“Dylan, you don’t remember because you lost a lot of blood. You almost bled out in the ambulance. You…you almost died. He tried to killyou.”
“How bad? What? My head’s foggy. I don’t understand. He just hit me with thewrench.”
“You needed blood. You lost a lot. We all gave you some. But Dylan, yeah…he stabbed you. He stabbed you a fewtimes.”
“Addison? Addison saw itall?”
She looked away from me and wiped at her tears. "She remembers them pushing you. I'm not sure she understands what happened." She looked back quickly at me, eyes wide. "But I had her talk to someone. Someone who deals with children who lived through a trauma. I don't want this to mess herup.”
I laid my head back on the pillow—it felt cumbersome—too heavy for my neck to keep holding up. “What’s going to happen next? With Sheri and—" I vaguely remembered Sheri telling me his name, but I couldn't recall what it was. "Whoever her little punk-ass friendwas."
“His name is Gerard Wright.” Her voice was soft, comforting. “And they were both arrested on various charges, one being attemptedmurder.”
Irrationally, hearing it didn’t seem to faze me. I didn’t feel anything. An image of Sheri laughing at me with blood smeared all over her shirt flashed through my mind—and Addison being dragged along the floor as she tried to stop her mother from hurtingme.
“I’m so sorry, Dylan.” Callie’s tone was dark, full ofregret.
“Sorry?” I asked, stunned. I wanted so badly to be able to move toward her, hold her in my arms, and reassure her I—we were okay. “Of all the things I want you to feel right now, sorry isn’t one of them.” I reached out my hand to touch her face, only to be held back by the IVtubing.
She stared at me, confusion pulling her brows together. "How am I supposed to feel? How do you want me to feel right now? You're my friend, and you were brutally attacked by someoneyou—“
“Don’t say it,” I interrupted venomously. “I didn’t love her any longer. You knew that. And I think we can both agree we are way past being friends. At least I have been. For so long now, I've been holding back with you." I tried to turn my body and angle it more toward her, but I got nowhere fast. "Ugh. Honestly, all I want to do is kiss you, just touch you right now, and I freakingcan't!"
Callie leaned in quickly, touching her lips to the corner of mine. "Please stay still," she whispered against mycheek.
Somewhere next to us, the beeping of one of the monitors sped up, and I smiled to myself, knowing this woman did things to my heart I’d never felt before and I couldn’t wait to get out of this bed and get intohers.
“We’ll talk when you’re out of here, okay?” She pulled back slowly, her cheeks bright red and her eyesshiny.
“Callie?” I asked, wondering what she was thinking.What was there to talk about? We’ve done enough talking already. I just needed her; all ofher.
A single tear streamed down her face. I didn’t want to see hercry.
"Callie, please don't cry," I whispered, again struggling to pull myself up. My side ached, and my body spiraled with pain, but I didn't care. "Why cry? You know how we feel about eachother—”
More tears came. “I just don’t want to mess this up, Dylan. I’m broken. In pieces, Dylan. You shouldn’t want me. I can’t give you anything youneed.”
“What I need? You are everything I need, Callie Ward. I need honesty, your love, your time,” I said, feeling my own eyes well up with tears. “I need your sobriety. Your body, your heart.I haveeverything else. All I need isyou.”
Out in the hallway, I could hear my daughter's voice. I wanted to say so much more to Callie, but it wasn't the right time, and probably not the rightplace.
"We'll talk about this when I get out of here, okay?" I whispered quickly. "Just promise me, promise me, Callie, you will give us achance."
“Us?” she askedlow.
“Yeah, us. I come as a package deal, remember?” I smiled...well, half-smiled—half-winced inpain.
She blinked at me and touched her hand to herheart.
Then, in the doorway was Sergeant Max Kannon and my Addison. "Daddy!" she yelled, running in. "You're not sleeping!” She raced to the guardrails of the bed and began climbing over themearnestly.
"Whoa there, little monkey," Callie said, scooping her up. "How about I lower one of these rails, and you carefully cuddle up withDaddy."
“Are you hurt bad, Daddy?” Addison looked up at me withconcern.
I looked at her, then at Callie. "No, not anymore, Babycakes, notanymore.”
Addison’s smile spread from ear to ear. “Did Callie tell you I didn’t let the bad man get Ben?” She glanced over at Callie and gave her a thumbsup.
