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“Look, before you go in there, I need you to understand something.”
Corey nodded. He wished he’d spit it out so he could see Genevieve. The last two weeks had been the hardest of his life. Sure, getting clean and off drugs had been difficult as shit. Struggling on his own, keeping the monsters at bay.
But waiting and wondering and worrying about the woman who completed his world? That shit didn’t even compare to anything else. It had been like visiting hell, the door suddenly slammed shut behind him and he was unable to escape—to go home to the comfort of his friends and family. He’d felt so alone, even surrounded by the people who cared about him.
That urge to get high, to drown his pain, had been intense. Every time it hit him, he sought out his little girl, held her close, and reminded himself why he had to stay clean.
For her.
For himself.
For Genevieve, who would need him when she woke up. Now she was awake and her brother was delaying everything he wanted.
“The doctor says everything looks good. No memory loss. She should be out of here within a week.”
That was all good news. So why did Brock still have the panic in his eyes?
“And?”
Brock sighed. “She’s not acting like herself. Don’t be alarmed if she…if she doesn’t want company for long.”
His heart rate ratcheted up a notch. “Are you saying she doesn’t want to see me?” She blamed him for what happened. Hell, he blamed himself so he shouldn’t be surprised.
“I was with her when she woke up. I called our parents first. They stayed for a half-hour before she asked them to leave. Oliver waited in the hallway the entire time. When he went in, she didn’t even open her eyes for him. They spoke, but she said she didn’t have the energy to open her eyes. She never said she didn’t want to see you. She only told me she didn’t want to see everyone at once. So far, I can see why. I don’t know what’s going through her head or how she’s feeling, but she’s not acting herself yet. It’s very overwhelming for her.”
“I got it.”
More sympathy poured out of Brock’s eyes as if he didn’t think Corey understood.
Corey put a hand on his shoulder. “I got it. I appreciate the concern.”
“Well, hell, you’re going to be my brother-in-law at some point so yeah. I care.”
Wow. Brock was the first one to say something like that. Not even her parents asked about the wedding. Although it hadn’t surprised Corey. Before the accident, not even Genevieve talked about it. No planning or excitement.
They might’ve professed their love the day of the accident, but perhaps her feelings had changed. The accident might’ve knocked not only her body around but her mind, telling her that he wasn’t good enough for her.
Because was he?
Former playboy. Former druggie. Too many arrests on his record. Besides owning his business and having the sweetest little girl on the planet, what did he have to offer someone?
“You okay?”
Corey nodded and grinned. He might be walking right back into hell, losing the love of his life, but he’d be okay. No matter what happened, he had a little girl to raise. If he couldn’t be strong for himself, he had to at least be strong for her.
“I’m good. Can I go see her now?”
Brock stepped to the side with an encouraging smile.
Corey opened the door, surprised to find the room so dark. The blinds were closed and only one light was on, and not the one closest to Genevieve. She was lying on her back with her hands folded on her stomach, or at least as best as she could since her left arm was in a cast. She had shattered the bones in several places. It would take a while to heal.
The way she laid looked unnatural and made him very uncomfortable. As if she weren’t alive, but dead. Like she was ready for her coffin and the lid to close.
Stop it.
She was alive and only needed time to heal. She was resting. That was all.
Yes. He only had to remind himself that everything that happened would take time to heal. She had a long road ahead of her.
