“What?” Joey’s eyeswiden.
“It’s nothing. Just grazed my thigh.”Mostly.
“Jesus. She shot both of you?” Joey asks, her expressionstricken.
“I got nicked when Silas tackled her, and he got a slug when they went scrambling for the gun, but he got the worst ofit.”
A smile pulls at my lips when she wobbles toward her brother and leans down to hug him again. I reach behind her and close her hospital gown before she flasheseveryone.
“Knock, knock.” One of the nurses comes in with the cops on her heels. “Josephine, the police need to take your statement, and I’m thinking you’ve been out of bed long enough thisafternoon.”
“Jo, I’ll be out here if you need anything,” I say as the nurse ushers us out. I’m not sure what I’m looking for. Just something to know Joey understands, that she gets why I did what I did. But she doesn’t make eye contact. She doesn’t say anything. Just gets back into bedslowly.
My heart sinks as I wonder if I’ve fucked up too bad this time. Because I’m not sure she’s gonna forgiveme.
45
Joey
Squinting into the bright sun,I take a deep breath. Cedar and a hint of barbecue scent the air. My stomach grumbles. At least I’m starting to get my appetite back, but I still feel prettycrappy.
Yes, I have stitches on my head and a gnarly concussion and bruises everywhere, but that’s not what hurts themost.
Even though I got the full story from Logan yesterday, or what I’m hoping is the full story, I’m stillwrecked.
Because deep down, I don’t know if I can trusthim.
Granted, two years of keeping this enormous secret is exponentially better than seven or eight, and knowing Zach is his brother and not his son is huge, but my heart is still battered and my faith in Logan is shot. I guess a baseball bat to the brain will do that to agirl.
The nurse wheels me to the curb where three trucks are lined up: Ethan’s, Logan’s, andBrady’s.
Guilt tightens my chest for not wanting to see my friends when they stopped by the hospital. Even after I spoke with Logan and somewhat cleared the air, I wasn’t ready to see anyone. I don’t know if I am now, but everyone’s here, and the hospital is releasing me, so it’s not like I can hide out anywhere. I’m a little ashamed I want to. I’m embarrassed for so many things, but I can’t begin to decipher why I feel thisway.
My doctor said “emotional lability” is one of the side effects of this kind of head injury, and I can expect mood swings and extreme highs and lows as aresult.
I’m definitely in touch with thelows.
Ethan and Tori hop out and the next thing I know, I have a bouquet of flowers in my arms and Tori hugsme.
I pat her awkwardly. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on yourhoneymoon?”
She pulls back like I slapped her. “Didn’t Logan tell you? We postponed everything for twoweeks.”
“Oh, my God,why?”
“Because of you, knucklehead. Look at you. You can barely stand, and you have two black eyes. I can’t believe that wench did this to you.” Now she’scrying.
“Ugh. Please don’t tell me I ruined your wedding.” I’d cry too if I had to postpone mywedding.
“No! What? Of course not! We just want to make sure you’re better so you can be a part ofit.”
Ethan squats down next to me. “I’m so fucking glad you’re okay, squirt. I’m sorry you got the brunt of this.” He gives my hand a squeeze, and emotion brims in hiseyes.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t yourfault.”
Everyone gets quiet, and someone coughs. Logan. He’s got his hands in hispockets.
“Now, y’all,” Beverly interjects, bumping Ethan out of the way. “Don’t you blame Logan. This started because he was covering for me. And… and he couldn’t bear to tell me what Daniel had done.” She sniffs, and Ethan wraps his arms around her shoulders. I can’t imagine what she must be going through after finding out that her husband had a child with another woman. I’d bedevastated.
