AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The pain of missing him is intense and constant, but the pain of not knowing if he’s going to be okay is unmatched. It brought me to my knees, and as I hung up the phone, there was nothing I could do but be completely rocked by the panic attack that had one goal—to destroy me. Before I was fully able to breathe again, I was in my car.
Some of my clothes are shoved into a suitcase. I don’t even know if any of it matches, and I didn’t have time to zip it shut before I ran out of the house. Hell, I haven’t even told Nolan where I’m going. I figure I’ll text her when I get there, but right now, my only focus is getting to the hospital.
I shouldn’t go.
I know that.
I was given strict instructions to stay away or I risk Hayes’s future, which is why I haven’t tried to return since I left. But right now, I don’t know if he has a future at all now, and I can’t keep myself from rushing to his side—though I’m not sure he’ll even want me there.
But I need to be there.
I need him to be okay.
For the love of God, please be okay.
THE ANXIETY THAT GETStriggered by theWelcome to Calder Baysign pales in comparison to the nausea that creeps up on me as I turn into the hospital parking lot. Before I can stop myself, I throw my car in park and get out, rushing for the door of the emergency room. It’s been a few hours, but I haven’t received any updates yet, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
The moment I walk through the doors, all of the air is sucked from my lungs, and I stop in my tracks. Mali and Cam are standing in the corner of the waiting room, looking stressed, and Mali is definitely pissed.
“I fucking told you; you can’t push him when he’s like this. He’s reckless and unstable. You know him better than I do. You should know there’s more shit going on than either of us know about!”
“I know,” he says, pulling at his hair. “Fuck, just let him be okay, and we’ll deal with whatever comes after it.”
She softens at the sound of his words. “He will be. This is Hayes we’re talking about. He’s going to come out of this like the Incredible Hulk, with an ego to match.”
A doctor’s voice catches all of our attention as he asks for the family of Hayes Wilder. I wince at the pain that shoots through me. The idea of him being in this place is too much to handle, and if he’s not okay—
“Are either of you family?” the doctor asks Cam and Mali as they walk up to him. They shake their heads. “I’m sorry. Unfortunately, I need to speak to a family member.”
Cam sighs. “His sister is away at college and his mom is in a nursing home. She can’t—she’s unavailable.”
Mali’s brows furrow at the same time mine do, showing that little bit of information is new to her, too.Why is his mom in a nursing home?
“Is there a way you can get his sister on the phone?” the doctor presses. “It’s imperative that I speak with someone legally related to him.”
Fuck. “I’m his wife,” I pipe up.
Both Cam and Mali’s heads whip toward me, and Mali’s eyes water while Cam looks like he’s seeing a ghost. I guess, in a way, he is. But right now, I can’t deal with all of that. It can wait.
I need to know if Hayes is okay.
“Laiken Wilder,” I say to the doctor, using my actual last name for the first time in a year and a half. “How is he?”
“Your husband is very lucky, considering the accident he was in,” he tells me, and all three of us exhale. “Now, that doesn’t mean he’s injury free. He’s suffering from a couple bruised ribs, and a very large abrasion on his torso, but his helmet is what saved his life. Being as he was unconscious for a worrisome amount of time, we want to keep him overnight for observation, but we’ll run another CT scan in the morning to make sure there’s no brain damage or severe concussion.”
Holy shit. I didn’t know it was possible to feel this relieved. Tears fill my eyes as I realize he’s going to be all right, and Mali seems to feel the same because I can hear her sniffling behind me.
“That’s great news,” I tell the doctor. “Thank you.”
He nods once. “Would you like me to take you to him?”
I hesitate. Honestly, the best thing to do right now would be to leave. To get the fuck out of town before anyone ever knows I was here. But after the scare I just had, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep until I see him. Until I can see with my own eyes that he’s okay.
“Yes, please,” I reply.
He starts to lead the way and I glance back, giving Mali and Cam a small smile before I follow the doctor. But just as we get to the restricted access doors, Cam calls my name.
I spin around just in time for him to crash into me, wrapping his arms around me tightly. The emotions of being able to hug my brother again, especially at a time when Ineededa hug, are overwhelming. I let myself have this, hugging him just as tightly as he’s hugging me.
