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I crane my neck, not believing what she’s saying. “No way. Watching me, where?”
“Mmhmm. He was lost in a lustful gaze, watching you while you were tying your shoes. I slapped himhardon the shoulder and it still didn’t snap him out of it. It wasn't until you turned around and looked at him that he finally did.”
“So what?” I chuckle. “He was probably daydreaming and his stare accidentally fell on me.”
“Nope.” She pops the P, shaking her head, and it’s a reminder of how much alike her and Riley are. It’s no wonder I gravitated toward Riley after fighting hard not to. “I asked him about it later that night and his face gotbeet red. I’m talking lobster fresh outta the sea. He brushed it off like it was no big deal, but it was. From that day forward, I always knew his acts of hatred were actually him just pushing you away because he was afraid to let you get close.”
Not a chance in hell.Maddie has no idea what I’ve been through this past year. She knows the small childish acts of bullying the guys bestowed upon me throughout the years, but she doesn't know about the sheer torment they put me through while she was asleep.
“Maddie. I’m sorry, but I still can’t get over this. How are you even here?”
Wheeling closer, our knees bump, and her expression turns serious. “Wish I could say it was a miracle, but that’s not the case. Neo’s convinced I was never in a coma at all.”
Biting my lip, I search for my words carefully. “Mads,” I begin. “Don’t let Neo convince you of something that isn’t true.” I reach out, taking her hand in mine. “I visited you daily in the beginning, and weekly toward the end. You were most definitely in a coma.”
Unaffected by my words, Maddie holds her head high and squeezes my hand. “You saw me sleeping, Scar. It doesn’t mean my body needed the rest.”
Damn Neo for putting this bullshit in her head.I know I need to be as gentle as possible because I’m sure her mind is still foggy. She said so herself, she doesn't remember the weeks prior to her fall.
“What did your brother say that made you think you weren’t in a coma?”
She lets go of my hand and leans back, getting comfy in her chair. “This is all from Neo and I have no recollection of it, but from what he said, he hired a doctor to do daily check-ins on me at the home I was staying in. The doctor noticed something off with the meds that had been getting administered into my IV. After a blood draw, he realized I had been given some medicine that is actually used to induce a coma. After a phone call to Neo with an update, he demanded I be taken out of the home. So, with this new doctor’s help, they brought me here. Twenty-four hours later, I started to show signs of life. Another twenty-four hours and I was conscious.”
My mouth remains open, as it has been the entire time she’s been talking. I’m speechless. No idea what to say. In fact, her story is so plausible that I actually believe it myself. Regardless of the how and the why, she’s here, and that’s all that matters to me right now.
“I’m…I’m just shocked.”
She keeps talking, adding more to the plate, while I’m still processing everything already said. “I was really out of it and don’t remember much until last week, but I’m eating on my own now and started to use my legs a little bit more. My therapist is confident that I’ll be on my feet in another month or so with a walker.”
“This is unbelievable, Maddie.” I get up and fall into her again, taking care not to hurt her because I’m not sure how fragile she still is. All those months of seeing her lying in that bed so helpless, and now she’s really here.
She hugs me back. She really hugs me, and it’s official, I’m not dreaming.She’s really here.
After we break apart, we talk through everything while laying in her bed, trying to figure out who would want to keep her in a coma. I fill her in on Jude and the whole situation, and we’ve both concluded it has to be him. It also means he's the one who pushed her. Throughout our entire conversation, I let her believe that Neo and I are actually in a relationship, because when she asks about Crew and her eyes light up, I can’t bear to tell her the truth.
“I miss Crew so much and I can’t wait to be able to leave this room and live my life again. Has he changed much?”
“Not really. Taller, maybe. A little scruffier, depending on the day.”
Staring past me, she smiles. Likely daydreaming of a life with him. It hurts my heart so much because I, too, love Crew. I have no idea what this means for us and I’m so scared I’m going to lose him. And even if I don’t, I risk losing Maddie when I’ve only just found her again.
The door flies open and I’m a little disgusted by Neo's lack of respect. “Sorry to break this up, but Jagger’s on his way. He’s worried about you. As you both know, we have to keep this under wraps for now.”
“But why?” I spit out, climbing out of Maddie’s bed. “We know we can trust Jagger. Why can’t we tell him?”
Neo glowers at me and I hate that I know exactly what he’s thinking. If Jagger knows, Crew will know.
“Oh, right. Because you call all the shots.” I scoff at Neo before giving Maddie one last hug. “I’ll come see you again when I get a chance. Or when the master allows it.” I peg Neo with a scathing glare as I pass him and walk out the door.
No matter what happens, a heart is going to break, and I’d rather it be mine than Maddie’s.
ChapterEleven
CREW
“There you are.What the hell happened?” I cup Scar’s face in my palms, relishing in the warmth of her skin. “Are you okay?”
One hand lays over top of mine, stroking it. “I’m fine.”
