Dominic gets up off the floor, his hand curling around the sheet to the adjoining room and he tugs the sheet across. He steps back to reveal Alec in the bed a few metres from me.
Tears prick at my eyes as I take him in. He was closest to the other car. He got hit dead on.
His arm’s in a sling, with bruising all over his face. His bed’s tilted up slightly so he’s sort of sitting up as he sleeps.
“Will,” my voice wavers, “will he be okay?”
Dominic sits down in the chair beside Alec. The guys look unsure what to say.
“Will he be okay?” I cry out, emotions tightening in my throat. Something in the room starts beeping faster and faster only fueling my panic.
“Stay calm, baby,” Maverick soothes me. “He’ll be okay, yes. The doctor said he’ll be fine. We’re just waiting for him to wake up.”
He won’t look at me when he says that.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I whisper. My head’s pounding.
“He has a collapsed lung,” Dom stares at Alec when he says it. “And a brain bleed. It was small but w—“ Dom’s voice breaks. He clears his throat. “We don't know what the long term effects could be.”
Dom’s voice is void of emotion but I can tell he’s hurting.
Before the guys can stop me, I’m gritting through the pain and getting out of bed.
“Rory!” They all object. I ignore it and grab the drip stick thingy that my arm is attached to. I take off the thing on my finger.
“Shit!” Luc hurries around and puts out his arm for me to hold on to. I lean on him heavily as I hobble towards Alec’s bed.
I let go of Luc’s arm and drop onto Dom’s lap. He makes no move to touch me. His dark eyes are cast down and away, refusing to meet mine.
“Dom,” I whisper.
Dom shakes his head. He doesn’t try to push me away but he doesn’t make any effort to reach out.
“Just…leave it alone, Sweetheart,” he mutters. Despite his pain, his words are gentle as though he’s afraid to hurt me.
“I can’t do that, baby,” I whisper back.
My hands reach out, my fingertips brushing the scruff on his face. Exhaustion preys on those deep, dark chocolate oases. Despite everything else telling me no, he doesn’t move out of my reach.
So, I slowly curl my arms around his neck, gently tugging him down to my level.
“It’s okay, Dom,” I tell him, quietly.“It’s okay.”
Dom breaks at those words. I feel him tremble as he presses his face into my neck, pulling me into his arms.
“Rory,” he says roughly, silent panic in his voice. “I can’t—“ He shudders.
“I know,” I tell him. I hear the door open and close as the guys get up and leave.
“Ican’tlose him,” Dom says, his accent thickening with his emotions.
“We won’t,” I swear to him. “Alec’s strong. Hewillbe okay.”
Dom shakes his head. “I pushed him away. I was so concerned about hurting our friendship but I hurt him anyway. He’ll never forgive me for that.”
I bite my lip and stay silent, just offering him comfort. Ican’tinterfere, no matter how perfect they are together.
“What if…” Dom doesn’t seem to be able to make himself say it.
