Page 35 of Choosing Skyler

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that. I’ll leave at eight, butonlyif you promise to call me if there’s any change. Anything at all, man. I mean it,” he says with determination.

“Yeah, man. Of course, I’ll call you.Thankyou!” I tell him, my voice cracking with emotion.

Tracey comes back about thirty minutes later with dinner. Devon and I thank her but make no move to eat the food she’s brought.

“Look, guys. I know this is hard, but you have to take care of yourselves to take care of Skyler. What would she say?” She holds a hand up when I start to answer. She glances between Devon and me. “What wouldyousay toherif either of you were in that bed, and she was refusing to eat?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

She’s got us and she knows it. She grins, passing out containers of food from TG’s. I can see why she and Skyler are such good friends. She has a gentle way about her. Much like her mom. We eat and talk while keeping an eye on Skyler.

Nurse Julie comes back in at six as promised, smiling when she sees us all eating. “How’s it going in here?” she asks, going to Skyler to check on her.

“We’re all good, Julie.” Tracey tells her. “I made the guys eat and I’m hoping you don’t have a fight to kick one of them out at eight. I’ll be here for back up if you need it.” She grins.

“No fights, we promise,” Devon says with a wink.

Julie and Tracey both narrow their eyes like they don’t believe him.

“I’m staying. Devon will be on call in case of any change. You’ll let him come back if he’s needed since he’s her medical proxy, right?” I ask, hoping like hell my argument with Devon doesn’t fall through.

“Yes, we will,” Julie assures us before leaving.

I sigh with relief and Tracey laughs. “That’s a pretty smart move. I see why you and Devon are such good friends. You’re both diabolical. I would have never thought of that.”

“Well, as much as I’d love to take the credit, that one was all Brady.” Devon laughs with her.

I glance at Skyler, hoping the commotion would have woken her, but she’s still out cold. I sigh and sit back in my seat next to her bed, lacing our fingers together.

We continue to talk, and Tracey and I get to know each other a little over the next two hours. I learn that she’s a pre-med student, majoring in psychology. She met Devon and Skyler after witnessing their infamous introduction kiss at freshman orientation. She’s thought they were a couple for the past three years. Until this week, when Skyler apparently texted her, bragging about meeting me before she could.

“I was so confused.” Tracey smiles at Devon. “You two are always together and seemed pretty hot and heavy at all the parties. Everyone assumed you were a couple.”

“That’s the way we wanted it, but we’ve only ever been friends. We just didn’t want anyone to come between our friendship by not understanding it,” Devon explains. “Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about that with Brady. He’s family to me, too.”

Tracey sighs. “Fine psychologist I’m going to make.” She chuckles, looking at me. “See, Diabolical Devon strikes again.”

“Wrong again. That whole fake relationship was all Skyler.” Devon grins.

Tracey’s brows shoot up. “Shut up! There’s no way. Sweet, Shy Skyler cooked up a whole fake relationship?”

“Yep. She wanted to hang out and make out at college parties without getting pushed and pulled into something she didn’t want. I didn’t want to lose her to some college jock. So, yeah.” He laughs.

“Wow. Well, I’m a little disappointed that neither of you trusted me with the secret. I would never come between you two either.” She blushes. “But I get it. It makes a lot of our girl time talks make so much more sense.”

Devon looks at Tracey with a gleam in his eye that I haven’t seen before. “Well, the cat’s out of the bag now. Skyler and Brady are the be all end all and I’m just the best friend that has to beg for attention.” He pouts.

I toss a balled-up napkin at his head. “Quit with that shit, man. You don’t beg for shit. You demand it just by being you.” I chuckle.

Devon catches the napkin and throws his head back, laughing. When Tracey looks at him with stars in her eyes, I realize this girl is completely in love with Devon, and he has no damn clue. I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about her by the way I’ve seen him with her today. They’re close, but he’s different with her than he is with Skyler. I’ll get it out of him eventually, but that’s a battle for another day.

Julie comes back in at eight to check on Skyler and announce that visiting hours are over. Tracey offers to give Devon a ride home since he rode here in the ambulance with me and Skyler this morning. They both hug me and kiss Skyler’s cheek before heading out, leaving me alone with my sleeping beauty.

Chapter 15

Skyler

I feel like I’m drifting. I start to panic as I search for something to hold onto. I feel the warmth of Brady’s hand around mine and it calms me. I’m still drifting but I’m tethered to safety. I hear his voice in my ear. “I’m right here, Beautiful. Come back to me.” I search for the way back, but I’m lost. There’s something keeping me away. Somewhere in my mind I know that I’m not ready to surface yet. So, I let myself drift, occasionally hearing the words whispered to me.

Devon:“We’re here when you’re ready, Sweets. We miss you.”

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