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He does too, but I don’t tell him that. He must’ve been sitting here a while.
He looks me over with concern written on his face. “How do you feel?”
“Like shit,” I admit. “What happened? What day is it?”
A bandage is wrapped around my head, and I realize I have one wrapped around my leg too. Nausea overtakes me for a second, and I try to reposition my body, but it’s a lost cause. The bed is raised so high—I’m basically sitting up straight—which is uncomfortable as hell. My neck is tight, and the loud pounding in my head continues on the beat, making it harder to focus on anything but the intense pain. I try reaching for the plastic cup of water on a silver tray next to my bed, but it’s out of reach.
“I’ll get it,” Drew says, grabbing it and handing it to me. “It’s Tuesday morning.”
I take it, hating that I need his help. I end up drinking it so fast, I gasp for air afterward, and even that hurts. His words finally register with me. Tuesday? I know I’ve been in and out of it, but four days of my life has evaporated into what seems like hours.
Drew takes a deep breath before he starts explaining the technicality of the accident in cop lingo. I give him a look, letting him know I have no fucking idea what he’s talking about, so he begins again, explaining it more slowly and without as much detail so I can comprehend it all.
“You were rear-ended at a high rate of speed and pushed into oncoming traffic. A few fractured ribs, a concussion, bruises, cuts, and lots of pain meds from what I’ve been told. The airbag went off and caused a lot of damage. But they said you’d live, and that your thick skull will be okay.” He forces out a laugh. “I was worried, though, man. They said you both could’ve died, and you were really lucky. I thought the worst. I’ve seen way too many accidents like this where people aren’t as fortunate.” He inhales a deep breath, his eyes glassing over. “And Mia...”
Shit. I’d almost forgotten she was with me. Bits and pieces of that night start to flash by, but when I try to remember the accident, my mind goes blank. I can’t remember a damn thing after leaving the gas station.
The selfish part of me is grateful Viola wasn’t in the car with me. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to her on my watch.
“How’s Mia?” My heart thumps hard in my chest at the realization I was responsible for another person in the car.
“She’s doing okay. She got lucky—you both did. She could’ve easily been ejected from the car because she wasn’t wearing a seat belt. She smacked her head and has a lot of bruises,” Drew explains.
The pain on his face is evident as he talks about her. Their relationship has been toxic since day one, but for some reason, he loves her unconditionally. I’ve never second-guessed that, but he deserves someone a lot better than her. Even after everything, I know he still cares about her well-being.
“I’m sorry, man,” I begin, relieved she’s not hurt worse. “I wish I could remember what happened, but I can explain why she was with me.” He hadn’t asked why, but even being high as a kite on pain meds, I know I owe him that much. “Mia and I—” I start to explain, but he’s quick to cut me off.
“Travis, stop. I trust you more than anyone. You need to rest and shouldn’t waste your strength explaining anything to me.”
I want to argue, tell him that Idohave to explain the circumstances that brought Mia and I together on Thursday night, but between the meds and the truth of his words ripping through me, I’m left speechless.
“As crazy as it sounds, I miss her so fucking much. She won’t let me be there for her, and even after what she said to me the last night we were together, I want to be there for her more than anything.”
“Because you’re a good man,” I choke out. He truly is, and as much as it would hurt for him to hear, Mia doesn’t deserve him. Drew deserves better.
He shrugs. “Her parents came up right away, so I gave them privacy. I don’t know what Mia told them about us, so I figured it was best to stay away and let her rest.”
“I’m sorry,” I say softly, not having the strength to tell him about Will Tamer.Damn her.I’d like to have forgotten those details, but they are as clear as a California summer sky.
“Your mom was here on Saturday,” he says, changing the subject. I arch my brows, surprised to hear she came. “Stayed for hours, but the nurse said you probably wouldn’t be coherent for a few days, so I told her to go home and get some rest, and I’d call her when you were up for visitors.”
I swallow hard and guilt washes over me. I haven’t called and checked on her recently. Life got in the way is not a good enough excuse. I can’t find my words, and all I want to do is go back to sleep, but my mind won’t stop wandering and thinkingwhat if.
“Viola checked in on you, too,” Drew continues. “Surprised she didn’t set a spell to put you in a permanent coma.” He chuckles, making me smile at the thought of her being here.
Viola.
I feel like shit for the way things were left between us. God, I miss her. I can’t imagine what she’s thinking about me being with Mia, but I know it can’t be good. Drew continues talking, filling the room with words, and I keep trying to listen, but with every passing minute, it becomes harder. Focus slips through my fingers like water.
“Bad news, though,” he says, his words bringing me back to him, “the Challenger is totaled.”
“Fucking hell,” I curse, exhaustion completely covering me like a warm blanket. My eyes are heavy, and I’m fighting to stay awake, but I’m drifting further and further away from Drew’s voice. Soon everything goes black.
I wake up to a dark room and am completely disoriented on what time it is or if it’s even the same day. I have no fucking idea anymore. I glance around and see a tray of food with green Jell-O and two plastic cups of liquid. I don’t have an appetite, but my throat is still dry.
I’m able to reach over and grab one of the cups. As I finish off the apple juice, I realize I have to piss. I don’t know if I have a catheter or not, so I shift to the end of the bed to find my way to the bathroom.
Within seconds, I realize the pain is too much, and I can’t lift myself.Jesus.This fucking sucks. I feel like a pathetic, weak pansy.
