His gaze moves slowly around the hospital room, taking in the IVs, the heart monitor, the cast on his leg. His brow twitches, like he’s having trouble processing everything. My pulse spikes in fear as I remember what Dr. K said—we wouldn’t know if he had a brain injury until he woke up.
But he knows me, and he’s talking to me. That’s got to be something.
I tighten my grip on his hand. “How do you feel?”
Slowly, his eyes move back to my face. He licks his lips and looks around the room again. “Thirsty.”
“I’ll get you some water,” I say hurriedly. “Hang on, okay?”
He gives me a tiny nod, and even that small movement looks like it’s taking all his strength. I rise to my feet, only to lean back down and press my lips to his temple.
“Don’t die on me, okay?” It’s the same thing I said the first day after the crash, and I can’t help repeating myself now. I need him to know how terrified I am of losing him. I need him to promise me that he won’t die.
But he just stares at me, his brow knitted in faint confusion, and my heart twists painfully. Fuck, I’m so scared of how weak he is.
“I’ll go get some water,” I say.
“Mm,” he mumbles, already half asleep.
I leave the room with my stomach in knots and hunt down his nurse. The night nurse, Manon, has already left, and it takes a fewminutes to find his new nurse, an older woman with short blond hair whom I immediately dislike.
“He cannot havewater,” she says, scowling at me like I’ve suggested giving him poison. “He must pass his swallowing study first.”
“When will that be?” I ask, as politely as I can.
Her frown deepens. “Later today,” she says curtly. Then she steps around me and strides off. Too busy, I guess, to answer any more questions.
When I get back to Jacob’s room, his whole family has invaded.
His mother is sitting at his side, stroking his hair, and his father is standing a few feet back from the bed. His sister, Lily, is sitting by his feet, squeezing his leg, and Paul is thumping him hard on the shoulder.
“Just trying to show off, were you?” he says, in his stupid, loud voice. “Race was getting a little boring for you, was it?”
The rational part of me knows that his obnoxious manner is his own coping mechanism, but the rest of me wants to drag him away from Jacob and beat him into the ground. Jacob looks so confused, so exhausted, and every time Paul thumps him on the shoulder, I see red.
The family turns in unison as I step into the doorway, and my heart pulses nervously in my chest. Beneath my anger, I do want these people to like me. They’re Jacob’s family, and he loves them.
But, like always, I can’t get the right words out in time.
“What the hell do you want?” Paul snaps.
My face burns. I can’t think of what to say. I look to Jacob’s mother and his sister, thinking they might be more sympathetic, but Lily’s risen to her feet, two angry splotches on her cheeks.
“We’ve been waiting to see him,” she says, glaring at me like I’m a piece of trash.
“I—you could’ve come in,” I stammer. I look to Jacob for help, but he looks so blurry and confused, his eyes moving from his family to me and back again.
“I’m sorry,” I choke out—to Jacob, more than any of them. “I just thought—”
“You thought what?” Paul demands. “You just thought you’d ruin my brother’s career? Turn him into a fucking laughingstock?”
This is so unfair, I’m rendered speechless, struck dumb by the force of his hatred.
“Paul, enough.” Jacob’s father steps forward. He won’t quite look me in the eye, but he gestures to the door. “A moment, please.”
Numb with shock, I follow him out of the room. He leads me all the way out to the waiting room, which is mercifully empty. In the far corner, he gestures for me to sit down across from him. He clears his throat several times before speaking.
“I should apologize for my son’s behavior,” he says stiffly. “I’m sure you understand, this has been difficult.”
