There were only a few days left until Natalie’s wedding and I had a dozen bridesmaids duties to attend to but first, I had a friend to see.
The ward was quiet when we arrived at the hospital. I immediately spotted Maia, she was impossible to miss with Eli sat next to her. He scowled when he saw us but at least nodded at me.
“Lola, I’m glad to see you’re looking well.” He turned to Alfie before I could respond. “I need a word with you.” With that, he and Alfie left us alone. I watched them go, wondering what could be so urgent. Club business perhaps. I knew Eli was arranging the transfer of ownership to Damien.
I faced my friend. She looked so small in the hospital bed, a cannula was taped to her hand. She looked tired, the kind of tired that came from being in pain. Mine probably looked similar a week ago.
“Hi,” I cringed at myself, not knowing what else to say. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. Alfie said?—”
“That I was drugged off my tits? Yeah,” she managed a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t really want to see anybody.” Maia waved at the chair that Eli had just vacated, inviting me to sit down. “I heard you ran away on a boat.”
“Yeah, I just had to get away. I guess I didn’t want to see anyone either.” I bit my lip. “Is the recovery really awful?”
“It’s not so bad. I’ve been shot before.”
“When you were in the army? That’s why you were medically discharged?” She’d told me that weeks ago but I hadn’t wanted to pry.
“Yeah. A bullet fucked my knee up so they kicked me out. This time the bullet just went straight through my side. I think the car accident messed me up more. Broken ribs are a bitch as you’ve probably figured out.”
My hands twisted in my lap as I fought back tears. “Maia, I’m really sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I insisted on going to the school myself, if I had just?—”
“It’s not your fault. None of us expected an attack like that. You had my back, you did great.”
I shook my head. “I hardly did anything. You saved my life.”
“That was my job.” She squeezed my hand. “Have you spoken to the police yet?”
“Yeah. They sent somebody to Harrington before we left on the Isabella. Alfie isn’t telling me much, I don’t think he wants to worry me.”
“Well, the couple of guys they arrested have admitted everything so no trial. They’ll probably get minimal time. They’re well connected and Alfie isn’t motivated to punish them as he knows it wasn’t personal. He just wants it done, I think.”
I nodded, absorbing her words. A part of me wanted them behind bars forever but like Alfie, a part of me just wanted it over too.
“Have you spoken to your father?” Maia asked.
“Not since he showed up when I was leaving the hospital. I know I’ll have to face him at Natalie’s wedding but I’ll just try to avoid him as much as I can.” I’d thought about him everyday. The stupid succulent he’d bought for me had watched me from my bedroom window, reminding me that my father hadpretended to care. Or maybe he really did care, but that didn’t change the damage or the deceit.
“So, Eli’s looking after you?”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Poor guy. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
“Well, he bought you chocolates.” I nodded at the selection box on the nightstand next to her. “He must be doing something right.”
“Oh, those are from Keira.”
“What? She visited you?”
“Yeah,” Maia blinked, looking like a deer in headlights, “she came back from New York early so she could see me before the wedding. I figured you’d know that.”
“I haven’t exactly been in the loop.” I’d barely switched my phone on since the accident.
“Are you mad?”
“No! Absolutely not. I’m just sorry I wasn’t here.” I took a breath. “But you and Eli, things are…working out?”
