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Braden
Through the endless haze, I see Maia and Harper. I try to get to them, but like always, they slip away. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what’s going on. I try to reach them, but nothing.
“Braden?” It comes from a distance. “Braden?” That’s Maia’s voice. “Braden? Please, Brade. I’m right here.” There’s pressure on my hand. “Open your eyes, Braden. Please, open them. Open your eyes.”
Open my eyes?All I feel is heaviness. I focus all my energy on sliding my eyelids up, just a little bit. I’m greeted with a blur of bright light.
“Braden!”
I pull them all the way open and see Maia’s face hovering above me. Tears are pouring from her eyes as she mutters, “Thank God.”
My eyes focus on her. “Maia?” Is she really here? Where am I? What’s happening?
She runs a hand through my hair as she sobs. “Yes, it’s me.”
My eyes bounce around the room.Hospital. When they land back on her, more memories come through. “I’m sorry.” My voice is so raspy and raw the words barely come out.
She quickly grabs a pitcher and pours some water into a cup, then holds it to my lips. “Go slow,” she whispers.
I manage to get down a few sips. My throat is as raw as my voice sounds.
“Do you know where you are? Remember what happened?” she asks.
I shut my eyes tightly.Fuck.I remember the party and way too many shots. I remember how broken I felt. I remember taking my keys from Miller and getting in my truck. I remember how peaceful it felt as the blackness took over. Then I remember only a few snippets. Red flashing lights and a lot of pain, mostly. And then this haze I’ve been wandering through ever since.
I open my eyes again, emotions pummeling me. “I’m so sorry,” I say through tears.
She squeezes my hand tightly and drops her forehead against mine. “There will be time for all of that later. I’m just glad you’re awake. Glad you’re… you. It’s been a rough few days.”
Days? Shit.
I attempt to shift in the bed but am met with only pain. Maia pulls her head from mine, her eyes rolling over me with concern. “Pain? I should go get your parents and the doctor—”
She turns, but with all my strength, I grab her arm. “Wait.” She turns back to me. “Is Harper here?”
Her body softens. “Yeah, she’s in the waiting room.”
“Can I see her first, please? Don’t tell anyone else just—”
She nods and grabs her phone, quickly typing, before setting it aside. She takes my hand again and lets out a heavy exhale. “You know, you’ve put me through a lot of shit, Brade. But this takes the cake.” Her mouth curves up slightly at the edges.
“How long have I been out?”
She glances at the clock on the wall. “Almost seventy-nine hours. Give or take.” Her face turns serious as a haunted look forms in her eyes. “We almost lost you. I thought—” She stops when she chokes up again.
“Maia, I—” I stop short when the door opens.
I hear Vince before I see him. “Hey, everything okay in—” He stops in his tracks and stares at me, relief and pain washing over him as tears fill his eyes. He takes a steadying breath and looks at me. “Thank God. This little girl was missing her daddy.” He starts walking but stops again. “Can you hold her?”
“Give her to me,” Maia says, taking Harper from his arms. I don’t miss the way they squeeze each other’s hands.
God, I’ve been such an idiot about all of this.
Coming to the edge of my bed, Maia carefully sits down next to me and holds Harper against my chest. IVs and all, I lift my hand and gently rest it on her back.
“Dada.” She paws at my face as tears fill my eyes.
“I’m so sorry, baby girl. Daddy loves you. I’m going to be better, stronger. I promise. I love you.”
Maia wipes a couple of tears from her eyes. She glances at Vince and then me. “We’re all going to be okay,” she whispers.
My eyes find hers. I’m not sure if I believe it. But if anyone could make that true, it would be her. She squeezes my hand and I look down at Harper, trying to convince myself there’s a way back from here.
