“Youtackledhim?!” I don’t bother keeping my voice down. I run down the stairs as fast as I can. “Andrew, what the hell were you thinking? I always knew you were an asshole, but this is taking it to a whole new level, don’t you think?”
“It was an accident.” Irritation laces his tone. “Don’t you think I feel bad enough as it is? We already talked it through. We forgave each other.”
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s forgiven you, because I never will!” I don’t register the tears streaming down my cheeks until the cool night air hits my face. “You can say whatever you want to me, Andrew. I’ve been taking it for as long as you’ve been alive. It doesn’t faze me anymore. But I thought he was your best friend, that he was the last person you’d ever want to hurt. I thought whatever amount of decency you’re capable of extended to him, at least, if not to your own sister.”
“Did Elena bother to tell you that he hit me first? Does that mean anything to you, or am I still dead last on the list of people you care about?”
“You’re not the one sitting in a hospital room being checked out by doctors, are you?” I scoff. “Where are you guys?”
“We’re at Methodist, but we’ll probably be out of here by the time you arrive,” he says. “He already got cleared to leave. They’re just giving him instructions for tonight.”
A well of relief washes over me. He’s not staying the night at a hospital, which is a good sign. He’ll be home soon. But it’s not enough to ease the ache tightening in my chest.
“Put him on the phone.”
“Leti, come on.” He huffs, like I’m being unreasonable. “He’s had a long night.”
“Put. Him. On. The. Phone.” I grit my teeth. “You think I’m gonna believe your word alone when you’re the reason he’s there in the first place?”
He lets out a long sigh, and then there’s some static and shuffling before a new voice comes on the line. “Leticia.”
All the fight in me deflates at the sound of his voice. “Julian.God.Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he says. “We’re heading back now. I didn’t mean to worry you—”
“I’ll be worried if I want to be,” I grumble, the sound of his chuckle filling my ear. “You’re really okay?”
“I’m not allowed to sleep uninterrupted tonight, but I’m okay,” he assures me. “No more bleeding, and my head barely hurts anymore.”
I’m sure he’s lying, but I let him think he’s comforting me anyway. “I’m glad to hear that. You’re on your way back now?”
“Yeah, I’m all clear,” he says. “Perfectly fine. Trust me.”
It’s not that I don’t believe him. That’s not what’s keeping me from walking back upstairs. That’s not what’s leading my feet to his front door instead. It’s only that I need to see him with my own two eyes. When we hang up, my back hits the wall outside his door and slides down until I’m crouched on the floor.
And then I wait.
30
Julian
She’s sitting outside my apartment when we get back. Leti’s still in that black dress that looks way too good on her, her hair a mess of waves falling past one shoulder and mascara smeared across her eyes and down her cheeks. This is the last place I thought I’d find her after what happened tonight.
“Am I hallucinating, or are you really here?”
“That depends on who you think I am.” She moves to rise to her feet, and belatedly I reach down to offer my hand. Gratefully, she takes it. Wet, red-rimmed eyes fill with concern as she looks me over. “How are you feeling? Before you even think about it, don’t lie to me.”
“I’m fine, Leticia, I swear. Just exhausted, which is inconvenient for a concussed person dreaming of hours and hours of uninterrupted sleep.” I’m about to say more, ask her why she’s here and if she was crying because of what her brother said or the fight we got into or both, when Andrew and Diego turn a corner, coming into view.
When we got to the parking lot, Diego held him back so they could come up with a plan for tonight. As it turns out, I am allowed to sleep, but the doctor said it’d be best if someone stayedwith me overnight to wake me every few hours and check on my basic cognitive abilities. Despite us making up, Diego was wary of leaving Andrew and me alone for the night in case another argument broke out between us that could potentially aggravate my injury.
“What are you doing here?” Andrew asks Leti as they stop beside us.
“I don’t want you staying with him tonight.” She faces her brother. “Don’t argue with me on this. I don’t care if you’ve already made up. It’s not a good idea, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone with him.”
“I was planning on staying with them tonight,” Diego cuts in before Andrew has a chance. “We figured we could take turns waking up to check on Julian, that way both of us get some sleep.”
“I’ll do it,” Leti says, surprising everyone. “I’m not going to get any sleep tonight anyway.”
