Someone touches my hand and I startle awake, my gaze bouncing around the space.
For the few seconds before my mind registers the hospital room and Keeley’s broken expression, I let myself believe it was a dream.
“I’m sorry,” Keeley rushes out, squatting down until we’re eye level, grabbing my hand. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“That’s okay, I—” My voice cracks until I clear my throat and try again. “I’m okay. Just a little jumpy.”
“Understandably.” Her eyes flash to Reed lying unconscious on the bed, and my chest tightens as emotion wells in my throat.
Why won’t he wake up?
He’s been back from surgery for hours and he’s still out of it. He still needs to be intubated to help him breathe.
“Have the doctors been in?” Keeley asks, pulling my gaze back to hers as I bite my cheek to stave off the tears.
“They have. A few times but all they keep saying is that he needs time to heal. And that he’s lucky to be alive. As if that’s not something I alreadyfreakingknow.”
A nurse walks in and my face reddens. I know the doctors are helping and can’t tell me much. I should be grateful he’s okay. But I need more.
I need him to be awake.
“Sorry to interrupt.” The nurse smiles warmly and I force a grin. “I’m Blair. I’ll be Reed’s nurse today and tomorrow. I just wanted to pop in and say hi.” She wanders over to his machines and checks his charts, assessing God knows what, and when she’s done, she heads back to the door.
“Do those machines tell you when he’s going to wake up?” I ask, all my hope riding on her answer.
“I’m afraid not.” She smiles sympathetically and my hope fades. “But his vitals are good. I’ll be back to check in again soon.”
“Thank you.”
She walks away and I release a slow breath, glancing back at Keeley.
“Do you know what happened?” she asks, her eyes still on Reed.
I nod even though she’s not looking my way, my eyes filling with tears once more, and it’s barely a second before the first one falls.
“He went into shock from a stab wound to his spleen. They were able to repair the damage, but his body is still recovering. Of course they used more technical terms than that—hypo-something. But you get the gist.”
“Hypovolemic shock.Jesus.”
“Yep. That’s it. All that muscle and it didn’t help.” It sounds like I’m joking but I’ve run that fact through my mind over andover. If Reed hadn’t lunged for Landon at the same time Landon raised the knife, it never would have happened.
“At least you know he’s in good hands,” Keeley tries to reassure me, but it doesn’t work. “He’s had surgery. The doctors have helped him. We just have to wait.”
“I know. But I’m done waiting. I waited too long to let myselffeeland now—”
“Don’t finish that sentence. Reed’s going to wake up and you’re going to have a great life together.”
Keeley and I are friends, but I’ve never really spoken to her about my past. Only Amelia and Reed know the true depth of my hesitancy toward putting my heart on the line, and yet something about the look in Keeley’s eyes suggests that she understands. And if that’s because she feels the same, I hate that for her. But I can’t think about that now.
“What if—”
“No what-ifs,” she cuts me off. “I’ve never seen either of you as happy as when you’re together, and I have no doubt in my mind that there’s more to your story.”
I force a smile and it actually helps. “Thanks, Keeley. I needed that. I appreciate you coming in. Did you miss your flight home?”
“I did but it doesn’t matter. I’m here. For as long as you need me.”
“I appreciate that too, but I’ll be okay. I promise. I’m sure you’re busy and—”
