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Chapter 8
Alec
The weekend came and went too quickly, even if we spent all of it in Bailey’s bed. When her parents got home, we were watching a movie in the living room. It was one of Brooke’s favorites, so they sat down and watched it with us. Probably one of the best weekends of my life, and I want so many, many, more. Now it’s over, and we’re back at school.
“You ready to go home, baby?” I ask Bailey, walking hand in hand with her to the parking lot. My brothers are piling on their bikes but stop to greet us.
“Are you guys heading to the clubhouse?” I ask them.
“Nah, we got to head home,” Joey says, referring to himself and Landon.
“Yeah, and I need to check on my mom,” Dean says, and we all share a look. Dean’s mom is a piece of shit, but he still tries his best to care for her.
“Well, if y’all need anything, we’ll be at Bailey’s house,” I tell them.
“Did you get the bike running yet?” Griffin asks me. They think the relationship I have with Bailey’s parents is incredible.
“Almost. Hopefully, today’s the day it starts,” I say, both hoping it does and wishing it wouldn’t. I’m having fun hanging with Bailey’s dad.
“Good luck,” Brody says, giving us a smile as they all start up their bikes and drive out of the school parking lot.
I help Bailey onto the back of my bike, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose before climbing on and taking off toward her house. We only get two miles away from the school when my entire world falls out from underneath my feet. I feel someone slam into the back of my bike. No matter how hard I try to control it, the bike goes down, and the minute it hits the pavement, the lights go out.
* * *
Icome to in the back of the ambulance on the ride to the hospital. I freak out, wanting to see Bailey, but she was taken in before me. All the EMTs will tell me is her injuries were worse than mine. I refuse to go back and see the doctors, not wanting to miss anything I could possibly find out about Bailey. I’m given disapproving looks, but fuck them all. I need to know she’s okay. At most, I have a concussion and a few scrapes and bruises. I just have to pray Bailey’s aren’t too much worse.
My brothers show up not too long after. They sat with me when they realized I refused help and was too far gone with worry about Bailey. Giving me all their silent support. I could tell it killed them, thinking I was hurt or that Bailey could be hurt. They’ve come to love her, too.
“Where is my baby girl at?” I hear asked outside the waiting room. It’s Brooke, and standing behind her is a distraught-looking Trey.
“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. She should have never been on the back of my bike,” I say, looking down at the floor, not able to take the devastation in their eyes.
“Oh baby, are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Brooke asks, pulling me into her arms. When I wince, Trey yells across the ER.
“Has no one helped him yet? Are you fucking kidding me?” he asks.
“Sir, are you related to him?” one nurse asks snottily.
“Yes, he’s my son. Now, has he been seen yet?” Trey seethes at her. I decide to intervene so no one else gets in trouble for me. I’m still reeling from him calling me his son. My own mother didn’t care when I called her to say I’d been in a wreck. She told me I was old enough now to take care of myself.
“I didn’t want to be seen. I needed to wait out here for news about Bailey,” I tell them both.
“Oh, no way in hell, Alec, something could be seriously wrong,” Brooke says, shaking her head then turning to the nurses’ station. “I want word on my daughter immediately, and my son needs immediate attention. He was in a motorcycle accident, for Christ’s sake!” Brooke yells.
“Mom, I’m fine. I promise. Please, I need to be here when they come with news on Bailey. I promise I’ll leave after that. This was all my fault,” I say, needing to keep her safe even if it’s from me.
“You’re not going anywhere. The police found the footage. One of your classmates, Billy something or other, he purposely ran into your bike. They already have him in custody, and he won’t be going anywhere for a very long time. It was not your fault, Alec,” Trey says, pulling me into a quick hug. He lets me go when we hear someone approaching.
“I love her so much. Just the thought of her hurt because of me…” I start, but I can’t get the words out. Thinking them is bad enough, but seeing her hurt…
“We know you love her, son. You look at her like Trey looks at me. We only ever dreamed she would find someone to love her half as much as you do. She’s strong; she has to be,” Brooke tells me, giving me another hug.
“I’m guessing you’re the family of Bailey Harris?” the Doctor asks.
“Yes, please tell us she’s okay,” Brooke says, tears rolling down her face.
“She’s going to be fine. She has a severe concussion we need to monitor overnight, and she broke her right arm when she went down. Other than that and some scrapes and bruising, she is just fine. You can come back and see her now. Only family,” the Doctor says, looking pointedly at me. I go to take a step back and let her mom and dad go in first, but they both grab hold of me.
“He is family. We will all be going in to see her,” Trey says, and with that, this family takes me in and makes me feel like, for the first time, I have parents who care. Parents who want to look out for me, want what is best for me, and just want me.
