The doctor came in before she could say anything else, and I was grateful for that. I didn’t want to fight with her when she had just woken up.
He checked her vitals and asked her dozens of questions. I didn’t take my eyes off her the entire time he was talking. The part of the conversation I did catch had me turning my attention toward him.
“Also, you’ll need someone with you for a few days, just to make sure there isn’t anything that arises. Do you have someone who can look after you?”
Drea looked to Fallon, who nodded. “Of course, babe, we can?—”
“I’ll do it.” The words left my mouth before I could think them through, but I didn’t need to.
All eyes were on me as Fallon spoke. “Blair, that’s sweet of you, but we can handle it. You guys aren’t exactly?—”
“Can you guys give us a minute, please?” I asked. They looked at Drea, who nodded.
Drea looked at the nurses and the doctor. “I’ll go put in an order for some pain meds and let you get some rest.” I thanked them as they all left, leaving me and Drea alone for the first time in weeks.
When everyone was gone, Drea released our hands that were still joined together, and I looked down at the loss of contact. I had forgotten I was still holding her hands. I hated to admit it felt good. It felt really good to be connected with a piece of her again.
“Blair, I appreciate you wanting to help, but you don’t owe me anything. You were right to leave the way you did. Fallon can look after me. You should go home and get some rest.”
“You really want me to go?” I asked. I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving, but I wouldn’t stay where I wasn’t welcome.
“Of course not, I never want you to go. I just?—”
“Then please let me help. I wasn’t able to take care of my parents, and now they are gone. The thought of losing you too… I can’t handle that.” I couldn’t say the words I wanted to say:I love you and it would destroy me if you left.
“Okay, okay. I can’t argue with that logic. If you’re sure. Will you let me tell you how I feel now?” She grinned.
I shook my head. “No. You almost died, and you wouldn’t mean it. Just get some rest and feel better so you can go home tomorrow. We will talk when you’re better.”
“Fine, but my feelings won’t change whether I’m dying or not.”
That word didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t imagine a world without her—my world without her. Even though she wasn’t technically in my world anymore, I still hated the thought of losing her forever. A part of me still belonged to her… loved her.
“You’re not dying! I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.”
“I didn’t think you would.” She smirked.
“Drea, I… I owe you an apology for how I left things between us.”
She furrowed her brow and tried to sit up, but winced at the pain. “Apologize? Blair, you have nothing to apologize for. I understand why you left the way you did. I treasure any time spent with you, even if it was out of anger on your side. I hurt you, and you had every right to leave.”
I sighed. I was angry. I was so angry, but seeing her like this? The thought of losing her, like this? “Just work on getting better.”
I wanted her to get better so I wouldn’t feel guilty about leaving. I didn’t know how things were going to work out. Did I forgive her for everything? Was there a future for us? Only time would tell…
Chapter Forty-Eight
Drea
I thought I would never make it out of that hospital!I had one hell of a headache and a few broken ribs, but overall, I was lucky.
The one thing that made everything a little less painful was having Blair by my side for a few days. I was shocked when she insisted on helping.
She still thought it was her fault, but I tried to tell her it wasn’t. We all did. If it was anyone’s fault it was mine. I knew I didn’t intentionally space out, but it was still my car that hit the truck, causing the pileup. I hoped everyone else was all right.
I was still lying in bed two days later. Blair refused to let me get up unless I had to go to the bathroom. She even slept next to me, and I had to fight the urge not to touch her. I didn’t get to do that anymore.
Every few hours I was awoken by her jumping from her sleep and trying to find me, probably making sure I was still there. I hated that I made her feel that way. I was so happy to have her back, but I knew she wasn’t back in the way I wanted her to be.
