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"Well, let's just try to turn them off after them from now on."
"Yeah."
"Oh, and the blinds."
"Shut up," I grumble, but it comes out sounding more like, "shuuuup". Ugh, I'm feeling prickly as shit, and there's too much going on around me, along with the fact that remnants of Kyle's voice is still whispering through my mind.
"What did she say?" Recognition finally turns on at Ryan's humored question.
"She told you, idiots, to shut up."
This time, my eyes fly open and immediately land on my bestie curled up on the couch beside me. I can't help the watery inhale that fills my lungs, "J-Jo?"
"Eve!" She rushes to her feet when our eyes lock. "Shit, I missed you so much, and these dumbasses have been driving me crazy. I'm sure Mia is about to kick one of them in the balls with me too. You need to get better...you are the only one that can keep these bimbos in line!"
A straw poke my lips, a silent offer of water from Nolan on my other side. I shoot him a small wobbly small of appreciation once I get my fill without aggravating my wounds.
"My bimbos," I rasp out as best I can, to which she replies, "Yeah, all yours, babe. You have the patience of a saint."
"Hey!"
I smirk at Ryan's dismayed outburst, all the while hoping to cover up just how much it hurts to listen to them. Having my family surround me is all I have wanted; I refuse to succumb to the agony ripping through my body. I just want to hear their banter, even if I can barely participate.
"Guys, do you mind if I have a minute?" Their friendly bickering comes to a halt at Noly's quiet inquiry. I gently twist my head to get a better look at him, careful of the cramping in my neck.
"Of course, I'll have the nurse come in soon, okay?" Ry gives him a small peck on the lips before soothing his hand down my arm and ushering the group out of the room. Their lingering glances and mouthed words of love make my throat squeeze.
Once the door is shut behind them, I take in my quiet man, who currently looks like he's shattering under the collapse of the world. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a simple blue t-shirt, I wish I could bury my face into his chest and never let go.
"Please don't cry, Evie!" He lunges forward so quickly it catches me off guard enough that I flinch. It's instantaneous; the guilt takes over his entire body. His shoulders slump forward, his hands go up in surrender, and his eyebrows and plump lips draw down in concern. At the same time, his eyes flare wide in panic.
"Oh fuck. I'm so sorry. Baby, you have to know I would never hurt you; you remember that, right?" He looks so uncertain that it makes my soul yearn to comfort him. Unfortunately, I don't have much to give at the moment. A hot wave of frustration and annoyance run through me at how much Kyle is still taking from me.
"I-I know. Just star-startled me." A cough slips free. "Trust you," I force the words out, needing to convey that I'm not afraid of him. "Love you." I hate the way heaviness drags my eyelids down again without permission. He asked for alone time, and here I am, falling asleep.
A choked cry reaches my tunneling hearing, "I love you, little phoenix. I'm so sorry. Sleep now; I'll be here when you wake."
In the presence of my best friend, the one I was meant to spend my entire life with, I drift off into a gentle sleep with excitement zinging through my veins at his promise.
Noly will be here when I wake.
Chapter 22
Nolan
There's just nothing to say at this point. It's been two days since she started waking up in small increments. The beeping of Eve's machines, her hitched breathing, and the bustle of the hospital outside the door fill the silence between us.
Ever since our entire family lost ourselves to grief in the lobby of the ICU four days ago, the doctors and nurses have been less restrictive over how many of us visit and when. They became very accommodating after Chris put his foot down and demanded that the rules be lifted for us, they became very accommodating. Whether that was because of the sheer devastation threatening our lives or how terrifying Chris can be...I don't know.
Either way, I'm thankful for the moments I can sit here watching over my girl like I am now. I ignore the dull ache in my head; I don't think I've stopped frowning since the damn court day almost two weeks ago.
Jesus, has it really been less than two weeks? Eve was missing for almost an entire seven days, and we have been here for about five.
I'm going out of my mind; I just want her home and comfortable. I'm not naive enough to think everything will go back to the way it was...fuck knows, we all have some serious issues we are struggling with individually. Hell, Eve flinched away from me.
I try to rub away the stabbing pain in my chest...when she jerked back from me, it reminded me exactly of the first time I saw her again after those seven years. It took months for her to truly trust us, and now I can't help but wonder if we have to build again.
"What happened to you?" I intend for the thought to stay silent, but it sounds like a fucking bomb being dropped into the silent room.
