I pushed my hoodie sleeves up some and shrugged. “Haven’t thought that far out. I got a hotel room for a few weeks just in case. I got some business to look over too while I’m here.”
Although I was from West Pier, and this was where my business had started, there was no point of me having a house here. I left Steel Freight in capable hands and flew out here once a quarter to make sure things were running smoothly, unless I was needed sooner. While I visited here, I often got a hotel room.
“That’s good to hear. It’s the least you can do. Your brother needs all the support he can get right now.”
I ignored my mom and stepped closer to the bed. Rome’s face was swollen and bruised. A thick white bandage was wrappedaround his head. His right leg was in a cast and propped up as well too.
“If he wakes up, will he be okay?” I wondered.
“Whenhe wakes up,” Mom corrected in a sharp tone. “And yes, the coma is the best option for him.”
“They don’t know if there’s damage to his spine yet. The accident was pretty bad and there’s some swelling around it as well,” Nakyra corrected.
“He’s going tobe fine.”
Nakyra shook her head and faced Rome. She couldn’t hide the worry and sadness she was feeling. Her shoulders crowded forward as if she carried the weight of the world on them.
She’d called me four days ago, letting me know about the accident and my brother. Looking at her now, I wondered if she’d been up here the whole time.
Chapter 4
Nakyra
Ijumped when a hand touched my shoulder and quickly shot my head up, looking around. My eyes fell on Creed’s gingerbread colored face. He tossed his hands up and began talking, but I was so tired I could barely read his lips. Lifting my hands, I brought them to my ears to turn my aids on.
“Can you repeat that?” I asked with a yawn.
“My bad, I forgot.” An apologetic look passed over his face.
I shook my head. “It’s fine.”
I was in desperate need of sleep, causing me to have a bad migraine. It became worse having my aids on continuously, so I turned them off to try and get some sleep. I had been bouncing between here and home to make sure Bella was taken care of. Thankfully Summer had been able to keep her for the past two nights because it had become a lot.
I looked around the room, noticing it was just the two of us in here.
“Your parents left?”
He shrugged. “I think Mom went to harass the doctor and Dad had a phone call.” His hand went into his sweats pocket.
He was dressed simply in a gray sweatsuit with butter Timbs on his feet. Creed was the opposite of Rome. I hadn’t beenaround him often, but from what I remembered, he typically dressed more comfortably than dressy or business casual. He now wore a goatee that connected with his short, trimmed beard running up his squared jaw. Last time I saw him, he didn’t have anything but a mustache.
“I was just letting you know I’m about to get out of here. You looked like you were uncomfortable and might want to go over to the couch.”
I stretched my back and rolled my neck. My body was stiff from leaning over the bed. Going into my pocket, I checked my phone. I had only been asleep for half an hour but it felt like forever.
“I need to head home, shower, and change anyway,” I stated and stood just as their parents walked back into the room.
“I’m going home to get a change of clothes and then?—”
“You might as well just stay there and come back tomorrow,” Marisol interrupted.
“What? No! I planned on being no more than an hour.”
“It’s not like he’s going anywhere. No sense in you being up here day and night. Go home and come back tomorrow.” She waved me off.
My eyes narrowed. I tried to respect my future in-laws, but both, moreso Marisol, made it hard.
I went to speak but a hand landed on my shoulder. I glanced over and saw Creed shaking his head.
