Arlo walks across the room. “Can I sit?”
I nod, but I don’t look away from Jasper. “Why is he there?”
Jasper sighs. “He almost beat someone to death, Luc. They had to question him.”
In my defense. He did it in my defense. I’ve told these stupidfucks that. “But it was for me,” I say, my voice cracking around the words.
“I know. I know it was. And they will too, okay? He just needs to tell them what happened, and it’ll be alright.”
I shake my head, which sends a sharp pain through my temples.
Arlo settles a hand on my thigh. “Calm down, Luca.”
“Calm down? You want me to fucking calm down?” The pounding in my head ratchets up, making me nauseous. “No. I’m not gonna fuckin’ calm down! Damien was going to fucking kill me.”
Arlo rubs his hand up and down my leg in a soothing pattern, but it just pisses me off more. “I know,” he says softly.
“And you,” I snap, turning on Jasper. “What are you doing here?”
He blinks at me in surprise. “I’m here to check on you. That’s what friends do, right?”
I let out an incredulous laugh. “Yeah, that’s what friends do. Which is why I’m not sure why you’rehereand not with fuckingAustin!”
I gag, my stomach lurching as the ache in my head nearly takes me out.
Arlo picks up the emesis bag on the bed, holding it out to me. I put it to my mouth, drawing deep breaths in so I don’t make myself sick.
Jasper slowly makes his way across the room. “Austin wanted me to check on you, okay? Would you feel better if I was at the station with him?”
My mouth’s watering, so I nod instead of trying to speak.
“Okay. Arlo, are you gonna be okay here?”
“I’m fine. You go ahead.”
Swallowing hard a couple of times, I look up at Jasper. “You have to make sure he comes back to me,” I say, barely getting the words out without throwing up.
He gives me a curt nod before turning and leaving the room.
When he’s gone, Arlo shifts on the bed. “I’m gonna have the nurses get you something for your pain and nausea.”
“No. I want a clear head.”
Arlo levels me with an impressive glare. “Youneedsomething. It’s non-negotiable. I’ll be right back.”
When he leaves the room, I set the emesis bag down, trying to keep myself calm. Being alone sucks. If not Austin, I want Arlo back in here. Fuck. This is awful.
Before I really have time to freak out about it, the nurse who checked on me last time comes into the room with a little cup, Arlo trailing behind her.
She holds it out to me. “Here you are. Zofran for the nausea and Tylenol for your headache.”
“Are they going to make me woozy?”
She raises an eyebrow. “More than the concussion, you mean?”
She’s sassy. I like that. “Fair point.”
“No. They won’t.” She winks at me, which somehow draws a tired smile from me.
