Page 101 of Choosing Skyler

She chuckles. “Apparently, your medical proxy advised the paramedics that he was in fear of you having a heart attack if you weren’t treated properly. Gave those boys quite a scare too. They said you had to have a cardiac workup and that Mr. Mitchell was to be notified immediately of any concerns even though he’s possibly out of reach until around nine o’clock when his plane is scheduled to land. Just so thatyouknow, your E.K.G. and bloodwork were completely normal. It was just a panic attack. I’m so sorry about what you went through this evening. Is there anything I can get you?” she asks sincerely.

“Just an update on Brady’s surgery and directions to the waiting room so I can wait for him to come out of s-surgery,” I say around the emotion clogging my throat.

She shakes her head. “Nonsense, dear. He’ll be in surgery for hours yet. You’ve been admitted as an observation patient for the night. I’ll get you the update and you can wait right here where it’s much more comfortable than a waiting room. I’ll also get you a hospital gown to change into. You can clean up now that you’re awake.”

I nod and thank her as I look down at my blood-soaked bathing suit and sarong.

When she brings me a clean gown, I go into the bathroom to shower and change before taking a seat in the reclining chair next to the bed. I spent enough time in a hospital bed recently. I’m not climbing back into one now. I notice my purse on the rolling table beside the bed and reach in to grab my phone. I have a text from Devon from about forty-five minutes ago.

Devon: We’re in the air. We have Wi-Fi on the jet. So, you can call me as soon as you get this. We’re scheduled to land at 8:53pm. If I don’t hear from you before then, I’ll see you soon after.

I dial his number and sit forward in the chair as I wait for him to answer.

“Hey, Sweets. That was faster than I expected. Are you feeling better?” he asks.

“I’m not in the middle of a panic attack anymore, but no—I don’t feel better. Devon, I’m scared,” I cry.

“I know. Me too.” He takes an audible breath. “Um. Dad talked to the police. They’ll want a statement from you, but they said it can wait until tomorrow since you were admitted to the hospital.”

“Okay, thanks for that by the way. The nurse said I’m an observation patient until tomorrow morning. So, at least I have my own space and I don’t have to wait in the trauma waiting room,” I tell him.

“Yeah, um. Dad talked to the hospital administrator and the E.R. doctor and arranged that too. I’ve been kind of a mess,” he says, sounding embarrassed, which is verynotlike the Devon I know. “I’ve got it together now, though. I promise,” he rushes out.

“Devon, you should be a mess. Your best friend was shot, and it wasmy fault,” I sob.

“NO!” he shouts, making me jump. “You quit that bullshit right fucking now.Ericshot Brady. It washisfault and no one else’s.”

“But he was going to shootmeuntil Brady pushed me out of the way. It should have been me…” My words are cut off by Devon’s second shout.

“Stop!” Devon says forcefully. “The policeman that shot Eric saw everything. He’s convinced that if they hadn’t gotten there when they did, Eric would have shot you both. Thank God they did and he’s dead, so he’ll never hurt you guys again.”

I gasp. “He’s dead? Are you sure?” I ask, feeling guilty at the relief that brings me.

“Yes, I’m sure and it’s okay to be relieved about that. Don’t feel guilty for being glad you’re both alive and he’s not. I don’t,” he says flatly.

I nod before remembering that he can’t see me. “Okay,” I whisper.

“We’ll be landing in about an hour. So, I’ll see you then, Sweets. I love you,” he tells me.

“Love you, too, Dev. I’ll see you soon,” I tell him before ending the call.

The nurse comes back a few minutes later with a dinner tray and an update about Brady’s surgery. They are still trying to locate all the sources of the bleeding. Apparently, the bullet hit one of his ribs causing it to split apart and the fragments went in several directions. There is no damage to the heart or lungs, which would be the worst-case scenario, but it’s still not good. They keep giving him blood transfusions to replace what he’s losing between the injuries and the surgery. It will still be several hours before he’s out of surgery.

I tell her that I don’t want the dinner she delivered, but she insists on leaving it for a while in case I change my mind. When she leaves, I push it to the side and lean back in the chair to scroll through the photos in my phone. We took several selfies on the beach and at the boardwalk today. I look at Brady’s light brown eyes and that huge smile of his staring back at me.

Will I ever see that in real life again? How did such a perfect day turn into this? Will I get to keep him and the life we’re trying to build together?

I let my mind continue to wander as I wait for Devon and Timothy to get here so that we can all wait for Brady together.

Brady

…Bang…Bang…

“Why would you do that?!”

…Because I choose you, Beautiful. I’ll always choose you…

“No! Brady! Stay with me! I need you to stay with me!!!”

---