My words died as I glanced up to see that a tall man with tan skin and brown hair tucked under a surgical cap had appeared. I shot to my feet.
“Which one of you is Mr. Brockway’s husband?”
“That’s me,” I said, unthinking.
“Excuse me?” Creek’s voice was dripping with shock.
My face paled, and I turned to him. “There’s more to my story.”
Creek stared, then started to stand, then sat back down again. When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything, I turned back to the doctor.
“He’s okay, right?”
The doctor frowned but nodded. “He’s okay. He had a punctured lung and a compound fracture in his left femur. We’ve put in a pin to keep it in place, and he’s going to be here for a few days as we monitor him, but he should recover just fine. He’s healthy and in good shape.”
I let out a breath of relief, fighting the urge to cry. “Can we see him?”
The surgeon stared around the room, then said, “In about forty-five minutes. Two visitors at a time. You’re welcome to stay with him tonight,” he said to me. “The nurses can put together a cot for you if you’d like. Visiting hours end at seven.”
I wanted to hug him, but I didn’t. I stammered out a thank you, then watched him walk away before I turned to face my brother. He was sitting at the edge of his seat, staring down at the floor. Everyone in the room was dead silent, and I had no idea what to say.
“Creek—”
“Don’t,” he said. He swallowed heavily, then looked up. “How long have you two been…?”He didn’t need to say the word.I knew what he was asking.
Letting out a puff of air, I shrugged. “A little under two months.”
He glanced over at Bean, Tameron, and Dayton. “Who knows?”
Bean held up his hands. “I didn’t. I think…” His brows furrowed, but Tameron quickly reached over and squeezed his knee.
“You didn’t, bud. Day and I learned the other day at a get-together, when we ran into each other.”
Creek passed a hand down his face, then looked up at me. “Why? Why didn’t you…? Did you think I’d judge you? Did you think I’d be upset that you and Nash were?—”
“No.” I shook my head so quickly I got dizzy. “Not about that. I got fired, okay? I got fired and lost my insurance, and Nash offered to help. It’s… He doesn’t love me. I’m not even sure helikesme that much.”
Tameron had an immediate coughing fit, but I was too afraid to look at him, and Creek looked like he was going to murder someone if he moved.
“So why hide it, then? Did you think I’d turn you in?”
“No. I just?—”
“Do you think I’m some asshole who would ruin the life of his only brother and his best friend because you’re having a hard time? Did you think?—”
“I didn’t tell you because of this!” I blurted, shouting before I remembered we were in a damn hospital. Stumbling backward, I collapsed in a chair across from him as he deflated back into his seat. “I didn’t tell you because you steamroll me and do whatever you think is best for me without asking. You always have, and I knew I couldn’t deal with all this”—I gestured at my body, my hand shaking—“while also letting you take over my life.”
Creek blinked at me in the ringing silence left behind, then, without a word, he stood up and walked out.
“Shit,” I gasped. I tried to stand, but my legs were finally reacting to the stress, and I couldn’t seem to move them. “I didn’t mean?—”
“Hey.” Dayton got up and moved next to me, pressing my cane into my hands. “Breathe.”
“I shouldn’t have said all that.” My voice was thready and too soft.
Dayton gripped my wrist and squeezed. “Sometimes we can’t say the hard stuff until we get backed into a corner.”
“It was too harsh,” I whispered.
