“Thanks,” I murmured, standing on shaky legs.
As soon as I was down the hall and could see the waiting room, my focus zeroed in on the familiar faces of everyone.All the guys were there.So was Dad.They were pacing anxiously or talking softly with each other.My family.
Dad spotted me first and had me in his arms before I could draw in a breath and say anything.A moment later, I could feel the others gathering closer.No one said anything.There was nothing to say in this situation.
“Janice just went to the bathroom.She’ll be right back,” Seth said.
I nodded against Dad’s chest.
As soon as Janice returned, we were whisked away back home and away from the hospital.
There was a reason I really didn’t like hospitals and today cemented that even more.
Chapter Twenty-One
My fingers were beginningto ache from the hours I spent playing with my guitar.It was still better than sitting still and letting that entire attack replay for the hundredth time in my mind.A couple days later, and it still haunted me every time I blinked.All I needed to do was keep myself distracted for a few more hours before I had to head over to the Christmas concert at the rec center.
I strummed the guitar wrong and grimaced, forcing myself to stop, letting the last familiar note dissipate in my ears.I carefully put the guitar down and peeked out through the window.
The police car was still sitting there.One of them was always sitting there since the hospital attack.Unfortunately, no more information had been found.All they knew for sure was they had to have been hired and someone related to the Ryder gang was essentially cleaning up loose ends, including that doctor.That meant they still wanted Janice.
The cops were a constant presence in our lives now, but it hadn’t helped Janice much.She was still terrified and I wasn’t sure how to help her.Janice was always glancing out the window to make sure the police were still there, and she was flinching at unexpected movements and sounds.I didn’t see her all that much either since she’d been locking herself up in her bedroom, talking to her fiancé late into the night and then crying until morning.
I wanted to be able to wipe the dark circles under her eyes away or to steady her hands every time they trembled.It hurt seeing her suffer like that, but every time I tried to do something to distract her, Janice dismissed me.If she even noticed.
Feeling heavy, I headed downstairs to the kitchen, but paused by Janice’s door.It was slightly open and I could hear her muffled voice.She was on the phone, her voice low and strained, terror seeping into her words.
I listened more carefully.
“I don’t know why I came back,” Janice said, her words thick with emotion.“Maybe this wouldn’t have happened if I just stayed away.”
She paused to listen to whatever was being said and then replied, “You don’t understand.”Her voice rose slightly.“I do want to make things right.I need to make things right, but now someone is out there who wants me dead and I’m putting everyone around me in danger because of it.”
She shook her head.“No.Of course not.”
My heart ached as I listened, peeking through the door.Janice was pacing in front of her bed now, wiping at her face as tears fell.
