Lincoln’s eyelids smashed down, and then rose up. Tiny slits allowed the barest hint of white and blue to peek out. He licked his lips, and the slits grew. He blinked hard a few times before opening his eyes completely. Dom silently cheered and nearly fell over with relief.
“I’ll tell the nurse,” Trey said then skipped out.
Dom cupped Lincoln’s cheek, finally snagging his friend’s undivided attention. Lincoln stared blankly for a long, painful moment. And then recognition set in. A soft, choked “Hey” barely made it past his lips.
“Hey yourself.” Dom kissed his forehead. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Where?”
“You’re in the hospital. We were in a car accident last night. Everyone else is okay, though. You were the one scaring us the most, but now you’re awake and you’re going to be fine.”
“Head hurts.”
“Well, you slammed it through a window and into a wooden pole, so yeah, it’s gonna hurt.”
Lincoln turned that over in his mind. “Ugh. You okay?”
“I got off easy. Few bumps and bruises and some minor cuts. Tyson fractured his arm and Benji’s got some bad cuts. Joshuawas hurt pretty bad but he’s on the mend now. You were the last one we needed to see pull through.”
Trey returned with a cup of ice chips and a nurse in tow. She checked his vitals while Dom soothed Lincoln’s chapped lips with the ice. He hated seeing his friend so weak and vulnerable. But Lincoln was a fighter, and he’d be home in no time. Home to Dom’s parents’ house, so he could be smothered properly until he was back on his feet.
The nurse did a couple of basic neural checks, which Lincoln passed. She seemed satisfied with her exam. “I’ll let his doctor know,” she said. “Meanwhile, you boys have about five minutes before visiting hours are over for the day. So say your good-nights, okay?”
Dom kind of loved that she hadn’t told them to say their good-byes.
“I’ll go tell your parents the good news, okay?” Trey said. “See you out there. Lincoln, I’m glad you’re okay. I mean it.”
Lincoln offered a weak thumbs-up and a wink.
After Trey left, Dom had the very real urge to bundle Lincoln up into a bear hug and never let go. Only the chance of further damaging his best friend kept him from climbing right onto that bed.
“They’re going to make me leave soon, but I’ll be back in the morning. I’ll bring better books to read when you’re sleeping.”
Lincoln smiled. “You read to me?”
“Yeah. I wanted you to hear my voice. So you didn’t think you were alone. Because you aren’t. Not as long as I’m around. Hell, even if I was gone my parents still think of you as one of their kids. You’ll always have family to love you.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“I love you, man. No matter what.”
“Love you too, Dom.”
He held Lincoln’s hand until the nurse shooed him out. He left the ICU a bit lighter than when he’d first walked in. Lincoln was awake, aware, and didn’t seem to have any major side effects from his blow to the head. Sure, it was still early and the doctor had to examine him, but Dom took that hope and tucked it in close to his heart.
Anything less than Lincoln back at one hundred percent was unacceptable.
TWENTY-THREE
Trey hated not beingable to spend more time with Dominic on Thursday, but Bobby threatened his favorite anatomical parts if Trey wasn’t home for a good long practice session. They were leaving for New York in the morning, and even though they could play their set backward and forward and probably in their sleep, Bobby was in charge—and if his gentle tone during their second phone call wasn’t proof enough, Bobby also said he was willing to give Trey a second chance.
“Our little patchwork family is more important than a lie,” Bobby had said.
Trey couldn’t agree more.
And it wasn’t as if he had any more huge secrets lingering between himself and his bandmates.
He spent the morning with Dominic and his parents, taking turns visiting with Lincoln. He still slept a lot of the time, but was aware and coherent during the brief periods he was awake. Trey hoped the improvements were enough for Dominic to agree to what he’d already set in motion the day before.
