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The doctor shook his head. “We don’t allow people in the scan—”
Max glowered. “Then I’ll wait in the hall.”
Guilt slammed into me, the weight of it knocking me back into the pillow. Being in a car accident was the worst thing I could do. The most painful for him and Win. For me too. A car accident took our parents, and now here I was making them relive the worst time of our lives.
Something else broke into my sluggish brain as the nurse pulled up the bedrail Max had lowered. I bolted up, jacket sliding off my shoulders as a wave of dizziness made my head swim.
Recoiling, I lifted a hand to my forehead, dragging in a steadying breath.
Warmth slid behind me, taking my weight and lifting so I was sitting up but totally supported against something much more comfortable than this bed.
As I rolled my head to the side, my cheek bumped into the bare skin of Max’s shoulder. Instead of recoiling, I made a small sound and pushed closer. The relief lasted only one second. Then my face shot up.
“Was anyone else hurt?” I worried, already agonizing over the possibility of ripping apart someone’s family. “I need to go see,” I said, throwing back the covers to leave the bed.
“Don’t even think about it,” Max deadpanned, his hand covering my shoulder to push me firmly back down.
“Max,” I protested. “I have to go see. I might have killed someone. I might—”
Max caught my chin, silencing the breakdown with firm fingers and intense, dazzling eyes. I’d never seen a black diamond in person, but now I knew exactly what it would look like. “I don’t give a shit about anyone else but you.”
I sucked in a breath. The words were cold, but they made me feel like I was consumed with sweltering flames no man could put out.
“From what I was told, the accident was not your fault,” the doctor said, making me deflate.
“I can’t remember,” I told him. I was glad it wasn’t my fault, but still… “Was anyone else hurt?”
“There were two others brought in.”
I shot up again, but Max held me down, and I struggled lamely against him. “Max, let go,” I growled, irritated by how weak I felt. “I need to go see them. They might be seriously hurt.”
“I’m afraid it’s not possible,” the doctor said. “I cannot give you their identity. However, since you were also involved in the accident and are obviously quite upset, I can tell you that they are in stable condition.”
Relief made me weak, and I sagged back.Thank God.I would never want to rip apart anyone’s family as mine had been.
“If they did this to Wes, they won’t be much longer,” Max vowed darkly.
My mouth dropped open.
The doctor bristled.
“Whoa.” Jamie stepped into the conversation. “He’s kidding. He has a horrible sense of humor. Jokes are my thing, not his.”
Max opened his mouth, and I grappled for his hand. His attention dropped to where I clung to him, his eyes slowly lifting to mine.
“Please don’t get kicked out of here.” I spoke so low only he could hear.
Again, that little nagging voice whispered maybe that would be best.
I really wasn’t in the mood right now. My head hurt, my body hurt, and he was the one who made me feel better.
Almost as if he knew, his hand curled around the back of my head, gently guiding me in so his lips could brush over my hairline. “It’s okay, Nemo. I won’t leave your side.”
The air in my lungs trembled, making my chest quake.He hasn’t called me that in years, but he said it twice tonight. I’ve missed it.
“We need to get down to the scan,” the doctor said. “And by the time that’s done, I should have your bloodwork results back.”
Max stood from the bed but didn’t go far. I stared at the way his wide hand wrapped around the bedrail while the other reached for the frame above my head. “I’ll do this. Just get the door,” he told the nurse, his voice thankfully calm.
