“Can we all come?” I ask, knowing my family will want to see him as well.
“One at a time is preferable so as not to overwhelm him.”
I nod and follow the doctor down a few hallways, ending up in room eighteen, a shared space with a curtain pulled between him and another patient. It’s sterile in here and cool, but so much warmer than the house we just came from.
“He’s groggy, but he’ll be fine. Give him a minute to wake up, and he’ll be in and out of consciousness as he adjusts toeverything.” I stare at Colton, trying like hell not to cry again. “And just so you know, the police have been notified. We do need to file a report…”
I pull the chair close to the bed and sit down, knowing that I’ll take it one step at a time. Right now, I just want to see Colton. To see his eyes, to hear his voice. The police report can wait.
“Thank you,” I tell the doctor, not looking at him. But I can hear his murmured, “You’re welcome,” before the door closes behind me.
My hand lands on Colton’s, and I hold him tightly, whispering for him to wake up.
A few minutes later, his eyelashes flutter, and I see his unfocused gaze meet mine.
“Myles? Where am I?” he asks, and I let out a relieved breath, my eyes stinging once more.
“Hospital. They drugged you.”
He blinks at me, his eyes glassy. “Hospital?”
“Yeah.”
He turns his gaze slightly, taking in the room, and winces. “Shit. It’s not usually this bad. I think they were trying to kill me this time.”
That makes anger flare inside of me.This time?What the fuck?
“He tried to tell me you did this to yourself.” When he says nothing, I ask. “You didn’t, right?”
He huffs. “No. Don’t do drugs. I drink sometimes to deal with them, and I’ve suspected for a while that they’ve been giving me something when I visit. But it’s never been this bad.”
I let out a long breath and squeeze his hand gently. “I was so worried.” My mouth meets his fingers, and I let my lips settle on them, breathing him in. “I was so fucking scared.” I turn my cheek and let it rest against him. His fingers unclench and touch my face softly.
“You saved me,” he says.
“I did, and I’d do it again. Knocked him on his ass too. He wasn’t expecting it.”
“Good,” he says with a small laugh. “I wish I were awake to see it.”
“Well, Maya got it all on video, so.”
He yawns, and I lift my head, meeting his stare.
“I’m so fucking tired.”
“You are. You should rest. I’m going to talk to the police?—”
His fingers clench mine, and he shakes his head. “No police, Myles. Please.”
That makes me hesitate. I think we should talk to the police, give a statement. I want this on the record, even if nothing is done about it.
“Why not?”
He turns his gaze, and his hand drops from mine. “I just don’t want the trouble it will bring.”
“But if you don’t give your statement, then they will think you did this to yourself.”
“Nothing will happen to him if we do. It’s not worth it.” His voice is fading, his eyelids closing. “It’s not worth it.”
