“Like hell I will,” Salem stated.
“Salem,” Cas said.
She collapsed against his side. “Fine. I’ll bite my tongue.”
“There’s a first,” I quipped, reaching a hand out to my friend who took it immediately.
“Muddy, Dad and Jane wanted to come, but they thought you’d be overwhelmed,” Salem said.
“I don’t know why they’d think that,” I joked. I dropped Salem’s hand and leaned back against the pillows. “I’m sorry I scared everyone.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Hadley said, moving out of Declan’s arms to come closer to my bedside.
I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Someone call Wyn. She’s probably worried sick.”
“I already called her,” Brooks said.
I frowned. “When?”
“When they were taking care of you after you got admitted,” he explained.
“Oh, well, thank you for that,” I said.
“When do you get out of here?” Cas asked.
“I don’t know. Soon, I hope,” I said.
“I don’t have my truck to drive us back,” Brooks stated. “I rode with you in the ambulance.”
“I can wait around,” Archer announced. “I can drive you both back to town.”
“What about my car?” I asked. “It’s still on the forest road, right?”
“We can take care of that,” Declan said. “And Brooks’ truck. Right, Cas?”
“Yeah, we got it covered.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Brooks rose from his seat and fished around in his pocket. He handed two sets of keys to Declan. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Cas slapped him on the back. “That’s what family’s for.”
I lowered my head toward my chest and closed my eyes, hoping the tears wouldn’t fall.
Hadley and Salem gently hugged me, enveloping me in their arms.
The four of them left and it was just Archer who remained with Brooks and I. It wasn’t long until the nurse came to discharge me with instructions about monitoring my concussion.
“You’ll have someone spend the night with you, yes?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Good. And remember, if anything changes, like if your headache gets worse instead of better, you come back immediately. And when I say if anything changes, I mean anything, understand?”
“I promise,” I said.
She unhooked me from the IV and after she cleaned up my arm, I climbed out of bed. Archer stood back while Brooks helped me into my shoes, keeping his arm around me. After I was dressed, we made our way to the hospital lobby.
