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Chapter 24
Things were, in no way, looking up, I realized several nightslater.
"Harlow! Harlow, wake up!" My eyes shot open as the door to my room swung inward. I sat up abruptly—so quickly, that a wave of dizziness assaultedme.
"Wha...What's going on?" I finally managed to get out as Marv jerked the covers off my legs and grabbed my arm, pulling me up from thebed.
"We've gotta go," he said. "Grayson's in thehospital."
"What?!" I shrieked, jerking myself away from him. "What do you mean he's in the hospital? Whathappened?"
"There was a car wreck, we've got to go. Get dressed," heordered.
I didn't even see what I was throwing on. I didn't have time or the extra emotion to expend on feeling embarrassed as I ripped off my pajamas in front of Marv and grabbed a pair of pants. He yanked a shirt over my head, and I shoved my arms into the right holes before we both sprinted from the room, heading for the front door. Bellamy and Texas were already waiting, concern on their faces. Someone had grabbed me a pair of flip-flops. I shivered as we left the house, a wave of cold air blasting us in the face as we headed for the SUV that Knix pulled around in. I got in the back between Marv and Texas as Bellamy hopped in thefront.
It was the longest twenty minute drive of my life. My heart pounded against my chest like a jackhammer. I could hear it in my ears—feel it in my skull. Marv and Texas both reached over and took my hands as a tear slipped and slid down mycheek.
"It's gonna be okay, Spider-Monkey," Texas whispered. "He's going to befine."
"Do we know anything?" I asked. The dash in the front seat read 12:13 am. I turned and looked at Marv. "What was he doing out solate?"
"He was with his mother," Marvsaid.
"Did the hospital callus?"
He nodded. "When he moved in with us, he switched all of his emergency contacts over to me andyou."
"I didn't get a phone call," I said, letting go of his hand to reach for my cell only to realize that I'd left it at the house. I'd been in such a rush to get to the hospital, I hadn't brought anything but the clothes I was wearing. Another tear slippedout.
"They called me first," Marv said soothingly as his hand went to my back and he rubbed gently. I doubled over, clutching Texas' hand as Icried.
"He has to be okay," I said. "He has tobe."
"We're here," Knix announced sharply as he yanked the wheel and we spun into the Emergency Room entrance area. "I'll park. Go inside and findhim."
I was out of the vehicle as soon as Texas had the door open—climbing over him in my haste. It took Bellamy and the others a moment to catch up as I slammed into the Emergency Room and rushed straight for the nurses'station.
"Grayson Caruso," I snapped at the woman stationed there. "Where ishe?"
"Name?" shedemanded.
"Harlow Hampton. I'm his fucking girlfriend and his emergency contact," I growled at her. "Where. Is.He?"
The woman typed in my name and then pointed. "Room 112," shesaid.
I didn't bother to tell her thanks or anything else. I darted down the short hallway she'd pointed to. As soon as I found 112—which wasn't even an actual hospital room but a triage area with several makeshift semi-private rooms—I jerked the greenish curtain back and nearly sobbed in relief as Grayson's somewhat murky blue eyes blinked back atme.
I hurled myself at him where he lay on the hospital bed, half propped up. "You're okay," Isobbed.
One of Grayson's wide palms reached up and touched my back. He sounded rough when he spoke. "Hey, Babydoll. Youcame."
"Of course I came!" I squeezed him tighter. "You scared the shit out of me!" More tears escaped. I was leaking snot all over the shoulder of his hospitalgown.
"I'm okay. I'm alive," he reassured me as he patted myback.
"Harlow, Sweetheart, I think you're squeezing him a bit too roughly," Bellamy said as he reached out and urged meback.
"I'm hurting you?" I backed up immediately and looked him over. His face was bruised, one large lump forming on his forehead. His other arm was in a sling and he had several cuts down the side of his face. I touched his jaw gently as I bit my lip. "Whathappened?"
