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Vince tosses Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups at Nick. “I know these are your favorite.”
“Thank you,” we say at the same time.
They sit back down, and as we all eat our snacks, further waiting ensues.
I hate waiting. I’m not patient. I want instant gratification and immediate results.
Right now, I just want Braden to be okay.
Meredith and Hank return and everyone looks at them.
“No change,” Meredith says. “They did get the results of his brain scans, and so far, they look good, so that’s a blessing. They’ll do another in about twenty-four hours and go from there.” She turns to Maia. “If you’d like to go back in, you can.”
She nods and stands up, looking between Vince and Nick. “Do either of you want to go in with me?”
“If you want me to, I will. But I—” Vince clears his throat. “I’d like to go in by myself when you’re done.”
She runs her hand over his cheek and smiles softly. “Of course.” She turns to Nick. “Do you want to come in?”
He shakes his head, his whole body twitching and vibrating with energy. “I can’t. I can’t do it. Can’t see him like this.”
“Nick—”
“I want to see him,” I say, standing up and wrapping an arm around her back.
She looks back at Nick, then nods. “Okay.”
Her arm wraps around my back, and we make our way toward his room. Given her reaction after she came back from seeing him the first time, I’m not expecting this to be pleasant, but this isn’t about me. It’s about being here for my best friend. And it’s about doing what Nick can’t. I have no idea if Braden will actually be able to hear anything I say, but if he can, I need him to know Nick is here. He’s just not ready to face it all yet.
“Thank you for being here, for doing this,” Maia says softly. Her voice shakes, and I squeeze my fingers tighter into her side.
“There’s nowhere else I’d be. Are you sure you can handle this?”
She shakes her head. “Honestly? No. I almost collapsed when I walked in the first time. I’m going to be a mess all over again.”
“Well, I’ll hold your hand through it. We’re in this together.”
She nods, and we walk into the room. She pauses at the curtain and takes a steadying breath before stepping around it. When she does, I see why. I let out a loud gasp and tears fill my eyes.
It’s good Nick didn’t come in.
She sits down next to the bed and takes his hand in hers. “Hey, Brade. It’s Maia again. I don’t know why I’m saying that. If you can hear me, I think you know my voice by now. I don’t really know how to do this or if this even matters at all, but I guess I just want you to know, we’re all here. Vince is in the waiting room with Nick and Leigh is standing right next to me.”
“Yeah, asshole. I’m right here. And I’m really mad at you. So, I need you to wake up so I can yell at you and tell you what a jerk you’ve been. And so I can give you a hug. Because I never told you this, but you give great hugs, and I haven’t gotten one in a while.” I sniff back some tears and clear my throat. Seeing him like this rips me apart. Someone so vivacious reduced to this? It doesn’t seem fair. But then, he hasn’t exactly been the vibrant person I remember for the last year. I walk around the bed and sit down across from Maia and carefully take Braden’s other hand. “I’m also here for Nick. Because he’s hurting, Braden. He’s broken at the thought that he might really lose you. You’re his best friend and he needs you now more than ever. So, please, keep fighting. Please wake up. Please get your shit together.”
I let out a little sigh as Maia gives me a weak smile. And though her smile may be weak, her eyes are strong. Whatever broke her when she came into his room the first time, she’s not allowing it in now. Instead, she’s rooting into her strength and showing up for Braden, for Harper, and for everyone in that waiting room.
Maia has always been fierce as hell, even when she doesn’t realize it.
