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My mouth drops open. “You asshole!” I hiss.
“I know I am.” His tone is sober now, although a little thick, almost like the drugs are taking effect. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve it.”
My eyes shift toward the EMT who is in the back with us, and I silently thank him for pretending not to listen and for focusing on Nico’s chart.
“We don’t need to talk about this now.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Just worry about yourself.”
“But it’s important, Shaye.” His hand creeps over to mine and squeezes. “I was messed up that night. Really messed up. I never meant to hurt you.”
“Look, it’s fine. I’m a big girl, Nico.” I peel his hand off mine, feeling piercing stabs to my heart at the loss of his touch.
“I need you to forgive me,” he mumbles, his eyes drooping closed. “I want you to know…mthat ah loobe woo.”
My ears perk up, and my eyebrows shoot upward. What the fuck did he just say? Did he…no, it’s impossible. It has to be the drugs. Maybe his tongue is numb. I want to reach out and shake him, but he’s drifting off. The EMT flicks his gaze at me and then back at his clipboard. I must look like some sorry twit right now, but I have to hear him say those words again.
“Nico?” I whisper-talk.
“Sss?” His eyes are closed now, but he’s still responsive. Kind of. My heart thumps, drowning out any ability to hear intelligible words, much less those tinged with drugs.
“What did you just say? I didn’t catch it.”
“Mmahlubwho.”
The EMT looks up again. “If he says it one more time, does Beetlejuice show up?”
Heat singes my cheeks and creeps down my neck. I manage a tiny smile, forgetting about the fact that whatever he said was courtesy of a shitload of drugs. “I hope so. I’ve always loved that movie.”
NICO
I open my eyes a crack,shifting on what feels like a bed of some sort. It’s definitely not my Sleep Number, that’s for shit sure. I twist my head to the right and let out a loud yelp. Pain assaults my neck and shoulders, a harsh, burning sensation that feels like I’ve been stabbed repeatedly with a bunch of hot pokers. Not fucking pleasant.
I squint, my eyes adjusting to the light of what appears to be a hospital room. Everything rushes back — the dinner, the crash, that SUV, Shaye…
The curtain next to my bed opens and a nurse steps inside my little sectioned-off space in the emergency room. “Nico, you’re finally awake. We were afraid the EMTs doped you up a little too much.” She was on the shorter side and very perky — almost a little too perky. But she had a kind smile, so I grinned back. “I’m thinking it wasn’t enough since turning my head almost made me cry like a bitch.” I cough-groan. “Um, shoot, sorry. I meant like a baby.”
The nurse…I squint my eyes to read her nametag…Stacy…laughed. “I know, that’s why I rushed in here, sweetie. We have your neck protected, but Doctor Rabi wants to send you in for an X-ray. He’s concerned your spine might be out of alignment from the impact.”
“Good thing I got hit in the back.”
Her expression sobers. “If it had been an inch closer to the driver’s side, you’d very likely have been paralyzed from the waist down.”
“Shiiiiit,” I grumble. I wiggle my toes, almost instinctively. Thank God I can feel them beneath the blanket. “You know, it was a hit and run. Bastard got away.”
“I believe in karma,” she replied with a wink. “Everybody gets what they’re due.”
“Yeah…” After what I’d done to Shaye, I’m surprised I’m still breathing on my own.
“And your sweet girlfriend has been pretty anxious, waiting for you to wake up.” Stacy grins as she takes my blood pressure. “Really pretty, too. I hope you’re good to her.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just…friends. I think.”
Stacy raises an eyebrow. “Is that so? Well, it’s certainly nice to have a friend who hasn’t left your side for all of this time.” She peels off the armband and places it back on the machine. “You’re a very lucky young man, in more ways than one. Now, can I get you anything?”
I slowly lay my head back onto the pillow. “Drugs. More drugs, please.”
Stacy laughs. “All in due time. The doctor is going to examine you first, to see if we need to move you to a private room and keep you overnight. But you’re doing well, so you may be able to leave earlier than later.”
“Okay.” I sigh. “Hey, um, Stacy?”
