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“I’ve always been his, Elliot,” I rasp. “Since the day I met him.”
Elliot’s throat bobs heavily as he swallows the truth that we’ve tried to deny for years.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out for us, Sky,” he rasps. “But if there’s anyone who deserves you, it’s my brother. He…” he trails off, his voice cracking as he tries to hold back tears. “He’s the best man I know.”
A tear slips down my cheek at his confession. I wish Everett could hear this.
When I open my mouth to respond, we’re distracted by a loud chiming noise coming from Elliot’s jeans. He stares at me through wide eyes before digging his phone from his pocket. His thumb swipes across the screen as he lets out a heavy gasp, all the air leaving his lungs as he reads the incoming message.
He slowly lifts his head to meet my gaze, relief, and shock swirling in his hazel eyes.
“Everett just woke up.”
TWENTY-NINE
Everett
“Mom?” I croak as panic tightens my chest.
I wake up in a strange room, feeling utterly exhausted and sore as hell. Even breathing hurts. I feel as if I laid down in the middle of a railroad track and let a mile-long train run me ragged. Everything is too bright. Everything is too loud. The white walls surrounding me feel like a box, blinding and suffocating at the same time.
There’s a persistent beeping noise flooding my ears like a siren. Wires and tubes are connected to my body, and an uncomfortable sting pinches my wrist. I look down to see a needle disappearing beneath my skin, connected to a thick, blue vein. I feel like a fucking science experience. I want out of here.
Too bright. Too loud. Too much, I think to myself.
I squint my eyes, my vision blurry as my gaze returns to the familiar woman sitting across the room. Her blonde hair hides her face like a curtain as she stares down at her lap. Her hands are covered by two large ones, hands that I can recall even through fuzzy eyes.My dad.He comforts her, brushing back a strand of her golden hair before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. The sight of them together distracts me until a shooting pain bursts from my ribs, knocking the breath out of me.
“Mom,” I grunt as loud as I can through labored breaths.
Can you see me? I’m right here. Or am I as dead as I feel?
I’m quickly brought back to life when I hear loud gasps. Mom stands first, all but running to me as Dad follows closely behind.
“Everett,” Mom exhales, tears staining her cheeks as she gently, so gently, cups my face in her palms. “Can you hear me, honey?”
I nod because speaking is too painful right now. It feels like someone is removing my ribs one by one.
What the fuck happened to me?
“Everett,” she repeats, her eyes frantically searching mine. “Please say something, anything. Just so I know you can hear me.”
I slowly part my lips, inhaling a sore breath as I mutter the words, “Too bright.”
“I’ll get the lights,” Dad says quickly. Not a second later, the room is flooded in warmth, the only light now coming from a lamp in the corner.
“Thank you,” I rasp, the corner of my lips tilting up in a half smile as I stare back at my dad. He’s looking down at me like I might disappear if he breaks eye contact.
“Mark,” Mom exhales. “He’s awake. He’s gonna be okay.He’s gonna be okay,” she repeats, her voice cracking as a sob breaks from her throat.
I’m right here.Why are they talking about me like I’m not right in front of them? Why is no one telling me what’s going on?
“What… happened?” I breathe out, my gaze flicking between the two of them.
Dad looks at Mom, holding her stare for a heartbeat before turning back to look down at me through furrowed brows.
“You… you were in an accident, son. A bad one.” He reaches for my hand, giving my palm a light squeeze. “How are you feeling?”
Like shit.Like I’m still in the dark. Like his answer was too fucking vague. I become alert at the mention of the word “accident”, faintly recalling a flash of light before everything went black. I pinch my brows, frustrated with myself as I try to put the pieces together… try to remember the exact moment before my world turned upside down.
