Page 57 of Toxic Kiss

The man of the hour is lying so still. I don’t want to say too much, not yet. Not until Cy has the chance to tell his side of the events.

“Maybe overexertion. Maybe a medication conflict. Maybe dehydration. Maybe a combination. We’ll know more once Cy wakes up and can give us some answers.”

“Tell him I’m on my way,” Anita shrieks in the background.

I cover my eyes. Oh dear god, the last thing any of us needs, least of all Cy, is his mother coming here.

“You don’t have to come home from Brazil early. I’ll call with updates. And I’m sure Cy will call as soon as he wakes up.”

“I’m his mother,” she practically growls, the sound so loud she might as well have yelled it. Demon. That’s the only word that comes to mind. “We’re both coming, and don’t you think for one minute that you’re keeping me away from my son.”

I really want to say, “You mean your money maker,” but for Cy’s sake, I keep my mouth shut.

“I’d never dream of it,” I say sarcastically.

My father clears his throat.

“We’ll get ahead of this. Declan has already done a great job. You just focus on Cy, and we’ll see you sometime today,” he says briskly.

“But, Dad⁠—”

“Don’t worry. This isn’t the first time a star has collapsed, and it won’t be the last. You need to prep a PR statement,” he instructs, but if feels more like he is just giving me busy work. “You’re now a face for the company and will need to update your socials. Once he’s awake, get him in the hospital bed, waving for the camera. They’ll love that.”

I glare at my phone.

“I’m not turning this moment into a circus. What the hell?”

“You do what your father says. We need to protect Cyrus by making sure the fans are behind him, not against him. You’d think you’d know that from all of your so-called schooling,” Anita says.

I want to reach through the phone and choke her.

“Can we not treat him like a headline for five fucking minutes?”

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line.

“Rock Star, I know you care about him. I get it, we all do. But this is part of the job. We need to remain loyal and loving, but diligent about the business. Two hats, Haven. Two hats and you need to wear both at the same time. Understand?”

“I guess.”

“Good, then it’s settled. Figure out ways we can spin this for positive PR. See you soon. Love you, Rock Star.”

Click.

I stare at the glowing screen in disbelief.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Lying my head back, I close my eyes and try not to let the conversation or this moment get to me, but I fail miserably.

The scent of lemony disinfectant, the squeak of the nurse’s shoes in the hall, even the sound of a car horn from the street below all set me more on edge.

I assumed the worst was over when Cy was brought into this room, and the doctor spoke to us. But the waiting is so much worse. I sat in a room just like this and watched my mother slowly wither away one drip of chemo at a time. I’m not sure I can ever do that again.

Needing something to focus on, I end up staring at the hands of the clock as they slowly move around the face. Each hour feels like an eternity. Eleven. Twelve. One. Two. Three. They all come and go. It’s now 3:27 a.m., and I know I need sleep, but it’s no use.

“I’m going to get coffee. Do you want one?”

My eyes open, and I look at Ledger.