” Josh says and I know he’s going to be the huge drama king he’s always been.
“I don’t want to look at your face right now, but here we are, right?” I say and try to move back to Dominik’s side but Josh grabs my wrist. I stay still next to him. Waiting for the burst.
“I mean it, he’s not to be trusted, he’s not who you think he is-”
“I know exactly who he is. I know he befriended us because of Spencer,” I say and Josh fights a surprised expression. He’s almost a pro at it. Almost, not quite like Dominik.
“And you like the prick anyway? What kind of jibber jabber is this? It’s either-,” Josh starts but I cut him off.
“Don’t make me choose,” I warn Josh, he won’t like the answer. I refuse to choose and he can pout all he wants,yet that isn’t going to change.
“You already did, apparently. I’ll be back in five,” Josh says when his phone’s screen lights up. I know he didn’t want to leave the conversation, but something or someone was important enough for him to let go and lose this fight.
“I’m sorry about my brother,” Dominik says and I realise I stood still by the door looking outside for a couple of seconds, or minutes, I’m unsure, Dominik’s voice brought me back.
“It’s fine. Sorry for my brother as well-”
