29
SIERRA
Blood rushesin my ears so loud I can barely hear my own breathing. The second Mom stops the car, I’m already shoving my door open, my feet hitting the pavement before she’s even in park.
“Sierra, wait. I need your help with Harper.”
I force myself to stop. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to run inside, to find Julian, to see with my own eyes that he’s still breathing. But Mom is right. Harper hasn’t stopped shaking since we got the call, and right now, she looks like she might shatter if anyone breathes on her too hard.
The drive here was a blur of tears and terror. We didn’t get details from the hospital. Just that Julian was hurt and we needed to come.
Matteo’s mom hugged me before we left, promising to pray for Julian. Then we piled into the car and drove like hell, and the whole time my mind kept spinning through worst-case scenarios. I couldn’t stop no matter how hard I tried.
I yank open the back door and reach for Harper. Her mascara is smeared down her cheeks, and when she grabs my arm, her fingers dig in hard enough to leave marks.
“He’s going to be okay,” I reassure her as I guide her toward the entrance. The words taste like a lie, but I push them out anyway. “Whatever happened, Julian’s strong. He’ll pull through.”
Please let him pull through.
Harper sniffles against my shoulder. “I’m so scared.”
“I know.” I tighten my grip on her. “Let’s just get inside.”
We follow Mom to the information desk, then to the elevators. Sarah and Audrey trail behind us, both silent. The elevator feels too small, too slow. When the doors finally open, we spot the nurses’ station and make a beeline there.
“Julian Dixon,” Mom says to the nurse. “He’s my son. Where is he?”
“He’s in surgery, ma’am.”
Harper’s knees buckle. I catch her, barely, my own legs feeling like they might give out too.
“What kind of surgery?” Mom’s voice cracks. “What are his injuries?”
“I’ll have the doctor come speak with you as soon as he’s done operating.”
The sympathy in the nurse’s eyes makes me want to throw up.
We find seats in the waiting area, and I pull out my phone with trembling fingers. The words blur as I type.
Julian was in an accident. He’s in the hospital. Don’t know when I’ll be home.
I hit send and stare at the screen, willing it to light up. Willing Matteo to respond. I don’t let myself think about why that matters so much right now.
My phone buzzes.
Which hospital?
The tightness in my shoulders loosens just a fraction.
Mountain View.
“The doctor’s coming,” Sarah announces.
I shove my phone back in my purse without waiting for his reply and stand up, my heart beating loud in my ears.
The surgeon is wearing blue scrubs and a black bandana over his hair. His expression is carefully neutral, which is somehow worse than if he looked upset. He focuses on Harper when she introduces herself.
“Your husband has several injuries,” he says. “From what we understand, he was struck by a vehicle. The impact threw him onto the hood before he fell to the pavement. He has a fractured femur, three broken ribs, and multiple contusions.”
