I stop in the middle of the living room to check her. Her eyes are closed. What... “No! No, no, no, no!” I cry, collapsing on the floor with her in my arms.
I hear Steven rushing toward me, phone in hand, speaking into it.
“Come to Nova’s house. Now! She needs you. And tell that asshole to find the best vet in town for Fleur. Now!”
“No... No. No. Fleur... Please. We’ll find a way to help you. Hang on, please,” I whisper, clutching her tight.
I feel Steven wrap his arms around me, but my mind’s clouded by pain. I can’t see anymore. I can’t even understand where I am.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Nova Marshall
PRESENT (2023)
"Guitars have been the obsession of my life. I first picked one up at the age of four and I've been a guitar junkie ever since."
Johnny Marr
When I wake up, I’m in a waiting room, sitting next to Vincent. His arm’s around me, holding me close, and he keeps looking around like he’s waiting for news. Across from us sit Steven, Aurora, Will, and Max. I notice a jacket draped around my shoulders—Vincent must’ve put it there.
Then it hits me. Fleur.
I jerk upright, startling Vincent and the others. The jacket slips to the floor. “Where’s Fleur? How’s her?” I ask, panicked.
Vincent sighs and takes my hands gently, stroking them. “She’s with the vet. Sam found the best one in San Francisco. She’s in good hands. Everything will be okay. I promise.”
I look around at the others. Max’s holding Aurora, while Steven avoids my eyes completely, talking to Will instead. I know he saw me sleeping in Vincent’s arms for hours.
“How long was I asleep?” I ask, pulling my hands away and hugging myself instead. I don’t even know if Vincent knows Steven and I broke up.
Vincent notices but doesn’t say anything. “Just a couple of hours. When I got to your house, you were unconscious. You woke up when we carried Fleur to the car, but then you fell asleep after waiting here for an hour. Sam, Maggie, and Steve took Fleur in, and I stayed with you.”
“And—” I begin, but Vincent cuts in, already knowing my question.
“They went to get you food,” he says softly.
I nod and curl my legs up, hugging them. I’ve never been very religious, but right now I’m praying to any God that might exist. Fleur can’t leave me. Not now. I can’t go through this over again.
Vincent reaches as if to touch my shoulder, but I jump up and start pacing the waiting room with my arms crossed. I don’t want to hurt Steven more than I already have. It’s not fair to him. Vincent would understand—he always does.
Just then, Sam and Maggie come in with a bag of food, and at the same moment, a doctor steps out of the OR. I don’t even let him reach us. I rush straight to him, my friends following behind.
“How’s my Fleur?” I demand, standing in front of him.
The doctor hesitates, and panic stabs through me.
“How is she?” My voice rises. “Where is she!”
“Nova, calm dow—” Will starts, but I snap, rage taking over.
“Shut your damn mouth! How is Fleur?” I nearly scream at the doctor.
He sighs, his eyes flat and empty of emotion. “I’m sorry, miss. We did what we could. The dog suffered acute tracheal trauma—”
“I don’t give a fuck about the problem you couldn’t solve!” I cut him off, my voice shaking. “Your only job is to save animals,and you couldn’t even do that! You were supposed to save her! You always say you did everything you could, but you don’t even know what it means to truly try!”
Someone grabs my arms, pulling me back, but I fight against it. “No! Let go of me! He had to save her!”
