It was impossible to wipe the tears away so she just let them come. Her body shook from the pressure of those tears. “Oh, Josh,” she whimpered.
She tried to swallow down the tears, but there were too many. “Please, Josh,” she sobbed out. “Please come back to us.”
He just lay there, the mechanical breathing device so robotic and un-life like she couldn’t stop crying. The only response to her pleas was the soft beep, beep, beep signaling the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Lily buried her head into the soft skin of Josh’s shoulder and focused on his heartbeat. At least she had that. She thanked the Lord for that steady beat and begged him for more. For her Josh back.
Lily thought breaking up with Hyde and being without him had created the worst two days of her life, but last night topped it. She’d lost Hyde and now she thought she was going to lose Josh. How could she possibly survive?
She tried to sleep on a cot, but tossed and turned and finally around five a.m. she returned to Josh’s room. She knew seeing him like this was ripping her heart out, but being in his presence was somehow reassuring as well. She’d take whatever she could get.
The same dark-haired nurse from last night buzzed her through. She’d heard one of them say they did twelve hour shifts that changed at seven.
“You’ll have to wait until the gentleman is through.”
Lily stared at her. She’d left her family in the waiting room. She doubted any of them were sleeping any more than she was, but her dad had finally forced her mom to lie down. Her mom had seemed pretty strong for the first few hours, but as time progressed and Josh still didn’t respond, she’d neared an almost hysteria. Lily wished Hyde would come and bribe some doctor to drug her mom or something. No mother should ever go through this kind of anguish.
Yet she didn’t want Hyde here and no one else had the power to throw their money and influence around to help people like he did.
“What gentleman?” she asked the nurse.
“Don’t act like you don’t know.” The nurse winked at her. “The two of you were all over my Twitter feed a few days ago.”
Lily closed her eyes. Please, not Hyde. She hadn’t had enough sleep to deal with him again. If she yelled at him like she had last night maybe some smart medical person would try to medicate her.
She wanted to spin on her heel and march back out of intensive care until he left, but it ticked her off to no end that he’d come back. He wasn’t family. He didn’t deserve to be in there with her little brother.
She stormed to the door.
“You’ll have to wait,” the nurse called out. “No kissing on that good-looking man until you’re outside the unit.”
Lily about spun around and cussed the nurse out. Because she’d kissed a famous person, the nurse seemed to think she had some right to tease her about it. She didn’t know her or Hyde or their unfixable situation. There would be no kissing, ever again. That was sad, but Lily would have to deal with that loss as she didn’t know how she’d forgive Hyde for his part in Josh’s accident. No matter that he didn’t intend for any harm to come to Josh, the long night of no sleep hadn’t helped her disposition or inclination to forgive him, at all.
She paused outside Josh’s door and stared through the little window. Josh seemed to have a little more pink tinge to his skin today and the ventilator tube was gone. Sadly, that just made the cuts more visible, but that must mean he was doing better, right?
Hyde was bent over the bed. His wide shoulders were shaking. She could only see the silhouette of his face, but it was impossible to miss the tears streaming down, dripping erratically off his chin as he clung to Josh’s hand.
Lily stared. Not sure how to respond, though a lump formed in her throat. It was good that Hyde felt sorrow for what had happened to Josh, but she wasn’t ready to share her sorrow with him. Even if the accident hadn’t happened, their relationship was more than over and she didn’t need him connecting with her family, her little brother.
Lily watched them without moving or hardly daring to breathe too loud. She felt like she was intruding on a personal moment and that made her mad too. Dangit, Hyde. Why did he have to break her heart? Why did Josh have to get hurt? Tears stung at her eyelids. She blinked quickly, sick and tired of crying, but seeing Josh lying there motionless and Hyde sobbing was more than she could take.
Turning on her heel, she hurried away from the doorway. She needed to get a grip or she might fling herself into Hyde’s arms, desperate for the comfort and reassurance only he could offer.
Chapter 16
Hyde hadn’t been able to sleep and was back at the hospital by four-thirty in the morning. The nurse at the ICU desk was more than happy to let him in, explaining that she knew he had a connection to this family and she was sure those magazines had made things look bad, but he and Lily were the perfect couple. She went on and on, somehow knowing that he’d helped Lily’s family last night with blankets, pillows, and food, and saying how sweet it was that he was here for his girlfriend’s little brother.
His girlfriend? Maybe two days ago. Not anymore. He ached for Lily. Man, that made him a lonely loser.
He thanked the nurse and entered Josh’s room. His feet stopped a foot away from the bed and he couldn’t clear his dry throat. Josh. The constantly energetic little man was horribly still. Hyde always thought hospital beds were small, but this one seemed big, too big for Josh. He was hooked to an IV and had a tube into his chest, but besides that and the scrapes on his face, he looked like he was sleeping peacefully. Those cuts and scratches about killed Hyde.
He sank into the chair by Josh’s bed and took the little man’s hand in his own. His hand was soft and small. Hyde pressed his hand and waited, but there was no response. He remembered the first day he’d met Josh and they’d gone on the hike. Josh had clung to his hand and when Hyde had squeezed he’d squeezed back and given him that huge smile. Oh, man, that smile.
He prayed aloud, “Please, Lord. This boy is so innocent and good. Please bring him back to his family.” The prayer and the memories released a torrent of emotion. Josh non-responsive. Lily hating him. The rest of her family so understanding and loving. His mom pretending she was out of it so he wouldn’t desert her. His dad deserting both of them.
Tears leaked out and before he could rein it in, the emotion overtook him and his shoulders were trembling. He swallowed and blinked and chewed on his cheek, but couldn’t get himself under control.
Clinging to Josh’s hand, he was at least thankful no one could see him. He was Hyde Metcalf. Famous, strong, and well-loved football player. He didn’t cry. He especially didn’t lose control.
His eyes roved over Josh’s motionless frame again. But this was Josh. His little buddy who idolized him and made him feel like he was cooler than he was. Who cared that he was Hyde Metcalf when there was nothing he could do to bring Josh back?
“Please, Josh,” he whispered through the ache in his throat. “Please, come back. Lily needs you. Your family needs you. I need you.”
He bowed his head and let the tears fall. If he was going to have a breakdown maybe it was better just to let it all out and be done with it. This moment was horrible and he realized that it might not end. Josh might not awaken and someday, much sooner than he wanted, his mom would be in a hospital bed, not knowing her own son.
“H-hyde?” Josh coughed and then squeezed his hand back. “Why are you … crying?”
Hyde shot up straight in the chair. “Josh? Oh, Josh!” He reached down and hugged his little buddy. “You’re awake!”
“Are you mad at me, Hyde?”
“Am I mad … at you?” Hyde scrubbed at his face. Relief and happiness poured through him. Josh was awake and he was talking to him. He should find Lily. Then he remembered that Lily hated him and would probably never forgive him. He should at least get Lily and Josh’s mom.
“My throat hurts.” Josh coughed again. “Could I have some water?”
There was a little sink with cup
s next to it. Hyde filled one up quick then pushed the button to raise Josh’s bed and helped him bring it to his lips. He was awake, but obviously weak and tired.
“Thanks,” Josh said. “I’m sorry, Hyde.”
“Why are you sorry?” This cute kid was too much. He’d just awaken from a coma and he was apologizing to Hyde? Shouldn’t nurses be coming in here or something? But one look at Josh’s vitals showed they hadn’t changed much. Maybe they didn’t know he was awake.
“I told that reporter guy about how nice you were to me and how you gave me all kinds of cool stuff and the tour of the stadium. I don’t know why he printed that mean article about you and Lily.”
Hyde smiled sadly. He’d lost Lily over that article, but maybe it would’ve happened inevitably. Maybe they just weren’t meant to be together. It definitely wasn’t Josh’s fault.
He reached up and ruffled Josh’s hair. “Oh, buddy. That was that reporter’s mistakes, not yours. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But your mom said you didn’t want me and Caleb to come over anymore. I heard that she called Lily a money-grabber.”
“Grubber?” Hyde laughed, more from relief than anything. Josh was awake.
“Yeah, that.”
“My mom was wrong. I definitely want you around. You’re one of my best friends.”
Josh grinned.
Hyde was telling the truth. He’d rather be with Josh than anybody, except for Lily. He shook his head. “We’d better get your family, buddy. They’ve all been here and been so worried about you.”
“Worried enough that I can get out of chores for a year?”
“I would think maybe, buddy.”
“Sweet.”
Hyde stood to leave.
“Hyde?”
“Yes?”
“I love you. Thank you for being my best friend.”
“I love you too.” Hyde squeezed the little guy’s arm. Josh’s love was a gift he didn’t know that he deserved, especially after the harsh things he’d said to Lily Sunday morning. Oh, that she could be as forgiving as her family. “I’ll be right back with your mom and dad and brothers and sisters.”
“Thanks.” Josh rolled his head to the side and smiled tiredly.
Hyde flung the door open and hurried into the hall. Lily was pacing the hallway. She saw him and stopped, staring.
“Josh is awake!” he shouted.
“Shh,” the nurse admonished.
“He’s awake?” Lily gasped and ran to Hyde, flinging herself into his arms.
He caught her willingly, picked her up, and whirled her around. “He’s okay!” Hyde wanted to laugh and cheer. He really wanted to kiss Lily.
Time seemed to slow down as he gently lowered her to the floor, cradling her close against his body. She stared up at him. Her dark eyes liquid and so entrancing. Hyde lowered his head. Lily jerked away from him, slipped out of his arms, and darted into Josh’s room.
Hyde turned and watched their reunion, biting back the disappointment of her not wanting him. Josh was the focus right now, not him and Lily.
Lily hugged Josh, tears wetting her smooth cheeks. Josh talked excitedly like he hadn’t even been in a coma, telling her how thirsty and hungry he was. Hyde chuckled. The scene was miraculous and beautiful and he wished he could be part of it.
He forced himself to turn away and walk to the nurse’s station. “Josh is awake.”
The nurse beamed at him. “I heard you yelling. We’ll get right in there and check his vitals.”
“Thank you.”
Hyde pushed through the doors to the ICU, suddenly exhausted. He trudged to the waiting room where Lily’s family lay sprawled on cots and couches. Lily’s mom stood by the window, staring out into the darkness and turning a pendant on her necklace around and around. Hyde walked quietly to her and touched her arm. Gabby turned to him and her eyes widened. “What are you doing here so early?”
“He’s awake!”
“J-josh?” she stuttered out.
“Yes.” Hyde loved being able to share this news with her.
“Oh, praise the Lord!” She threw her arms around his neck and Hyde picked her up off the ground, swinging her around like they’d just won the Super Bowl. She laughed and cried.
Lily’s dad sat up on the couch. “What’s happening?”
“Josh woke up! Josh woke up!” Gabby cried out happily.
The entire room started moving then. Hyde let her mom go and took turns hugging each of her family. When Caleb was clasping him tight, the tears came again.
“Thanks, Hyde,” Caleb said. “Thanks for being here.”
Hyde nodded, unable to speak. Lily’s mom and dad had rushed out of the waiting room and in to the ICU. The rest of them trailed behind and congregated outside the door. The nurse told the siblings they’d still have to visit one at a time as this was an intensive care unit not a party.
Hyde laughed at that. It was a party for them, but he sobered as he realized many other patients in this unit were still struggling and their loved ones might not have the happy ending the Udy’s were going to have.
Lily exited the doors to the ICU and the siblings started jumping, celebrating, and hugging again. Hyde stood next to Caleb and after she hugged her brother, she focused on him for an all-too-brief second. Caleb nudged her and whispered something. Lily shook her head and turned back to Mary, pulling the little girl close.
“So he’s really okay?” Mary asked.
“Looks like it. He was chatting my ear off and he’s already telling the nurse that he’s hungry.”
Everyone laughed at that.
“What else did he tell you, Lily?”
“Yeah, what did he say?”
Lily glanced at Hyde again. She blinked and turned away. “Just chattering. Caleb, you should go in now. I think there can be one other person besides Mom and Dad now that he’s responsive.”
Caleb nodded and gave Hyde one more look before pushing the button on the wall and getting buzzed in. Hyde felt suddenly awkward without his buddy. He didn’t know the rest of her siblings as well as Caleb and Josh. Lily was blatantly ignoring him, talking with Sariah in low tones, and casting awkward glances at him every so often.
Hyde turned to Brandon. “I’m going to go grab everyone some breakfast. Do you have any preferences?”
Brandon grinned at him. “No, food’s food. Thanks. I’m starving.”
Hyde nodded and turned to go. Mary waved to him and Sariah looked at him sadly, but Lily didn’t even acknowledge that he was there or that he was leaving. He’d hoped that Josh waking up would heal some of their wounds, but maybe this rip was too deep for stitches or therapy.
Chapter 17
Lily overheard Hyde say something to Brandon about breakfast then he was gone. She inhaled deeply, relieved to be able to breathe again. Having Hyde here was like an elephant sitting on her chest—oppressive and life-threatening. Okay, maybe not life-threatening, but heart-threatening.
Josh had spent the entire time the nurses checked his vitals and stats begging Lily to forgive Hyde and love him again. She was thrilled that Josh was awake and seemed to have no permanent damage with his cute mouth going a mile a minute again, but she didn’t appreciate the dating advice, especially with the nurses looking on and obviously hiding smiles of amusement.
The next hour sped by as they all got a chance to see Josh. Lily waited to go last since she was the first one to see him after he awoke, well except for Hyde.
Darn that Hyde anyway. He had returned half an hour ago with an entire breakfast spread from Chik-fil-A. He kept shooting Lily these begging glances. She ignored him and grabbed an egg sandwich and an orange juice, eating quickly. Her parents were in the waiting room with everyone else eating now, so it was finally her turn to be with Josh uninterrupted for a few minutes.
Things had settled down by the time she got back into Josh’s room. He looked tired, but great, like he’d been through a battle and come out victorious. The nurses were gone, so
that was a relief.
“Hey,” he said when she closed the door.
She sat by his bed and brushed the thick hair from his forehead. “You tired, bud?”
“Yeah. It’s pretty fun though, everybody being so excited to talk to me and stuff. Even Trudy and Brandon were nice to me.”
“We all love you a lot, bud.”
“I know.” He stared at her perceptively. “And you love Hyde too, right?”
“Oh, Josh. It’s not that easy.” Maybe she did love Hyde, but that didn’t mean she could be with him.
“Yeah, it is. He’s the best, Lily, and I know he loves you. It wasn’t his fault that mean guy wrote stuff about you. He said his mom’s sorry too.”
His mom. Anger flared and she tried to tamp it down for Josh’s sake. Josh would forgive and love his archenemy if the person apologized. Scratch that. Josh didn’t have any archenemies. He was too happy and friendly.
“So…”
“So what?’
“Are you going to forgive him?”
“It’s complicated, Josh.”
Josh glared at her. “Did you feel bad when I was in the coma?”
She reared back. “Bad? I felt horrible. I cried more last night than I have my entire life.”
“I got Mom to agree to no chores for two months.”
Lily laughed.
“Brandon’s going to play catch with me when Caleb can’t, Mary is going to give me her model car, the Bugatti, and Trudy’s going to save up and take me to Cake for cinnamon rolls when I get home.”
“You’re a little conniver.”
“That’s right.” He grinned. “So if you felt bad, you have to promise me to talk to Hyde and give him a chance.”
“That’s not fair, Josh.” Her heart hammered at the thought of talking to Hyde. She didn’t want to deal with the confrontation and she wanted to hold on to her anger, but there was a piece of her that was softening, and missing him horribly.
“I’m the one with the brain trauma here. You’re not supposed to upset me and you’re supposed to agree to my demands.”
Pass Interference Page 14
