Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“How long is this shit gonna take to heal?”
“A long while. You’ll need physical therapy, months of it, but they expect you’ll make a full recovery.” Dad shakes his head.
“That’s a lot of time outta work,” I tell him.
“Already figured things out. I’ll come out of retirement until you’re back to doing things on your own.” Both of us out on the road after what went down earlier today? Mom is going to let that fly over like a turd in a punch bowl.
“You know where my phone is?” I look out the window, seeing it’s dark out.
“You got a reason to need it? Everybody who loves you is here.” He arches his brow.
“Gotta call Jade, Dad. Told her I’d be back home and safe in a few hours. It’s clear as day it’s been a hell of a lot longer.” I didn’t tell him or my mother about our relationship. I kept my mouth shut, as did she.
“She’s here. Whereas your mom paced the halls, the floor, this room, Jade sat in the waiting room, chewing on her nails, brows furrowed, and once you were transferred here, well, she sat in that chair, held your hand the entire time. Her eyes never left you, not for a minute. She only went with your mother to update her own. As for your phone, got no clue where it is, probably with the tow truck. I gotta figure out where they’re towing it, get the accident report, and deal with insurance. Damn good thing we’ve got two, because pretty sure ole girl is totaled.”
“That’s my woman,” I say with a lift of my lips. The rest is a clusterfuck that I can deal with at another time.
“Sounds like you’ve got some explaining to do, and I’m not talking about me or your mother.” He addresses what he’s been thinking all along; his tell is abundantly clear.
“May as well let Jace back here, too. Already banged up and figure there’s a good chance if Jade and her mom are here, he’s figured everything out, too.” Not sure my body can handle too much more. My eyes are getting damn droopy due to the medicine thrumming through my veins, judging by the beeping and all the shit they have me hooked up to.
“He got called into work for an emergency. Pissed as hell he can’t be here. I heard him through the phone, ready to tell his boss to fuck off and kiss his ass. Beth talked him down, and since then, they’ve been keeping him in the loop via text message.” I guess there is a higher being, or there’d be a good chance I’d have more than a bum fucking arm.
“Oh, thank god, you’re awake,” Jade breathes the moment she’s at the door, hurrying to my side. There are dark circles under her eyes, her lips are chapped, and her hair is a tangled mess, probably from running her fingers through it to keep herself sane during some part of the day. And I fucking hate it.
“Sugar, promised you I’d always come back to you.” I lift my good arm. Dad moves off to the side, and she moves in, careful not to jostle me too much.
“Mom called me. Nobody told me anything. You were gone, and I was so scared.” She burrows into my neck. Wetness meets my skin, and I’m pissed that I’ve only got one good arm to hold her tightly. This fucking hospital bed is a damn menace; getting her closer to me is going to be even harder.
“I’m okay, Jade. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I. I’m not leaving your side, not ever again.” Her voice is muffled, but I can more than tell what she has to say.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be than with you, sugar. We’ll worry about the rest as it comes. Gonna close my eyes now, okay?” The meds kicked in while Dad was talking, then Jade showed up, and I knew she needed to see me as much as I needed to see her.
“Yeah.” She starts to get off the bed.
“Stay. Want you here in my arms when I wake up,” I say drowsily.
“He’s okay, Vanessa. I’m going to take a breather. Want me to send in Beth?” I hear Dad ask Mom.
“No, I’ll come with you. He’s going to sleep, and hopefully, she will, too.” I feel Jade’s lips press against my throat, a sigh of what I’m sure is relief is blown across my skin, and I feel it in my heart and my goddamn dick.
“I love you, Locke, love you so much,” I hear her voice say just as sleep pulls me under.
15
Locke
“Sugar, you need to go home, take a shower, get some food and more sleep than you’ve had since you got here.” I’m trying to persuade Jade to leave the hospital for a little bit. She’s in the same clothes as yesterday and hasn’t left my side, not even to eat. Between her mom and my mom, they’ve kept her hydrated and fed, but getting her to go home has been impossible.