“Not fully? But he’s okay? Right? That means he’s okay?”
“It does.” She smiles and for the first time, Reed’s dad speaks.
“He had us worried. I don’t know what we’d do without him.”
I offer him a warm smile until I think about his home life and an unsolicited anger wells up inside me. I bite my tongue, holding back from saying something I shouldn’t. Reed wouldn’t want me to get involved. Everything he does is to make their lives easier. What I want to say would have the opposite effect.
“What was he thinking?” he continues on, and I wish he’d never opened his mouth. “The doctors didn’t say much except that he got in a fight and the other guy stabbed him in between his ribs, damaging his spleen. But Reed doesn’t fight.”
His gaze meets mine, and for the briefest of seconds I register the blame in his eyes until he schools his features. “Were you there?”
“I was.”
“What happened?”
“Exactly what you said. Reed was stabbed during a fight.”
“Why was he fighting?” There’s accusation in his tone and I don’t like it. “He’s always been so…”
He trails off but I answer for him. “Good? Is that what you were going to say?” I don’t wait for him to respond before continuing on, ready to give them a piece of my mind. “Reedisgood. He’s inherently good. And that will never change. But he’s so much more than that.”
I pause for a beat, sensing Reed’s mom wanting to speak, but now that I’ve opened the gates, I can’t hold back the flood of words ready to be released. Words they should have heard years ago. “There is so much to Reed that youdon’tsee. But I see it. All of it. And while God knows I should be trying to impress you, I can’t bring myself to care because I’m somadat you both.You don’t know what you’d do without him?Well, join the club. But how about you treat him right while youdohave him. You should know…I’m in love with your son, so bloody in love with him that I can’t see straight. But I never told him that and I could have missed my chance.” My voice cracks but I keep going, needing to get it all off my chest.
“You’re here now, sure. But you’ve been missing out on a fulfilling life with your amazing son, all over an asshole that treats you like the dirt he kicks in your faces. I don’t want to hurt you—I know you’re both hurting enough—but Reed deserves better than that. Hell, he deserves better than all of us. He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. And I will never forgive myself for that. But I love him and I’m trying to be good enough. I will always be trying. Which is why I will never understandyou.”
I walk over to Reed’s bedside and take in his peaceful expression now that the breathing tubes have gone. “I can’t deny you’ve raised an incredible human, but he’s so much more than just the guy you use to make yourselvesfeelbetter when your other son fucks up. Excuse my language. But it’s true. You should be cheering him on at his games and witnessing how talented he is. You should be visiting him at his home, and basking in his warmth when he welcomes you into his sanctuary. You should want to spend time with him because he’s hilarious and kind and sexy…sorry—ignore that one. You should want to spend time with him because he’s a light in this otherwise dark world. But he’s not a light for our benefit. He’s a light because he has one of the most beautiful souls that has ever existed and he chooses to be that way. Every day, he wakes up and chooses to be a decent human being. Better than you or I could ever be. And despite being in the hospital, he’s going to do the same today. I know it. You should be grateful he’s touched your lives in any shape or form, not taking him for granted.”
I squeeze Reed’s hand before walking over to the table, needing water. “We could have lost him,” I whisper to myself as much as to them. “We almost did. It’s time to be better.”
Silence fills the room and my heart aches.God, what am I doing?Taking a deep breath, I turn to Reed’s parents and grimace. “I—”
“Wow,” Reed croaks from behind me and I freeze, my words trapped in my throat. “That was some speech. I want to meet that guy.”
My eyes fill with tears and I spin around to find Reed’s smiling face staring back at me, his happy expression falling when our eyes lock. “Hayley, Baby.” He lifts a hand in my direction. “Why the tears? I’m okay.”
“You’re—” I snap out of my shock and race toward him, grabbing his outstretched hand, immediately intertwining our fingers. “You’re awake.” I let the tears fall, not even trying to stop them. “Thank God, you’re awake.”
Reed’s mom lets out a wail, and Reed turns her way as he pulls me closer, his eyes widening in shock. “How long have I been out for?”
“Almost thirty-seven hours.”
“That’s specific.” He chuckles, his smiling eyes meeting mine again.
“What can I say; I’ve been counting.” I finally smile and Reed’s laughter deepens until his face scrunches and he groans.
“Damn. That hurts. But anyway… I guess that explains it.” He tugs at my hand, pulling it toward his face, pressing a kiss to my knuckles.
“Explains what?” I ask curiously. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It explains why I miss you so much.”
“Shut up.” I shake my head with a grin. “You were asleep the whole time,andyour parents are here. Less of the corny, please.”
Reed smirks and the sight of it hits me in the chest. “I can see that.” He winks my way before turning his gaze to his parents. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. So…that big speech was for you, huh?”
I cringe and lean over the bed, burying my face in the pillow beside his head, mumbling that I’m sorry.How much did he hear?“I—”
“Don’t be sorry,” Reed’s mom responds and I straighten, my eyes anxiously wide as I glance her way. “You clearly needed to get that off your chest.”
