by Hart, Rebel
“Hey there.”
He grinned. “Hello, beautiful.”
His fingers slipped between mine, our hands lacing themselves together. I wiped at my tears with my free hand as I sat on the edge of his bed. My eyes kept dancing over him. I knew there were probably injuries I couldn't see. And, as if he’d read my mind, he began rattling them off to me.
“I’ve got a concussion, too. Which is why my neck is braced like this.”
I nodded slowly. “What else?”
He sighed. “Well, I broke my collarbone. Which didn’t help my dislocated shoulder. My ribs are pretty bruised. But not broken, miraculously.”
“Yeah.”
“There was minor internal bleeding, though. They found it during surgery. I’ve got some stitches in places no one should have stitches. But it is what it is. If I have a good day today, I get moved out of ICU. The say the concussion is almost gone. So at least it wasn’t a bad one.”
“Oh, Clint.”
Michael walked up beside me. “Jesus, man, you look rough.”
Clint looked surprised, but didn’t skip a beat. “I’d say I’ve had worse. But that would actually be a lie.”
Allison walked around to his other side. “Can we get you anything?”
I smiled. “Are you able to eat?”
Michael nodded. “Because we brought you a burger and fries from a joint up the road.”
Allison started pulling the food out. “With a Mountain Dew. Rae said it’s your favorite.”
Clint smiled. “That’s my girl.”
And my heart soared with delight.
Allison handed him the food as I navigated the controls for his hospital bed. I got him sitting up without moving his neck too much, then he took everything over. He seemed happy to see us. Having Allison and Michael with me didn’t kick up too much tension. I kept smiling while Clint talked. While he chewed. While he swallowed. So many small things about him I’d taken for granted. Things no one ever thinks about enjoying on another person.
Until there’s a fear of no longer having those things.
Michael cleared his throat. “Well, Allison and I should probably go stand guard.”
Allison nodded. “Yeah. In case your parents come back.”
Clint furrowed his brow. “My parents?”
I leaned in. “They don’t exactly know we’re here.”
His eyes darkened. “What did my father say to you?”
I sighed. “We can talk about that later, okay? I promise I’ll tell you why I haven’t been here. I just wanted you to know I hadn’t abandoned you. If I could have gotten to you, I would have.”
He brought my hands to his lips to kiss. “I know. I know you would have. I know you better than that.”
And as my two best friends slipped out into the hallway, I sighed at the touch of his lips against my skin.
A touch I hadn’t been sure I’d ever feel again, thanks to the events of Thursday night.
10
Clinton
I couldn't stop staring. I hadn’t seen those eyes in what seemed like an eternity, and my blood boiled at the idea of my father robbing me of them. I heard my heart monitor ticking up. I felt my blood pressure rising. Rae’s worried eyes darted to all the machines around me before dipping her lips down against my ear.
“Breathe for me. It’s okay. I’m here. Just breathe.”
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close to me. I didn’t care what part of me hurt. I didn’t care what part of me cried out for mercy. I needed to feel her. I needed to hold her. I needed to be close to her, just in case someone came to remove her. I closed my eyes, breathing along with her as she coached me through my breaths. I slid my left-hand fingers through her hair, trying to be ginger with my right arm in its sling. She curled up against me, snuggling into bed. Her warmth overcame me and the scent of her filled me with life.
I wanted nothing more than for her to stay here with me. Like this.
She drew in shuddered breaths and I wanted so badly to kiss her. To lean down and kiss the top of her head. She sniffled, wiped at her tears and snuggled deeper into me as I tried so hard to keep my groans of pain at bay. I wouldn't rob her of this. I wouldn't rob either of us of this moment.
Because it had been a long time coming.
“Thank you so much.”
I furrowed my brow. “For what?”
She sniffled. “For doing what you did. For leading those assholes away. Had you not, they might’ve—”
I gripped her hair softly. “Never, on my life, would I have ever let something happen to you. Never. Not while you’re around me. Do you hear me?”
She nodded softly. “I just can’t help but think that this is all my fault.”
“If I could shake my head fervently right now at you, I would. This isn’t your fault. None of this would’ve taken place had those assholes just stayed at home. Passed right by us instead of coming into the parking lot. They started this. Not you, and certainly not me.”
She paused. “The police came to talk to me yesterday morning.”
“I’ve talked with them, too.”
“Is everything going to be okay?”
“Once they find those dickweeds and arrest them, I’ll feel even better. But, yes, beautiful. Everything is going to be okay. Thank you for talking with them. I’m sorry I couldn't have been there to support you through it.”
She scoffed. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here since the accident. I made you a promise and—”
“—and my father got in the way. Like he always does. This isn’t your fault. I had a feeling my father had done something, even though my stepmother wouldn’t tell me what he’d done.”
“So they’ve been here for you? Through all this.”
I sighed. “Eh, more or less. I’ve woken up to Cecilia instead of my father. The only time I woke up to the sound of Dad’s voice, he was arguing with her.”
“Arguing? About what?”
I scoffed. “A business trip Cecilia wanted him to cancel.”
Rae rose up, looking into my eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
I shrugged, groaning at the pain. “That’s how he is. Work comes before everything. He thought he was doing everyone a favor by pushing the trip back once already.”
“Your father’s an absolute asshole.”
I chuckled. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“You should tell the doctors what he does to you.”
“By the sounds of it, someone already has.”
Rae blushed, but all I did was laugh. I pulled her back down to my side, feeling her curl around me. Her leg slipped between mine, and it was the closest I’d felt to her in a long time. I drew in a deep breath as my fingertips stroked her arm, sending goosebumps puckering her skin for me to touch.
“It just kinda slipped out. I’m sorry.”
I grinned. “Ah, worse things have happened. I’m eighteen, so there isn’t much people can do now except look into my father. And he’ll pay them off. Like he usually does. Then we’ll go on about our lives and he’ll buy me something out of guilt to make things okay again.”
“So this has happened before? Someone reporting him?”
“Yep. I reported him once.”
Rae sighed. “This is such shit.”
“The way I see it, I’ve got less than a year. Then I graduate and I’m free to go and do as I please. Just need that high school diploma, even if it isn’t enough to get me into a community college or whatever.”
“Speaking of graduation, what does your recovery look like? You’re going to walk and all that, right?”
“Well, I’m pretty beat up. I know Dad wants me out before he goes on this fun business trip. But just because my concussion is clearing up doesn’t mean I’m out of here. If things go perfectly, I might get released in a couple days. But, realistically, I’m looking at another week in this hospital. At least, before they release me.”
“What happens after they release you, Clint?
”
“The usual. Physical therapy. Exercises. In home, and in an office somewhere. That will help fix my back and the movement in my arm, once my collarbone heals.”
She paused. “Wait, your back? What happened to your back?”
I grinned. “I fell twenty feet down a ravine and landed on a bunch of rocks. My vertebrae have slipped out of place. My back’s crooked from the impact.”
Her eyes rose to meet mine. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I’m sorry. I guess, in the grand scheme of things, it’s easier if I tell you what’s not wrong with me.”
I laughed, but she didn’t find that funny.
“Not a cool joke, Clint.”
I cleared my throat. “Sorry, beautiful.”
I watched her sit up, and already I missed her warmth. She placed one arm over me, propping herself up as her body hovered over mine. I gazed into her eyes as I sat there, staring at her. Propped up for the first time in days as I gazed upon the most beautiful face I’d ever come to know in my short life.
I smiled. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Rae blushed. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”
“You’re eighteen, right?”
She paused. “Yeah. Why?”
“I’ll have a talk with the doctor about putting you on my HIPAA form.”
“Your what now?”
I chuckled. “It’s a release form that designates who can know about my condition. Since you’re technically a legal adult, I can put you on the list so the hospital can call and update you on how I’m doing.”
“Or I could pick up your school work and bring it to you so we can study together. Which means your father looks like an absolute asshole if he stands in the way of your studies.”
“I like the way you think, Cleaver.”
She winked. “And here I thought you’d keep calling me ‘beautiful.’”
My smile faded. “You’d really do that for me?”
“Do what?”
“Bring my schoolwork and help me study?”
“I mean, why wouldn't I? You’re going to be here while school is still happening. You’ll still have tests and shit like that. If you want to graduate, you have to at least not fail things. So, yeah. Of course I’d do that for you.”
I felt overwhelmed by her words. This beautiful young girl really was willing to bend over backwards for me. Which was such a refreshing change of pace from my father. I blinked back tears, feeling like a great big pussy as a smile crossed Rae’s face.
“We’ll blame it on the pain you’re in, okay?”
I snickered. “Yeah. Sure. Good thinking.”
I looked up and saw Michael staring inside the room at us. And I could’ve sworn he and Allison were holding hands. He gave me a thumbs-up, I guess signaling to me that the coast was still clear. I reached my arm out for Rae again.
“Come here, gorgeous.”
She smiled. “Oh, I like that one much better.”
“I figured you would.”
She lay back down in my arms and I closed my eyes. This was how I wanted things to be. Her, nestled against me, while I closed my eyes and slept. The food sat well in my stomach. Greasy, fatty food that helped me wake up a bit. All this healthy shit the hospital fed me—bland foods like rice and unbuttered toast—was getting old. And now that they had me off the morphine drip, why couldn't I have a nice burger?
Even if it came back up on me, it was still worth it to see Rae. To hold her again. To smell her again. To be next to her again.
“You saved me.”
I snickered. “No, gorgeous. You saved me. And I owe you my life for it.”
She kissed my chest. “You owe me nothing.”
“I owe you everything, and you’ll like it that way.”
She giggled. “You’re a mess, you know that?”
“A mess you like.”
“A mess I—”
She paused, and my heart skipped a beat. Surely she hadn’t been about to say something like that. What I wouldn’t have given in that moment to look down at her. To read her face and gaze into her eyes. Fucking hell, this damn neck brace. I needed it off, and now.
But when she buried herself into my side, I knew. I knew what she almost said.
And I hoped one day, she knew I felt the same way.
“Get some rest, Clint. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
I stroked my fingers up and down her back. “I don’t want to miss a second with you.”
She wrapped her arm around me. “I promise, I’ll be back. I’m bringing your homework, remember? I’ve become your study buddy. Plus, you’re putting me on that ‘HIPPO’ form.”
“HIPAA.”
“What?”
“HIPAA. With an ‘A’.”
“‘HIPPO’ sounds better.”
I chuckled. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“Yep. You can’t get rid of me that easily, handsome.”
I smiled. “Trust me, I don’t want to.”
She paused. “I like sappy you. It’s very romantic.”
“Don’t give away all my secrets at school now. Can’t have all the guys being as smooth as me. Someone might steal you away.”
She snickered. “I’d like to see them try.”
“I’ll punch them in the throat if they try.”
“You and what army?”
“Me and the left army that can still move.”
She giggled. “Let’s not break the other arm, okay?”
“Technically, it’s my collarbone. My right arm was just dislocated.”
“Oh. Oh. Yeah. Totally better then, Mr. Internal Bleeding.”
I laughed. “Are we really making jokes out of my injuries?”
She reached up, kissing my jawline. “Do we really have any other reaction to this situation?”
My face fell. “I guess you’re right.”
And as she tucked herself back against me, my eyes fell closed. Sleep began drawing me under. I felt myself succumbing to the darkness. And as my body relaxed, I hoped with all my might Rae would be here when I woke up. I hoped with all my might my father wouldn't give her any other trouble. But if he did, I hoped with all my might Cecilia would find her voice again.
Long enough to put him in his fucking place.
11
Raelynn
Clint’s soft sleeping sounds lulled me into my own sort of trance. I knew Michael and Allison wanted to get back on the road, since they’d been standing in the hallway for well over an hour. But I couldn't relinquish Clint. I kept wrapping myself around him. Clinging to him. Simply thankful to be in his presence again.
I have to go, though.
I sighed as I slowly untangled myself from his body. I reached up, pressing a soft kiss against his bruised cheek. His face looked like a mess. Every time I gazed up into it, there seemed to be a new bruise. Or a spreading bruise. Or another part of his face swelling. It made me sick to my stomach.
Let the boy sleep, Rae.
“I’ll be back soon.”
I whispered the words against the shell of his ear, then slipped off the bed. I peeked out into the hallway, watching as Michael and Allison stared at me. I sighed before nodding my head, signaling to him that I was ready to head out.
Until Clint jerked awake.
“Rae?”
I whipped around. “What is it? I’m right here.”
“Rae? Where are you? Rae!”
I rushed back to his side, lunging myself into his face. I crawled back up onto the bed, straddling him as I blocked off his view of the rest of the room. Michael and Allison rushed in. I pressed my lips against Clint’s, trying to stop his yelling. If he spooked the nurses or one of the doctors, we’d be thrown out.
“Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. It’s me. I’m right here.”
His lip quivered. “I’m sorry. I—I felt you leave, and—”
I shook my head. “Your father isn’t here. It’s okay. I figured since you’d fallen asleep—”
“Dad�
�s already gone.”
He blurted out the words and I heard the hurt in his voice. I looked back at my two best friends, watching as they flicked their hands out at me. Telling me to stay as they made their leave again. His statement didn’t shock me, but it hurt me. Mostly, because I saw how much it hurt Clint.
“What was that?” I asked.
He grimaced. “Dad’s already gone.”
I slid off to his side. “But, I thought you said—”
He sighed. “He and my stepmother got into another fight last night. I mean, a really good fight. The hospital threw them out. I haven’t seen either of them since.”
“Then maybe your father is still in town. Just not allowed back in the hospital.”
“He called me to let me know he’d be back before I was released.”
The flatness of Clint’s voice turned my stomach. I took his hand, lacing our fingers together as I rested my head against his good shoulder. He drew in broken breaths, trying so hard to stay strong when I knew all he wanted to do was be weak.
I kissed his arm. “It’s just me. You can let it out.”
“He fucking left me, Rae. To rot in this hospital bed. And Cecilia isn’t allowed back in the hospital. At least until tomorrow morning. And I have no one. Just the doctors and the nurse staff who come in here with their pitiful glances and their small talk.”
“You have me.”
He snickered. “Thank fuck for that.”
I nuzzled against him. I watched his chest jump as his voice hiccuped. I gazed into his face, watching as tears rushed down his cheeks. I sat up, wiping at them softly with my fingertips. I grabbed his drink and put the straw to his lips, giving his trembling lip something to do.
“I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere if you don’t want me to.”
He swallowed down the liquid. “I just—don’t understand.”
I rubbed his arm. “What don’t you understand?”
He closed his eyes. “Why my father doesn’t love me.”
I didn’t know how to answer him. I didn’t know what to tell him. The only thing I could do was be there for him, so I settled deeper into his side. I watched him cry silent tears as he held his sounds back, his chest hiccupping with pain and anger and sadness.
