Austin
The room was too bright. The noise was too loud. My body was too numb.
Images flashed through my mind as my brain woke up.
“Nina?” I asked before my eyes opened.
Eye. My left one wouldn’t open.
“A little beat up and worried about you, but otherwise fine.”
“Bryce?” My hoarse voice sounded weak.
“The one and only.”
I stared at him through my open eye.
My tongue felt like a bag of sand, but I managed to ask, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m your emergency contact and, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re in the fucking hospital.”
I’d noticed.
“Austin, how the hell did you get caught up in something that got your kneecap shot out? And who the hell is Nina?”
Ignoring his questions for now, I changed the subject. “What time is it? How long have I been out?”
“Here.” Bryce put a straw between my lips and ordered. “Drink.”
The room temperature water rehydrated my tongue and irritated my throat. Rogers’ voice snuck into my head,suck on it like you’re giving head. My choked out laugh caused a coughing fit and reminded me of the abuse my body had suffered.
Bryce withdrew the straw, worry written all over his face as he pulled back. “It’s early Monday morning. You’ve been out for sixteen hours.”
Sixteen hours? “Is Nina still in the hospital?”
“Yes, but John said they’ll discharge her this afternoon.”
Bryce stuck the straw in my mouth again. I could probably do it myself, but I let him have his moment. “Slow down before you choke yourself again,” he ordered.
When he yanked the straw away, water dribbled down my chin.
“Christ, you’re a mess.”
I laughed. “When can I see her?” I asked again, singularly focused.
“From what I hear, her first stop after getting discharged is your room.” Bryce sat on the edge of my bed. “You gonna tell me who she is? Or will you make me guess?”
He obviously suspected, and when I didn’t answer right away, he said, “You’re in love with her.”
It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “No.”
“Liar.”
“It can’t work.”
“Why?”
I almost got her killed. “Twelve years is a big gap.”
