AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The front door flies open, and I mentally curse my brother’s timing, lifting my gaze from Lily to glare at him, only to stop short at the look on his face.
“We’ve got to go. Dad’s in the hospital.”
TWENTY-ONE
HARLEY
MY HEART IS racing, and I can barely breathe as I follow Tom through the emergency room doors. Thoughts of Lily still consume me–the concern on her face as she pushed me toward my brother, promising me she wouldn’t go anywhere before she knew we were okay. My chest feels tight, and I rub at it as if that’s going to relieve it. Tom goes straight to the front desk, giving Dad’s name to the nurse that smiles up at him.
My gaze drifts around the room, taking in the young mum clutching a toddler close to her chest; the groaning biker holding a bloody towel up to his face; the elderly gentleman nodding off in his wheelchair. This is the same hospital Jordan’s mum brought us to after the car accident. We never even got to see Mum that night. Never got to say goodbye.
I rub my tired eyes. It’s past midnight–happy fuckingbirthday to me–and my mind is still reeling from the intense rollercoaster that I’ve been on all day. I’m still processing the fact that Dad is in the hospital as a result of being stabbed in an attempted truck jacking. Except the stubborn bastard decided to fight back instead of just letting the assholes have the damn truck. When will our family catch a fucking break? I’m still pissed at Dad for everything he’s done–for taking Mum away, for everything he’s kept from me–but I’m not ready to lose another parent. I can’t lose him.
Guilt washes over me as I think about all the calls I’ve let go to voicemail in the past couple of weeks–all the messages I haven’t listened to. What if he dies? What if I never get to talk to him again?
I forgave Dad for the accident when it first happened. I was devastated at losing Mum, and so relieved that I hadn’t lost both of them. I was angry when I found out he’d been drinking, sure, but I didn’t have it in me to hate him. At least not until the secret about Conrad came out. Then the questions started nagging me. Did Mum die knowing that he cheated on her? Did she know we had another brother–half-brother? Was she angry at him? Had she forgiven him?
My legs give away, and I collapse into the chair in front of me. The commotion has Tom reaching for me. My elbows rest on my knees, and I bury my head in my hands. I can’t breathe. I gasp, trying to take in as much oxygen as I can, but my lungs don’t seem to be working. They seem to have given up.
Tom crouches in front of me, and I can see his lipsmoving, but I can’t make out a word he’s saying. My head feels like it’s underwater as I continue to try and suck in air. Black spots dance around my vision.
Something heavy is placed around my shoulders, and Tom takes my hands in his, squeezing gently before releasing. He repeats this, and I blink, trying to focus on what he’s saying.
“It’s okay, Harley. Try and take a deep breath and hold it.” He squeezes my hands again. “That’s it. Let it out slowly and do it again. Deep breath in. Hold it. Let it out.”
I take a deep breath, holding it in as he squeezes my hands and letting it out as he releases his pressure. Someone is rubbing my back, and I look up into the kind eyes of a nurse.
“Hi there,” she smiles. “My name is Jackie. Can you tell me your name?”
“Harley,” I choke out.
Her smile widens. “Well, that’s a lovely name. Can you tell me where you are, Harley?”
“Hospital.”
She nods, her hand reaching down to grip my wrist lightly, her fingers looking for my pulse as she glances down at her watch. “Can you tell me three things you can see?”
My eyes dart to Tom, who looks white as a ghost. “My brother… You… The floor tiles.”
“Good,” she laughs. “And three things you can hear?”
I close my eyes, focusing on the sounds in the waiting room. “Beeping… Coughing… Telephone ringing.”
“You’re doing great. Can you touch three body parts and name them for me?” I pull a face, and she laughs again. “Just humour me.”
Tom releases his hold on me, and I bring one hand up to my face. “Nose… Eyes… Mouth.”
“Amazing. How are you feeling?”
I clear my throat, embarrassment starting to heat my cheeks. “I’m fine.”
She nods again, not calling me out on my bullshit. “You’ve just had a panic attack,” she explains. “Have you had one before?”
I shake my head.
“Okay, well you might feel a bit woozy for a little bit, but you’re going to be fine.”
“Tom!”
