Page 37 of Laying it Bare Backstage

The inquiries seemed pretty straight forward. When he was finished, he studied me for a long moment. “We normally don’t give this kind of information until it’s confirmed, but I feel like I need to give you something here. An officer pulled Naomi Howards over for speeding and reckless driving. And when the officer approached the vehicle, he discovered blood smears across the back seat. Because you and Serenity had mentioned her name in prior incidents; well I wanted to let you know that. We’re going to compare the blood in the car with the blood on the shirt we got from the hospital and see if we have a match. We’ll be in touch.” Giving me a nod, he handed me his card and left.

I stared blindly at his retreating figure. This time the bitch didn’t hide her tracks. She was going to pay for what she had done. However, with no new news about Serenity, that update provided me little relief because this nightmare wasn’t over.

“They got her.” Ivy’s scratchy reply shifted my attention back to her. “I wanted to kill her myself, but she’s not going to get away with this. Now as long as Serenity – ” Voice cracking, she pressed her face into Ascher’s shirt and her body shook with her tears.

I needed to know that she was going to be alright. But it was back to ...waiting.

Another two hours passed and finally the surgeon walked out to the waiting area. “Serenity Hayes’ fiancé?”

I stepped up to him. “Yes. I’m Teak Pierce. How is she? Can I see her?”

“She’s stable. I was able to stop the bleeding and repair the damages inside but we have her sedated so that she rests. She lost a lot of blood. She’s not out of the woods yet, but she’s breathing on her own so that is always a good thing. You can go see her for a few minutes. Then no visitors until at least tomorrow.”

Ivy walked over to us. “Can I see my best friend too, just for a minute?”

“Sorry, only family for tonight.” He gave her an apologetic smile.

Ivy shot me a look that was full of pure venom and I prayed she didn’t blow my cover.

“I promise I’ll tell her you are here and will see her tomorrow. That’s she’s not alone.”

Her eyes softened slightly and she nodded her head. We were all running on high emotions and I wouldn’t have blamed her for lashing out at me, but I would have been pissed. I was relieved to see she realized that I didn’t want Serenity to be alone. Her parents were still hours away.

I followed the doctor down the hallway. He stopped at a door and indicated I go inside. Hands shaking, my heart racing, and tears rolling down my cheeks, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Serenity lay in the bed, pale, unmoving, hooked up to a ton of wires and shit, but at least she wasn’t covered in blood anymore or bluish. And she was on her way to recovering. I had to remind myself of that. We found her; she was getting treatment now; and she was safe from that psycho bitch. I tiptoed over to her – funny I worried I would wake her.

After sitting down in the chair by her bed, I took her cold hand in mine and brought it up to my lips and kissed it. “Fuck, Serenity. I love you so much. You have to get better. Ivy is out in the waiting room fuming because I got to come back here and she didn’t. Well, they will let a fiancé back, but not a friend.” Hopefully she could hear me and found a little humor in those two things. My little lie and she knew how fiery her friend was. “And I called your parents. They are on their way up to see you. They’ll be here when you open your eyes. Baby, you have to open your eyes. Fuck, I need to know you’re going to be okay. I love you so much.” Fuck, I didn’t want to leave her room. But I wasn’t leaving the hospital without her. And maybe when her parents arrived, they would let them back to see her briefly too. After kissing her hand again, I laid it down gently beside her hip. Then I stood and leaned over to press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you. Please wake up soon. I’ll be waiting here for you. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. And you’re safe now.” Only feeling slightly better, I left her room and returned to the waiting area.

Ivy rushed over to me; her eyes frantic. “Does she look okay?Does she look like she’s going to get better?”

I smoothed my hand down her hair. “She looked like she was resting and recovering. Beautiful and strong and working on healing.”Did I sound as pathetic as I thought?

“Good. These chairs suck, but I’m not going anywhere until I know she is okay.”

“I’m here until she is released to go home.” I shifted my gaze to Ascher. “Would you go get me some clothes and shit, I don’t care what. And my guitar. And my charger. I’ll keep you guys updated. Shit, I wonder if my car is still even here.”

“If not, my brother will come get me and take me to my car. I’ll have to get it at some point anyway. And yeah, I’ll get some things for you. But Ivy, when I get back, I’m taking you home with me. You are exhausted. We will come back first thing in the morning. They aren’t going to let you in to see her until they move her to her own room, one not on this floor.”

Ivy’s face scrunched in a combination of anger and grief and the look intensified the ache in my chest.

Ascher wrapped Ivy in a hug and kissed her forehead before heading toward the elevators. Then Ivy and I dropped down into the uncomfortable chairs and waited.

Over an hour later, Ascher returned with my overnight bag and my guitar. “They had valet park your car. I guess one of the nurses recognized you. Because of that; they didn’t call for a tow. My car is still at the hall. I’ll get it someday.” He shrugged. He wasn’t leaving Ivy’s side anymore until things got better. “Right now, you call me when you need a ride home. I’ll have your car.”

“That won’t be until Serenity comes home, so it’s going to be a few days.” I ran a hand down my face. I needed a shower and sleep, but I wasn’t doing either until she opened her eyes.

Ascher pulled Ivy into his arms and led her over to the elevators.

And then I was all alone. Eyelids incredibly heavy and my entire body exhausted – mentally, physically, and emotionally.

I jerked awake to someone gently shaking my shoulder. Popping my eyes open, I was surprised I had fallen asleep in these unpleasant chairs. And only disoriented briefly before my brain reminded me of the where and the why of my current location. When I looked up, I found myself staring at a good-looking gentleman who looked to be about my father’s age with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Shit. I needed to call my father too. One thing at a time. When she was recovered, we’d make the trip to go visit him.

“I’m Mr.Hayes. You must be Teak. Although you look much different in real life.” He gave me a sad smile.

I appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood.

Standing, stretching my back, and wincing at the tightness, I then reached out and shook his hand. “Yes. And it’s nice to meet you.”

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