Because Iwon’tlose both of them.
Twenty-Six
Hayden
Beingin this waiting room makes me even more thankful that Cain has a twenty four hour doctor on call. These places are enough to make anyone feel like shit. The smell is horrible, and I swear it’s giving me a headache. It's the smell or the fact that I’m here, the last place anyone would think I want to be. But Cain’s fucking words kept hitting me hard.She’s alone.She’s fucking alone, because of the decision she made. But his words stuck, I know he knows the truth about what happened, and maybe this was his way for me to finally ask her again. Yet even I know this isn't the place, not after the news she got.
She’s in there with her dad, and it’s the perfect chance for me to leave, I’ve done my part. I was here while she had to wait, there's no reason for me to be here. But here I am, like a fucking lost puppy waiting for her.
Her doctor walks by, and I catch his coat before he can move past.
“She’s not hearing the whole truth, how bad is it?” My voice is low, but hard enough to cut glass. I know the doctor was hiding something, and I want to know what it was.
The doctor looks at me, reads the tension in my stance, the heat behind my eyes, then looks around to make sure Olivia isn’t coming back. “Like I said to her,” he replies cautiously, “I can’t answer that.”
“Be real with me, doc.” I snap at him.
He exhales slowly, something heavy behind it. “If she has any other family, I’d suggest calling them?—”
“For who? Mom or Dad?” I ask, because he gave bad news for them both, and losing one parent is bad enough but fucking two, that’s enough to make anyone lose it.
“Right now, both.” The word is quiet from his mouth, and I shake my head, not sure what to say to him.
He starts to walk away, but I stop him again, stepping into his path. “Last question. The person who hit them, how are they?”
His face stiffens, and I can see the anger in his eyes. “Hit and run. Police haven’t found them yet. No plate, no name. Nothing.”
“Fucking coward,” I mutter, jaw tightening. My fists clench so hard I can feel the bones strain under my skin.
It’s my number one job to find out the name, remember the face, and make them suffer.
When Olivia finally comes back out, she’s talking to the doctor. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the way she’s shifting, arms wrapped around herself like she’s trying to stay whole, it’s not good. She’s about to break but somehow is holding herself together with the little strength she has left inside her.
She just stands there after he walks away. Frozen.
The girl I was ready to give the world to, is breaking like a daisy stuck in a thunderstorm.
I walk over to her slowly. “Come on,” I say. “You can’t do anything here. You look exhausted.”
“I can’t leave them.” She fights back, and it brings a smile to my lips because she thinks she has a choice.
“I gave them my number. They have yours. If anything happens, I’ll bring you straight back. Let’s go.” She doesn’t move. I clench my jaw. “Olivia, you’re not staying here, so get moving. Now!”
She doesn’t even look at me, but back to the corridor she came from.
“Get in the fucking car,” I snap, sharper now. “Or I will drag you out of here myself.” Well, that worked because she finally starts walking, shoulders curled in, like the fight in her is barely holding on.
I don’t tell her where we’re going, because I know she won’t like it. The drive’s quiet, but my head’s not. I’m battling with myself again, which is all I seem to be doing at the moment. Wondering why the hell I care. Why don't I just let her drown in it? She sure as hell didn’t care when I was locked up. But the image of her crumbling in that waiting room, I couldn’t walk away from that.
I don’t think anyone could, no matter the history you have with them.
When I pull into the drive, she stiffens. “No,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t want to be here. No one wants me here.” She’s not wrong, but I can’t leave her alone, and I need to talk to my family and Cain.
“You can sit in the car or come inside,” I say flatly. “But I’m not taking you anywhere else.” Getting out of the car, I walk into the house, she can’t go anywhere because her car is still at the hospital, so she’s here whether she likes it or not.
Everyone’s there, which is good. I don't have to wait for anyone.
“How are they?” my dad asks, as everyone joins me in the kitchen sitting area.
