“Lead the way.”
We climbed into the limo parked out front and Jake took my hand as we rode to the hospital. He helped me out of the car, sliding his tuxedo jacket over my shoulders as we headed into the emergency room.
A nurse pointed us to Dylan’s room, and we walked in to find her gigglingat something Asher said. She was sitting up in the bed, her arm bandaged, cheeks rosy, and a goofy grin stretched across her face.
“Oh, Addie,” she crooned, her voice slow and a little slurred. “You’re here.”
“Of course I’m here. How are you? I can’t believe you got shot. How bad is it?”
“Pfft. I cut myself worse shaving. But check this out.” She threw back the thin hospital blanket coveringher. “Not a drop of blood on this dress. I totally rocked it.”
“It’s a little worse than a shaving cut,” Asher said, watching her. His eyes were filled with a mixture of worry and relief when his gaze met mine. “But it’s a lot better than it could have been.”
The meaning sunk in, squeezing my chest tight. I took a moment to watch my goofy, crazy friend—unable to comprehend my life without her—beforerushing in to hug her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Are you in pain?”
Asher laughed. “She’s so high, she wouldn’t know if she was in pain.”
“He’s right,” she said, giggling again. “I’m sooooo high.” Another giggle. “I don’t know what they gave me, but we should try to take some home. I’ll totally share.”
Jake cleared his throat behind me.
“I’m just kidding, Jake, sheesh. I’m keeping them allfor me.”
I sighed in relief and felt Jake at my back. I leaned against him. “When can you go home?”
“Anytime,” Asher answered for her. “We were just waiting for you.” He stood and joined me on the other side of the bed. Lowering his voice, he said, “Dad called. I filled him in.”
“And?”
“That’s it. They said they were glad she was okay and told me to tell her to get well soon.”
I groaned.“How did we end up with the biggest douchebags as parents?”
He shrugged. “Lucky, I guess?”
“Well, we don’t need them. We have our little tribe and that’s good enough for me.”
“Me too, Sis.” He smiled, hugging me. “I’m glad you’re okay too, you know.”
I hugged him back. “Ditto.”
“I’ll go find the nurse and we’ll get Dylan signed out.”
Asher left the room and I glanced over at my friend whowas waving her fingers in the air.
“Whoa, totally weird man,” she said, then laughed. “I sound like I’m in a Cheech and Chong movie. Totally weird, man.” More hysterical laughing.
“Super sensitive to drugs, I take it?” Jake asked.
I giggled. “You have no idea. You should see her after one Tylenol PM.”
He chuckled and slid his arm around my waist, leaning down to whisper, “I’m really gladshe’s okay.”
I blinked back tears and nodded. “Me too.”
After signing Dylan out, getting her meds filled, and loading her into the limo (a hard job, considering she kept trying to get out of the wheelchair to visit with other patients), we headed back to our apartment.
By the time the limo pulled into the parking garage, Dylan was out, which meant Asher had to carry her up. My brother was built,but Dylan was tall, and pretty much dead weight by that point. So when he scooped her up and pulled her close, I was awed and a little surprised.
