“Because I heard you and Mom. You two talk pretty loudly for people who want to keep things quiet. Especially while someone—me—was trying to sleep.”
“You heard us talking?”
“Yes,” she said slowly and gave me a curious look. “How’s your head injury? Do you need to have that checked?”
“Maybe,” I said, feeling a little confused. “Let me get your mom.”
“Okay,” Ariel yawned.
“On second thought, I’ll stay here and keep you talking. If you’re asleep when she gets back, it will crush her.”
“She’d never leave this room again,” Ariel agreed.
“I knew it,” Presley said as she entered the room. “I knew you’d wake up if I left the room.”
“No, you didn’t,” Ariel said.
“No,” Presley said, and burst into tears. “I didn’t.” They spent a few minutes embracing and talking before Presley said we needed to let Ariel’s nurse know she was awake.
While several people came in to examine her, I stepped out and called Presley’s parents.
“She’s awake,” I said when Eugene answered.
“Hot damn!” he said excitedly. “Wait. Is she …?”
“There was nothing obvious. She hasn’t been awake long, but her speech is clear, and she remembers what happened.”
“Hot damn!” he shouted again. “We’ll be right there. Alice!” I heard him shout before he disconnected the call.
I scrolled to Jake’s name and paused, my finger hovering over his name. He was also staying at the hotel near the hospital, and he’d asked someone to let him know when Ariel woke up, but something was making me hesitate.
I was still standing in the hall trying to figure out what it was when the doctor stepped out of Ariel’s room, which was also when Eugene and Alice arrived.
“What did the doctor say?” Eugene asked while Alice embraced Ariel.
“He said they would keep monitoring her. If she continues to improve, they might transfer her to a regular room later today,” Presley said.
“And if she doesn’t continue to improve?” Alice asked.
“She’ll stay in the ICU.”
“I’ll be fine,” Ariel insisted weakly. “But my head really hurts.”
“You and Nana will have matching scars,” Eugene said.
“What?” Ariel asked as her eyes widened with surprise before she grimaced in pain. “My hair?”
Presley zapped her dad with a laser glare before turning much softer eyes to Ariel. “You have a cut on the back of your head that had to be closed with staples. Yes, it will leave a scar, but they didn’t have to shave your head to close it, and your hair will cover it.”
“Sorry, doodlebug. I didn’t realize you didn’t know about the cut,” Eugene said.
“I had time to think while I was napping, and I’ve decided I’m going to do what Ink does. I will only accept apologies that are offered with food,” Ariel announced.
“That’s a good one,” Eugene laughed. “You name it, doodlebug, and it’s yours.”
“Not yet,” Presley interrupted. “She hasn’t been cleared for regular food yet.”
“You’d think they’d at least let you have ice cream after stabbing an aspiring rapist and getting whacked in the head,” Ariel grumbled.
