Page 52 of Heatwaves

How can I even answer that? What I’d donewasstupid. I’d been stupid, and I almost died because of it.

“I didn’t think,” I finally manage to spit out. “I really wasn’t trying to kill myself. I promise.”

Mom squeezes my leg. “Of course you weren’t. We never thought you were.”

“Speak for yourself,” Wyatt grinds out.

I hate the way he’s looking at me—as if I betrayed him.

Haven’t I hurt him enough?

Laying my hand on top of my mom’s, I give her a soft smile. “Do you think I could have a few minutes alone with Wyatt?”

Mom looks like she wants to argue, but she just nods her head. “Of course. I’m getting a little hungry, so why don’t we go grab some lunch?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Miguel says, moving over to take Mom’s hand. “I’m glad you’re okay, Lila.”

“You and me both,” I tell him, forcing a smile as Dad comes over to kiss my head.

Once they’re gone, my attention turns back to Wyatt as I reach out my hand to him. “I’m sorry, Wy.”

He scoffs, wiping at his tears before he takes my hand. “For what?”

“For putting you through this. For the way I behaved that morning. For not listening to you.”

“You’re sorry for a lot of things, but I forgive you.” He sighs, lifting my hand to his lips. “Am I right to assume the reason you were upset thatday was because of Aidan, Carter, Oliver, and Ty?”

Frowning, I nod. “How did you know?”

“They’re the ones who saw the accident. They followed the ambulance here, and your mom was pissed when she saw them. I convinced them to leave by promising regular updates. They’ve been going out of their minds.”

Part of me wants to be happy to have them worried like I was when they ghosted me, but I’m better than that.

I don’t like that I worried anyone—but especially not that I worried my parents and Wyatt.

Wyatt eyes me for a moment before blowing out a breath. “I think once you’re home, you should hear them out, Lil. This is tying you up in knots. Fuck. You almost died because they upset you. You can’t carry on like this.”

I hate that he’s right. I don’t want to talk to them. I’m not ready for them to rip my heart from my chest again.

But I can’t allow anything like this to happen again. I can’t do that to my parents or Wyatt.

“You’re right,” I mumble. “Let them know that once I’m out of the hospital, they can come and speak to me.”

A smile lights up Wyatt’s face as he leans in to kiss me. “Thank you, Lil. I think this is the right decision.”

I guess only time will tell if he’s right or not.

It takes a week for them to release me from the hospital, but it’s finally time for me to go home.

I’m both ecstatic and petrified because the guys will be waiting for me and Wyatt when we get home. I don’t want to wait another day to hear what they have to say.

The sooner I get it over with, the sooner they’ll be out of my life.

Maybe.

“Are you sure you want to go back to your house?” Mom asks as the nurse stops the wheelchair at the curb.

I laugh, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Yes, Mom, I’m sure. I’ll be more comfortable in my house than staying with you and Dad.” I clear my throat. “Plus, didn’t you just tell me Miguel moved in? I want no part of that.”

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