Page 55 of Toxic Kiss

Sitting down, I fill in the form with ease. I don’t have to look anything up or leave little blank lines. I glance around and hate everything about this place.

Twice, I’ve been to a hospital, and both times a person I love died there. My mom and then Patrick, who each took a piece of my heart with them.

My hand is shaking as tears trickle down my cheeks and wet droplets drip onto the paper. I hesitate, my pen hovering over the section labeled “relation.”

Shit.

It’s one thing to lie to the paramedic in the ambulance, but putting it down on the form means it goes into the medical system.

“What the hell am I doing?” I mumble as I write wife. Wiping away the tears, I stand and walk to the nurse’s station and hand over the paperwork.

“Mrs. Vale, do you have I.D. or your insurance card?”

Fuck.

“He collapsed on stage, and I didn’t have time to grab anything, but please get started. His manager will be here soon, and he has all of the insurance information,” I say, hoping that I’ve convinced them.

She nods. “Someone will come out and talk to you after the doctors assess your husband.”

“Thank you,” I say, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans.

The guys arrive in a wave. Vex is the first to race through the doors and run toward me, furious as a pissed-off honey badger. I immediately bristle. His eyes are hooded, lips a hard line. Ledger is next, then Ash and Eren follow. They surround me, and I roll my shoulders.

“What did they say,” Eren asks.

I shrug. “Nothing yet.”

“Fuck,” Vex growls and storms off.

“Come with us, we shouldn’t talk openly,” Ash says, guiding me over to a private waiting area. We step inside and sit down.

Eren leans forward with his head in his hands. Ledger’s phone rings before anyone can say anything.

“It’s Declan,” Ledger says, but he hits decline instead of answering.

Declan stayed back to answer questions and do damage control. Why does that always come first? Can’t we make sure Cy will be okay before anything else?

“Are you sure those pills aren’t ecstasy or molly?” Vex asks. He sounds annoyed as he steps into the room to join us.

I glare at him.

“No, they aren’t,” I bite out.

“How do you know? He’s been avoiding us all day. He could’ve taken anything, and none of us would know. Plus, he had at least one beer before we went on stage. Maybe he had more than that.”

Vex is right, but I don’t care. Old habits die hard, and protecting Cy seems to be one that I can’t quit. I stand up and get in Vex’s face.

“Don’t throw around accusations until we have the facts.”

“I’m surprised you care at all with the way he’s treated you over the years,” Vex says and crosses his arms. “Are you still obsessed with him?”

Smack!

My hand stings, and heat flushes my cheeks. I just slapped Vex. I instantly feel bad about it, but right now the anger is burning too bright inside of me to care. His hand goes to his cheek as his eyes narrow. Vex looks as shocked as I feel.

“I wasn’t obsessed. And I’m acting like a friend. You know, like how you’re supposed to be acting? But you’re too busy being a dick to see that your friend could still die. Cyrus surviving is what’s actually important.”

Vex schools his features. I really don’t think he expected that reaction from me. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure where it came from myself.