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twenty-nine
greyson
Fuck. I hurt. Everywhere.
“Grey, if you can hear me, can you wake up? I’ve got a very upset woman downstairs, and she needs to know you’re all right.”
The muffled voice reaches my ears and I squint open an eye. Groaning, I touch my sensitive head, but something hard and scratchy on my wrist halts the movement.
“You fractured it—it’s splinted.”
Preston stands over the hospital bed, hands on his hips, peering down at me. I struggle to sit up. “Dude, what—”
“Oh, hey, slow down. I got you.” His arms slide under me, and then the bed raises enough for me to sit up straight.
My sore and bruised body protests as I shift on the lumpy mattress. “What happened? I remember some, but my head hurts so fucking bad I can’t think.” I vaguely recall getting shoved into traffic.
Preston adjusts my pillow before handing me a bottle of water from the bedside table. “Some lady rear-ended you and sent you into an intersection where an on-coming car slammed into you. You’ve got a fractured wrist, bruised ribs, and a concussion. You were very lucky.”
The cold drink slides down my desert throat. I don’t feel so lucky as the pain in my head rips my brain to pieces.
“Can we turn the lights down?” I cringe and close my eyes right before they spring back open. “Theo. Scarlett. I was on my way to them. Ow, damnit, my whole body feels like it’s splitting in two.” I slump back onto the starchy pillow, flinging my good arm over my face.
Even my eye sockets ache.
“They gave you some mild pain meds, but you’re probably due for more. Theo’s at my house. I called them and let them know you were okay, but when you’re up to it, he’ll want to hear from you himself.” Preston rubs at his face as I nod.
“Scar?” Her name catches on the tip of my tongue.
Preston sends me a relieved smirk, showing off our identical dimple. “She’s here. Pacing like a caged tiger in the waiting room. She needs to see you soon before she tears the place down.”
That image sends a faint smile to my dry lips. I lick them.She’s worried about me. “Thank you for bringing her here.”
He huffs out a laugh. “There’s no way she would’ve let me come without her. I’m just glad you’re all right. If you’re okay with it, I’m gonna head back home and help Savy with the kids. Video call us in a bit?”
Nodding, I wince as the movement sends a shot of pain through my skull. Apparently, it’s not as thick as some say it is.
With a promise to check in later and a fierce hug that makes me squawk in pain, Preston leaves and closes the door with a soft click. I fucking hate hospitals. They smell like stale bleach and the white sterile walls blind anyone unfortunate enough to stare at them for too long. The only time I was all right being in one was the night Theo came into the world.
I lift my wrist and wiggle my stiff fingers peeking out from under the splint. This better not take long to heal. I don’t have time to nurse myself back to health, not with a place like SoS constantly keeping me busy.
The door creaks open and I swivel my head slowly to drink her in—utter mess and all. Wild blue eyes, pink stains high on her cheeks, lips red and chafed from her gnawing them to death, completes my version of perfection.
“Does this hospital gown make me look fat?” I joke to ease the tension and worry radiating off her slight frame.
A small laugh barely sneaks out of her as the door hinges open again and a robust nurse strides in. “Hey there, my name is Vita and I’ll be your night nurse. How are you feeling? I got notes from your day attendant and it looks like you’re doing fairly well despite how serious the accident.” Her smile is bright white.
“I’m all right. Sore, but alive, thanks.”
She ambles over, her purple scrubs swishing, and takes my blood pressure, writing the numbers on the back of her hand. With gentle fingers, she probes the bandages on my hand and head—her rose-scented perfume tickling my nose. “These are all looking good.” Her pin straight bronze hair glides as she glances up to the digital clock on the far wall. “Oh, I’m sorry, but visiting hours are almost over. You’ll have to come back in the morning, ma’am.” She directs the last statement over to Scarlett.
“I’m his wife. I’m not leaving him,” Scarlett hurls at the nurse—her cheeks blooming pink as she hugs her sides tight.
The nurse cocks a thick brown eyebrow before nodding and gesturing behind her. “Couch can be converted to a bed. Extra blankets and pillows in the closet over there. Greyson, I’ll be back in around four hours to check your vitals and give you any meds. If you need anything before then, the call button is on the side of your bed. Rest up. You’ll likely be discharged tomorrow after the doc sees you.”
My focus zeros in on Scarlett, barely registering a word the nurse said because I’m stunned, my breath a hiccup in my chest.
Does this mean what I think it means?
