When she doesn’t say anything, frustration gets the best of me. “Put yourself in my shoes, Jo. Would you have wanted to deliver the bad news to my mom? So yes, I procrastinated. I’m not proud of that, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that her husband of almost thirty years couldn’t keep it in his goddamn pants.” I scrub my face with my palm. “Anyway, I felt like I owed it to my mother to tell her first before I talked to Ethan or anyone else aboutit.”
“I know that was a rough time for you,” she whispers. For a moment, it looks like she wants to say more, butdoesn’t.
We’re quiet for a long stretch as I mull over the events of the last few days. “I had no idea Samantha was so unhinged. I feel responsible. Like I triggered her orsomething.”
Joey fiddles with a tie on her hospital gown. “Samantha told me she was your girlfriend. That y’all have been together for years, and Zach was yourson.”
Pure hot rage boils up in me at the thought of Samantha trying to manipulate Joey. That she went to such lengths to hurt my girl. No wonder Joey didn’t want to see me while she’s been in the hospital. “Samantha and I haveneverbeen like that. Honestly, the idea grossed me out. She slept with my dad and then wanted to get with me?” I shudder. “No,thanks.”
“What… what happened to her? After she knocked me out, I mean.” Joey glances at the door. “Is she here? Do I need to be worried she’s going to come after meagain?”
“No. She’s not here. She was arrested the night she attacked you, but I’ve been camped outside your door since you were admitted, so even if she was on the loose, she’d never get to you.” I sigh, relief rushing through me to finally see Bitsy. “I swear to God, Jo. I’ve never been more scared than coming home to find you likethat.”
Needing a moment, I lean forward and close my eyes. “After she took a goddamn bat to your head, she stuffed you in the closet.” The cops found the bloody bat under mycouch.
I share the details of how I came home and the strange conversation I had with Samantha before Rambo startedbarking.
“Rambo foundme?”
For the first time in days, I smile. “He did. Our little guy wouldn’t stop barking at the hallway closet. He knew you were in there.” But the smile drops off my face when I remember how close I was to losing her. “Jo, there was so much blood. I was terrified, baby.” I reach for her hand, and she lets me take it. “The doctor told me that if Samantha had shifted a hair to the right, she could’ve crushed your eye socket. If I’d come home any later, you could’vedied.”
I clear my throat. “I’m so fucking sorry for everything, Jo. For putting you in this position. If I had just told you what was going on, you could’ve protected yourself.” As gently as possible, I hug her. She’s stiff in my arms, and I get it. I fucked up. Badly. Even if Jo forgives me for what happened, I’m not sure I can forgive myself. I let her go, hoping like hell she’ll give me anotherchance.
The door opens behind us, and I turn to wipe myeyes.
“What’s up, assholes?” Silas smirks from his wheelchair. He’s being pushed by a petiteblonde.
Joey sniffles and tries to stand. I hold her elbow so she doesn’t wobble. I don’t think she realizes the toll her body’s beenthrough.
“What happened to you, Silas?” she asksquietly.
I smile at my former best friend, not caring one bit about the dumb shit he’s said about me and my family over the years. In the moment of our greatest need, he was there. But more than anything, he came through for his sister. “Silas is the one who saved your life. Mine too,probably.”
Silas chuckles and points to me with the hand that’s not in a sling. “That bitch was waving a gun in Logan’s face, and your crazy-ass boyfriend is hovering over your body and trying to help you. He’s freaking the fuck out. There’s blood everywhere. And Logan sounds just like Clint Eastwood inDirty Harrywhen he tells that psycho, ‘The only way I’m going anywhere with you is if you shoot me and drag my dead bodyalong.’”
He’s talking like he’s recapping someRed Dead Redemption, all laid back and shit, but I know better. Silas was just as upset as I was that his sister washurt.
“Your brother came over that day to apologize for that argument you guys had.” I give him a pointed look before I continue. The sheepish expression on his face tells me he hasn’t made it yet to Joey. “He overheard the yelling from the front porch and saw you were hurt. He flew through the air like a damn ninja and took down Samantha. He ended up with a bullet to his shoulder, but still managed to restrain her so I could try to stop your bleeding until the paramedicsarrived.”
Joey gasps. “Oh, my God. Are you serious?” She reaches over to hug him and almost lands on her ass. I grab her just in time to keep her from topplingover.
“Whoa, there. Not sure you’re ready for that maneuver yet.” As I stabilize Joey, I grin at Silas, whose face is turning red. He’s not used to being the center ofattention.
“No big deal, really,” he saysgruffly.
“It was a big deal,” I note. “Since Silas had just gone through rehab, he refused the good painkillers after the doctor dug that slug out of hisshoulder.”
I’m glad to see he’s straightening out his life. It’s been a long time coming. But I shouldn’t talk. I’ve had my own shit to work out too, Isuppose.
Even though he’s been banged up, Silas looks pretty good. But that’s what Beverly Carter’s home-cooked meals will do for a man. When my mother heard he came to our rescue and basically saved our lives, she parked him in the guest bedroom to recover and made him three squares aday.
“But why are you in a wheelchair? Did you get hurt anywhere else?” Joey looks him up and down, fear etched on her prettyface.
“Nah. Darlene here just offered me a ride. I’m gonna offer her another kind of ride later.” He winks at his nurse friend over his shoulder, and I snicker while Joey rolls hereyes.
It’s surreal to be having a normal conversation with Silas again after all theseyears.
He points at me and cocks an eyebrow. “Did lover boy here tell you he got shottoo?”
