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“Hey …” I started, but I had no idea what to say or what had happened. All I knew was he needed someone at that moment. “It’s okay,” I said, sniffling, pulling his soot-covered, bloody and bruised body into my embrace and stroking his back, “it’s not your fault.”
I wanted him to know that no matter what, I believed in him. That I would never leave his side. For a moment, this kind of feeling felt familiar. Like we’d been there before. Him and me.
I didn’t get a chance to tell him. The heat in Gray’s body flared, and he went limp in my arms just before Cole found us.
* * *
Cole wasquick to call a cab and carry Gray on his back, but we didn’t go to the hospital. We had the cab driver drop us off at the nearest clinic calledMid Valley Veterinary Center.
Barging inside, Cole didn’t even bother to greet the blonde in the white lab coat and pink eyeglasses. She had her name embroidered on her chest pocket—Dr. Geena Loya—and all it took was one intense glance from Cole before she started moving and helping place Gray on a stretcher.
As soon as Cole stepped back, Dr. Loya grabbed an incredibly large syringe from the tall drawer behind her and stabbed Gray with it.
Gray’s unconscious body jerked.
“What was that?” I questioned, my heart practically jumping out of my chest upon witnessing her harsh, aggressive administration.
Dr. Loya brushed me off, moving on with her tasks. She attached five electrodes on Gray’s upper and lower chest then covered his body with a Bair Hugger before turning on the warming unit at its highest setting.
“What are you doing?” I asked again. “Isn’t that too hot? His skin is already boiling like lava. He has to stay cool, or at least avoid direct heat.”
“I know what I’m doing, dear,” she said sternly. “I’m his primary care physician. Mr. Kimbrough brought him here for a reason. Now, please get out of my way so I can give him the treatment that suits his body.” Her arm gestured for me to leave the room.
“Suit his body?” My voice cracked, and a whimper almost followed before I managed to swallow the tears that I had been holding in since Cole arrived. “But …”
“I need you to leave,” Dr Loya said even firmer.
I didn’t move an inch.
“Aera …” Cole moved from his position standing by the curtains and placed a hand on my shoulder ever so gently. “Let’s go.” As if I were a fragile piece of glass, he led me outside, whispering, “It’s time to leave them be.”
It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I knew I had to. I nodded, sparing one last glance at Gray’s sleeping figure before closing the door behind me.
Cole brought me to the waiting room. It was quiet and vacant when I sank next to the magazine stand. Cole joined me, not saying a word. It took me maybe ten minutes or so to start a conversation.
“Is he gonna be okay?” I asked.
“Of course,” he replied.
“Good,” I said as I lowered my head and closed my eyes, pretending to rest.
“Have you figured it out?” It was a rather vague question.
Figured out that they’re a family of werewolves, and that this Dr. Geena Loya knows what the actual fuck she’s doing because her specialty lies within the werewolf field?
I let out a deep breath and shrugged my shoulders, feigning ignorance. “Figured out what?”
“That you’re wavering,” he said.
I opened my eyes and stared at Cole in confusion.
“You can’t sit still. Your heart’s beating way too fast. You’re anxious, and you cried because of Gray. You care about him more than you think,” he continued with a small smile creeping up on his face.
“Well …” I cleared my throat, looking away. There was one thing I was good at: denial. “Of course I do, you idiot. He’s my friend.Ourfriend.”
“You’ve always been like this when it comes to Gray, Aera. That’s why I told myself we weren’t a good fit. That’s why we broke up.” His voice was soft and brittle, as if I had hurt him instead of the other way around. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve always been observing you. You didn’t love me, you just loved the idea of me and of who I could be to you. You liked me for my looks, and because we both enjoy solitude. You picked me because I was your ideal man, but those are all superficial. You never loved me for who I am. Yeah, you bought me toys, a PlayStation even, but I never asked for those. I don’t even like being at the beach, but you probably don’t remember that. When I told you I wanted to break up, you didn’t cry. But when you saw me kissing Keith, you cried. It was because I hurt your pride. That’s all I am to you, Aera. I’ve always wondered why … why you decided to be with me when you’ve always had feelings for Gray. It was like every time you found yourself falling for him, you held it back and ran toward me. You didn’t notice it, did you? Whenever we were on a date, you talked a lot about him as if you knew him inside and out.”
“That’s … bullshit.” Failing to find the words to say after that, I gave him silence.
