Page 79 of Hot Receiver

I let out a shuddering sigh and let my eyes close. Mom went down to the cafeteria for some coffee after the doctor examined me, so I lie here alone with my toxic thoughts. And there are too many keeping me from finding any bit of peace.

Because I can’t get Matt’s face out of my mind.

How sad he looked when I told him it was over for good.

How hopeful he was when he heard that I wasn’t paralyzed.

How devastated he looked when he walked out of my room.

I wanted to call him back, to fight against the path my mind knows is right and best for me, the path my heart aches to even think about because it doesn’t include Matt.

And I hate myself for it, but I love him. So fucking much.

But damn, it hurts… worse than any other pain I’ve suffered tonight.

The door creaks open. I turn my throbbing head and crack open an eye.

Mom walks in. Anna is right behind her. She walks into the room cautiously.

What the hell is she doing here?

“I hope this is okay,” she says. “I ran into your mom in the cafeteria and wanted to see how you’re doing.”

I slowly rise up, shifting my weight against my pillow, my mind riddled with questions. “I’d ask how you got back here, but I’m pretty sure the whole staff is starstruck enough to be convinced to let you do anything.”

My blood burns.

Anna, Matt.

Wait. Did they come together? Is he still here?

I grit my teeth.

I shouldn’t care, dammit! New path, remember?

Something Anna says clicks in my mind. “You ran into my mother? You know each other?”

Mom pats my hand. “We’re on the board together. She told me she’d had a really nice conversation with you tonight at the event and wanted to wish you well, so I brought her up. Obviously, nobody stopped me.”

They exchange a look and smile. “And there might be another reason why she wanted to speak to you,” Mom continues.

The heart rate monitor jumps, the bleeping noise picking up speed.

Mom backs out of the room. “I’m going to give you two some privacy. To talk.”

The medication chips away at the pain snaking through my legs. I ease back against the pillows as Anna moves toward the bed and sits in a chair next to me.

What the hell is my mother up to?

“This is a really weird situation,” she muses. “So surreal.”

“For you and me both.” I let out a deep sigh. “I bet you never thought you’d end your night sitting next to me in a hospital emergency wing.”

“You’re right about that.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “And to be honest, I never thought I’d be in a position where I was trying to convince someone to give the guy I’m in love with another chance so they could be together. That’s why I’m here. And it’s what I told your mom.”

And there it is. Mom knew Anna and Matt were “together,” and she had the insane thought that he’s the guy for me instead, so with that opening, how could she tell Anna no?

If this isn’t the most fucked-up game of matchmaker ever, I don’t know what is.

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