He nodded. “I’m high as fuck right now.” Then he pointed to a morphine pump beside his bed.
I cracked a smile. His sense of humor and lack of pain brought me some form of relief. Reaching out, he grasped my face and gently ran his finger over my lips. “I’m sorry this happened, if I scared you.”
I frowned. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”
He shook his head. “The roads were slick. I shouldn’t have taken my bike. I shouldn’t have even gone to the store.”
He was beating himself up. “No, hey, don’t say that. You’re a great driver.”
He was. Always safe. And played by the rules.
I wanted to scream that I thought Bryce did this. It was burning a hole in my tongue, but I didn’t want to upset him.
He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I’m glad to be alive.” Then he looked at me. “To be with you.”
My heart fluttered. “I’m glad to be with you too.” I leaned closer, careful not to hurt him, and ran my fingers through his hair.
“Hailey?” he whispered, his cobalt eyes looking right through me.
My heart beat wildly in my chest. “What?” I leaned even closer. What was he going to tell me?Did he think it was Bryce too?
“I probably shouldn’t say this, because I’m totally high and not thinking right, but … I’m so fucking in love with you. I didn’t want to die without telling you that. Thank you for dropping your walls and letting me in. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
It was like all of the air had been sucked from the room; my throat constricted with emotion and tears lined my eyes. A buzzing high zipped through my body as happiness poured into my every limb.
Ethan King loved me.
I was loved. I was worthy and deserving of real love, something Bryce had made me forget.
He was high, sure, but that just made you tell the truth right? He fucking loved me.
“I love you too.” My voice shook and Ethan grinned, a loopy grin that only one on drugs could give.
He looked down at his body, seemingly noticing all the pins and metal for the first time. “Why do I look like a robot?”
I laughed. “You shattered your femur and broke some ribs. They had to build everything with metal screws and plates, but you’ll be okay.”
He nodded, his eyes growing heavy. “That fucking car. People never look for motorcycles.”
I stroked his hand. “I know. I’m sorry. Get some rest.”
I didn’t want to upset him by probing right now.
“Fuck that white SUV,” Ethan mumbled before falling asleep.
White SUV.
White Range Rover SUV?
Chills broke out on my arms, and a deep knowing came over me. Bryce was sick in the head and he’d tried to kill my new boyfriend. I was sure of it now. I never should have doubted my intuition.
I was going to make him regret the fucking day he’d been born.
I had one more chance at a happily-ever-after and he wasn’t going to ruin it for me.
Slipping out of the room, I told the nurse at the nurses’ station I was going to send another friend back to sit with Ethan while I ran an errand.
Walking out to see the waiting room was empty but for James, I beelined it over to my new friend.
