“I want that man removed from my son’s room,” Mr. DeLuca demands. “He’s not family and therefore is not welcome.”
“Father!” Cara shrieks. “You know damn well that Tony wants him in there with him. You’re a bitter, hateful man and I think it’s safe to speak for my brother when I sayneitherof us will ever forgive you for this.”
My dad takes a step closer to Cara. He places his hand on her shoulder, looking into the room. Our eyes meet and he seems…sad. He’s not eager to do this. He’s not angry to hear that I’ve found a man that wants me in his life. A vice tightens around my body making it hard to draw a breath.
“Ma’am, you need to calm down,” my father informs Cara. He stares her down with eyes that I know are just as deep as my own. “Is that young man your brother’s boyfriend?” he questions.
“No, sir.” She reaches for Andrew, pulling him close to her back. He wraps his arms around her middle, resting his hands on her stomach. “He’s more than that. They were recently engaged and I know Tony wants Dom by his side. HeneedsDom by his side if he’s going to get through this.”
My father closes his eyes and wrings his hands. When he opens them, I know shit’s about to get real in a hurry. His expression is the one that I’ve only seen a few times in my life, when I fucked up beyond belief.
“Sir, I’m inclined to believe what your daughter is saying,” he says bluntly. “I was on-duty in the emergency department when that young man ran into the building, falling apart because the man he loves was dying. I’ve seen him when I was doing my rounds, sitting in the waiting room, praying with your daughter that your son would make it through the night—”
“That’s just dandy,” Mr. DeLuca bites out. “But none of that changes the fact that he’snotfamily. I would appreciate it if you would do your job and remove him so I can find out how my son is doing.”
My dad steps so close to Mr. DeLuca that I’m sure he can feel the rage coming off Tony’s father in waves. But it’s okay because Tricolis stand up for what they believe in and don’t back down to anyone.
“Sir, if you truly want that, I will have to abide by your wishes.” My heart drops. I don’t blame my father; he’s bound by the regulations of the hospital. “But before I do anything, I want you to think about something and think hard. Are you willing toneversee your child again when he finds out what you’ve done?
“I understand more than you will ever believe what it’s like to find out your child, your son, is gay. I know what it’s like to sit up late at night and wonder where you went wrong and what you did to make him this way. But more than all of that, I know what it’s like to sit home alone on Christmas, wondering if you’ll ever see him again because you’ve said so many hateful things to him over the years, making it known that you will never wholly love him, simply because of who he is.”
Tears stream down my face. I wonder how much of what he’s saying is for Mr. DeLuca and how much is things he can’t bring himself to say directly to me. The kid in me wants to lurch out of my chair and throw my arms around my father’s neck, thanking him for jumping to my defense, but I won’t give Mr. DeLuca the satisfaction. If he knew who he was speaking to, I’m certain he would demand a supervisor come to the floor immediately, which would likely wind up with a different outcome.
“I can see you thinking.” My father’s tone is low and menacing. “I’d love to give you all day, but there are other matters I need to tend to, so what will it be? Am I going to kick out the man that any parent should hope their child fall in love with or are you going to act like a reasonable human being? I’m sure that’ll be a stretch for you, but someday, you’ll thank me.”
“Where do you think you get off speaking to me this way?” Mr. DeLuca sneers.
“I’m speaking to you this way because it’s apparent to me that I, a lowly security guard, know more about your son’s relationship than you do.” My father steps away, easing his posture. Andrew looks like he’s about ready to bust out laughing, while Cara and her mother gape at my father. Andrew looks into the room and smirks. I nod, biting my lips so I don’t start laughing. Of all the guards in all the hospitals, they wound up calling my father, who seems to have had an about face in his own bigoted thinking.
“Nurse, please call the attending physician and have him meet me in the family waiting room,” Mr. DeLuca barks at the first person he sees. “And Caroline, if you could please ask that boy if he could take a break from his bedside vigil, I would appreciate it. I won’t have him removed, but I also have no intention of sharing my time with my son with him.”
I let out the breath I’ve been holding, lifting Tony’s hand to my lips. “Baby, I’m going to take off for a bit, but I’ll be back. I love you,” I whisper in his ear. Tony opens his eyes, letting me know he’s fully aware of the altercation in the hall. Whether or not he’ll remember it when the drugs wear off is another story, but I’m not concerned with that right now.
“Love you. Hurry back.” Tony gives me the best duck lips he can manage and I bend over to kiss his goofy face before leaving.
I walk out of the room, not acknowledging the man I would love to knock out right now. My dad reaches up to squeeze my shoulder but says nothing to give away our relationship. I flash a quick smile in his direction before turning to walk down the hall. While I wait for the elevators, I tap out a quick text to Andrew, letting him know that I’m going back to the house to shower and change. I still don’t feel right about leaving, but this is what’s best for Tony.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tony
It’s beenfive days since the accident that I was sure was going to kill me. I chuckled the first time the doctors told me how lucky I am to be alive because they only saw the aftermath. I’m the one who lived through every second of it. The last thing that went through my mind before I fell unconscious was that I was going to die and put Dom through the pain no one should go through in his life. And he was going to have to do it twice.
Dom does a double take when he walks into the room. Thanks to the help of my nurses, I’m sitting in my wheelchair beside the bed. He leans over to kiss me, keeping his hands hidden behind his back. “Whatcha got there?” I ask. If not for this fucking brace, I’d lunge toward him because I know it’s something to eat. Last night, he asked me what I wish I could have while I was bitching about the nasty shit they try to pass off as food around here.
He hands me a raspberry malt and my face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. “The nurses said it was fine, but you have to take it slow.” I take the lid off the paper cup so I can use the spoon because I have zero patience and no interest in taking it slow. Dom can’t really expect that much from me when I haven’t had anything that tasted like more than soggy cardboard since I got here.
Dom snatches the cup out of my hands, earning what I hope is a menacing glare. “Gimme,” I demand, reaching for the cup, trying to ignore this fucking plastic brace that keeps me from moving the way I want to.
“Only if you take it slow,” he reminds me. “And if you’re up to it, Bev said we can take you outside today, too.”
Music to my fucking ears. There’s almost nothing worse than being cooped up in the hospital when it’s gorgeous outside. I haven’t bitched about it because there was a period when I faced amuchworse alternative, and I’ll take being caged in here over being dead any day of the fucking week.
“Fine,” I pout. Dom pulls a chair up next to me and we sit in silence until the last drop of my malt is gone. “Now can we go outside?”
True to his word, Dom heads out to get Bev and she gives us the okay to go outside, but only for a little while. We head to a small courtyard and sit watching the cars drive by until it’s time to go back in. There’s no conversation because we’re both pretty much talked out after a few days with nothing to do but talk and sleep when I’m not in therapy. The accident has completely changed my outlook on life. I don’t need to be the spastic one, the life of the party. Sometimes, just knowing there’s someone who loves you sitting next to you is enough.
Dom notices the moment the pain gets to be too much. I’m trying to not take the pills any more than I have to, but something as simple as sitting takes a toll on my body right now. He pushes me inside and back to my room. Once I’m back in bed, yet another task I can’t wait to be able to do on my own, he takes his place at my side, but doesn’t sit.
