Against my better judgement, I walk over and place a hand on her shoulder, sitting in the chair beside her. Her eyes are puffy and glistening. I don’t know what I’m doing exactly, but I can’t sit across the room and do nothing. Not when she’s like this. Her face scrunches as tears roll down her cheeks. She collapses to my chest, her shoulders shaking, and I wrap my arms around her. This is probably a bad idea. She’s supposed to hate me. That’s how this works, but she needs someone. And as much as I hate to admit this, I think that someone is me.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Like I’ve had my heart ripped out and then shoved back in upside down.”
I snort a laugh. “I’m so sorry.”
When she pulls back again and speaks, her voice is softer. “Thank you for answering.”
The way she’s looking at me makes me feel raw and exposed. Like she can see straight through the mask I’ve been hiding behind.
“Always.” I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry I ever made you feel like I wouldn’t be there if you needed me.”
She swallows, blinking as she collects herself. “I appreciate this, but it changes nothing.”
“I know.” I nod. “It’s fine.”
With a finger under her chin,I tilt her head. “Let me be what you need tonight, and tomorrow you can go back to hating me.”
And that’s a bad move. I know. She’s not mine.
But I can’t sit back and watch her go through this alone.
A nurse appears from around the corner, glancing around the packed room. “Are you the family of Mr. Michaels?”
Ash lifts her head. “Is he okay?”
“Yes, we’re just waiting for a room, then he’ll be moved. He’s very lucky. If he hadn’t been brought in when he was, he probably wouldn’t be here.”
A cracked sob leaves her throat, and she covers her mouth with a hand, muffling her words when she says, “Can I see him?”
The nurse nods. “We had to give him something. He was very agitated when he came to. He’s tired, but he’s awake. I’ll take you back.” She smiles as Ash jumps up, scurrying after her.
No one says a word for long minutes as we wait for Ash to come back.
“I’m his fucking father!” someone shouts from the front desk. I grind my molars.I know that voice.
JT throws his arm out. “I got it. Stay here.”
A few of the other guys follow him out of the waiting room.
When he comes back and plops down beside me, there’s a deep crease between his brows. “He left. I sent one of the guys to trail him.”
I run a hand down my face and groan. “What the fuck did he want?”
“To see Shane, I guess. They told him Shane didn’t want to see him.”
“No shit. What made him think he would to begin with?”
JT shakes his head.
“This fucking night.”
“I know what you mean.” He snorts, going silent for a moment before adding, “I get why you’re doing all this, but you should take a step back. I can take Ash home later.”
He’s probably right, but not a fucking chance.
“It’s fine. It’s not like that.”
