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“Not great. I’ve been sick since I passed out at the game, and it only seems to be getting worse.”
I knew it would, which was why I couldn’t bear to leave her alone. They discuss the last twenty-four hours, and Dr. Carter evaluates Briana. He shines a light in her eyes, tells her to follow his finger, and performs all the usual tests to check cognitive function.
“Your brain needs time to recover from the hit. The good news is this will pass. How long depends on you. It could be anywhere from a few days to weeks or even months. I recommend getting some rest. Make sure you stay off your feet.” He pulls a pad from his bag and scribbles on it. “I’ll write you a note that you can give to your professors. You have to take the week off. No studying or anything that might cause you to think too much, okay?”
She chuckles. “Thinking too hard will cause more damage?”
He nods and hands the note to Briana. “It could. A concussion is more serious than most people think.”
“Okay, I’ll give this to my professors and hope they excuse me, but if they don’t, I can’t afford to miss days of class. And my exam… It’s on Monday.”
“Don’t worry about the exam. Do you have anyone who can take care of you for the next few days?”
She shakes her head. “No, my roommate is in New York until Sunday night, and I don’t have any family.”
My heart aches from her confession.
“Briana can stay with me,” I offer.
She shoots daggers down the table at me, her lip curling up at me in revulsion. “No, I don’t think so, Julian. I’ll be fine on my own. I’ve taken care of myself for a very long time.”
“I would consider Julian’s offer,” Dr. Carter says. “You may need someone to drive you to the hospital if you begin to display serious symptoms.”
Briana pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers and sighs. “Do I have to stay with him?”
“I would feel better if you did,” Dr. Carter says.
“Fine,” she groans. “But only until Sadie gets home.”
Dr. Carter places his medical instruments back into his bag and zips it up. “Take care of yourself, Briana. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. Don’t drink alcohol or do any strenuous activities.” He slides his business card along the wooden table in front of her. “Call me if anything changes.”
I lead Dr. Carter to the front door, and when I open it, he lingers in the entryway. “Make sure Briana follows my instructions. She seems a bit headstrong. People like her usually make the worst patients. You know better than anyone that not following doctor’s orders can lead to complications.”
“Yes, I do. I’ll take good care of her.”
Even though I wish we were together under different circumstances, I have until the end of the weekend to show Briana I have changed. And I can’t mess this up.
Chapter Twelve
Briana
Julian is killing me with kindness, making it hard for me to tell him to go away. After all the years I have spent hating him, I have no idea how to react to him. Why is he being so nice to me? It’s as if the person I once loved has returned. But I know it won’t last long. His actions are fueled by his overwhelming guilt.
He sits on the edge of his bed next to me and slides another pillow behind my head as if four pillows aren’t enough. His mattress is massive, a California king if I had to guess. Or knowing Julian, it’s a custom bed made just for him. He’s taller than most men, and when he would sleep at my dorm sophomore year, his feet would dangle off the end. We always had to stay at his house because it was so uncomfortable for him to sleep in my tiny ass bed.
He pushes a strand of hair away from my face. “How are you feeling?” He flattens his hand to my forehead. “You feel like you still have a fever. I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ll be fine. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“That’s what worries me,” he admits. “You never want anyone to help you.”
“If you knew what it was like to be me for one day, then you would understand why I don’t accept help from anyone. I’ve been through more shit in ten years than most people have in their entire adult lives.”
“I know, and that’s why I want to be here for you.” He runs his fingers along my arm, sending a chill down to my fingertips. “Just let me do this for you, okay?”
“Why is it so important to you?”
“Because I fucked up two years ago, and I want to do right by you.”
