Page 25 of Drive Me Crazy

"He is an asshole, but you should really get a name first." Mack curls her lip at the blonde, whose mouth is on the floor.

She stomps over, jerking her purse off the nightstand. "You can both go to hell." She hurries out the door, slamming it on her way out.

"Well, I suppose we'll just keep this train wreck going." Mack tries to stand but squirms instead. She pins me with a pointed glare when I laugh. "Help me!"

I hold my hands up, walking over to her. "Sorry, it's funny."

"I'll show you funny." She grips my hands, standing up with my help. "How about I kick you in the nuts?"

I wince with her threat. "Uh, no. That's not funny."

"Boone drove, Rumor's in the car because I didn't want to tell you this over the phone and what do I get it for it?" She turns, headed for the door.

"Wait! Tell me what?" I jog over, catching up with her at the door.

"Do you care? Or do you plan on wasting your life away?" She stops, grimacing. "Landon's looking for you."

I hold my hands out. "I spoke to him yesterday as I was leaving my parent's house."

"This happened today." She bites her lip, hesitating. "You need to shower and brush your teeth. Definitely get some coffee."

"What's going on, Mack?"

"Harper's back." She shuffles her feet. "She's in the hospital at South Strand. They're keeping her overnight for observations, she has a guard. She's in awful shape."

"I can't breathe." My chest tightens, constricting all air flowing in or out of my lungs. The room spins out of control and my knees go weak. I bend over, gasping for air.

"Ridge, I need you to sit down." Mack hooks my arm, trying to help me over to a chair.

I point to the floor. "Here." She releases me, and I drop, sticking my head between my knees, breathing as slowly as I can.

"I'm sorry." She sits beside me in a chair. "He said she was in trouble from the day she met him but would never leave. They're afraid he'll find her; there's little doubt he'll try kill her if he finds her."

The room spins and with every turn, my ears fill with her screams. My body vibrates with a thunderous sound, coming from deep within me. A roar. No, a wail.

My fist meets the floor beside me, pounding with every beat of my heart. The echo of my cries bounces from wall to wall. My gut rolls and pitches as the words from that day rattle around in my head.

"Everything we've been through I thought would save her." I fist my hair. "Leaving her was the only way to keep her safe and I've even failed her at that."

"Wait a second," Mack tugs on my arm. "what in the hell are you talking about?"

I shake my head, refusing to admit my greatest mistake. "I can't. All of this time and it was all for nothing. Her loving me and me loving her, and him doing whatever it took to make sure I would never have her."

"For the love of that's holy, tell me what you're talking about. Now, Ridge!" Mack yells at me, holding her belly as she does. I have to calm down, for all of us.

I struggle to breathe; my chest is so tight. "I'm okay." I grip her hand. "I gotta have a minute."

"I'm here, I'll always be here." She grips my hands, telling me as she has all of our lives how much she loves me. My best friend and she does not understand what I'm hiding.

I raise my head, staring her in the face. "I have to see her. I need to tell her everything."

"I feel as though I've heard this before?" She taps her chin. "Oh, yeah! I've been telling you to talk to her."

A sound at the door draws our attention. "Hey, guys. Baby Girl needs the bathroom."

"Momma too." Mack reaches for Boone as he sets Rumor down.

"Be careful, you're still half asleep." Boone takes Mack's hand, pulling her up. "Hey there, gorgeous."