Page 80 of Shattered Mind

I release an audible sigh. “Yeah.”

I see her nod in my periphery as she stares ahead. “But you’re gonna break her heart, right?”

That same sinking feeling I felt earlier returns and my chest aches as I look at my sister-in-law. I open my mouth to respond but when nothing comes out, she just nods again, her eyes filled with disappointment.

It guts me.

I never wanted to hurt Liv. It was the whole reason I was sceptical about the entire arrangement in the beginning. I fucking knew someone would end up getting hurt, but I was greedy and did it anyway.

I reach for the door handle, but her voice stops me. “Can you do me a favour?”

“What is it?”

“Can you make sure this is definitely what you want before you make any decisions?”

I nod; already sure this is the right choice. I reach for the handle again and her hand on my shoulder makes me pause. “And Gray?” This time I face her when she speaks to me, “she’s gonna hate you for this.”

“I know.”I’m counting on it.

“As long as you know,” she says finally and I climb out, tipping my hat at her as I close the door and drag mysorry ass into my house.

CHAPTER 44

OLIVIA

Ifucking hate hospitals.

I feel like I’ve said that before.

There’s just something so cold about the entire building. The continuous sound of machines beeping echoing down the eery hallways. The sterile scent of disinfectant. The scratchy fucking blankets.

The whole thing makes my skin crawl.

And yes, I’m fully aware that we need hospitals. I appreciate everything doctors, nurses and surgeons do on a daily basis to save lives. I’m not a complete monster. I just don’t have any good memories of hospitals.

When I woke up and took in my surroundings, for a split second I thought I’d dreamt the last ten years of my life. I half expected to find a social worker at the end of my bed telling me that my Mum was gone.

Instead, I found Savannah curled up in the leather chair next to me. I was fairly out of it on pain meds, so I don’t remember exactly what I saidto her, but she left a while ago with the promise to return with some clean clothes and a milkshake from Bellas.

Apparently, I have two broken bones in my left arm, a few slices in need of stitches from the broken glass, and a mild concussion. I’m not so sure on the latter. Nothing about the throbbing in my head ismild.

I’m not allowed to go home today. The doctor said she’d feel more comfortable if I stayed overnight for monitoring, and as long as they keep pumping me full of the good stuff, I can deal with that.

The door to my hospital room cracks open and Savannah pokes her head in, a bright smile on her face as she waves the milkshake in the air. “I got the goods, and I brought company.”

Bella and Daisy appear in the doorway behind her, their arms laden with snacks and puzzles. “We thought we’d keep you company for a few hours,” Daisy says as she drops the items on the end of the bed.

Savannah places a bag on the leather chair next to the bed and starts pulling clothes out. “So, I picked up some clean undies, your favourite pj’s and some toiletries.”

Bella pulls two more chairs into the room, situating them on the other side of the bed and I watch the whole thing unfold with a thick lump of emotion in my throat.

“I love you girls so much,” I say, my chin trembling as my eyes fill with tears.

The three of them stop moving and look at me. Sympathy reflects on their faces as they crowd around me, pulling me into an awkward group hug. “We love you, too, Livvy.” Savannah says against my ear and Bella and Daisy hum their agreement.

“Ugh, I don’t know why I’m so emotional,” I say, swiping at my tears as they pull back.

Savannah laughs. “Don’t worry, it’s just the morphine. You’ll be back to your bitchy self in no time.”

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