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“Maybe. Not really. Not yet.” He rubs a hand over his face, his eyes dim with fatigue and worry. “I don’t know.”
I leave without another word to navigate through the maze of corridors and staircases. I’ve memorized the way to the intensive care unit, or I’d wander in here, fore
ver lost.
Rafe is coming out of Zane’s room as I approach, and he doesn’t seem to see me until he almost plows into me.
“Dakota.” His voice is gruff.
“Is he awake?” I try to brush by, but he grabs my arm, stopping me. “I have to see him.”
“The doctors are inside with him.”
“Dammit, is he awake, Rafe? That’s all I want to know.”
He shrugs. “Not sure. He’s mumbling things. That’s a good sign, right?”
Oh God, yes, it is.
I enter the room not knowing what to expect. What I don’t expect is to find Zane looking the same—lying there, still, silent, looking like he’s asleep.
The doctors are standing by his bed, talking in hushed voices. Their gazes flick over to me, then back to their papers, and they finally nod and say the best thing I’ve heard all week. Hell, all year. “He’s waking up.”
I stumble to a chair and drop in it, my legs too weak to hold me. “Oh, thank God.”
“Is he awake now?” Ash asks from the door, and I see Rafe and the others behind him.
“He’s asleep.” The doctor looks down at Zane. “It will take him a few days to recover completely. But we’re very pleased with his progress. Now you must be patient and give him time to get back on his feet.”
I’m vaguely aware of thin arms coming around me and Audrey telling me it’s going to be okay. Asher is standing behind her, a hand on her shoulder. Erin is hugging Tyler, tears tracking down her cheeks. Dylan is leaning on the doorframe, arms folded over his chest, a grin splitting his face, and Tessa for once isn’t looking at him but at me. She winks and smiles, even though her eyes are too bright.
“You need to get out, please,” the doctors say, and a nurse bustles in to usher us out.
“I’m staying,” I whisper, and when the nurse tries to tell me to go, I say more loudly, “I’m staying.”
One by one everyone drifts out, and the nurse talks to the doctors for a few moments, shooting me annoyed looks.
I don’t care. Not even when she comes back to me and says softly, “He’ll be all right now, girl. You need to rest, too.”
“I want to stay.” I plead with my eyes for her to understand. I can’t leave him alone again, not yet, not now.
“All right.” She sighs and shrugs. “I’ll be in the nurses’ room at the end of the corridor if you need anything.”
She draws the curtains closed and leaves. The door closes, and it’s just me and him again. I walk to the bed and take my usual seat, pull out my drawing pad and pencil, and dash a hand over my face, because my cheeks are wet.
“I’m here,” I say. “It’s me, Dakota, and I’ll be right here until you open your eyes and see me.”
***
“How is everyone?” I ask, cradling Mom’s cell between my cheek and shoulder as I open the door and step outside. Still haven’t had time to buy a new one. I can’t leave Zane alone.
It’s late afternoon, and the sky is full of colors. I breathe in the fresh air and close my eyes.
“Fine,” Dad mutters. “As well as they can be. When will you be coming, Koty? Aunt Carolina keeps asking for you, and your mom… she’d like you by her side.”
“I know. You think I don’t know? But I can’t. Not yet.”
“Why? You said a friend of yours was hurt?”
