Page 55 of The Wiener Across the Way

He squeezed me tighter but sat us up, and for the first time, I realized he’d wedged himself into this tiny hospital bed with me. The bars had to be digging into his legs and sides, and I was definitely squishing him. I should move, let him get up and probably take a full breath without the constraints of me and the metal, but I couldn’t quite talk myself into moving from what felt like the only place I could recharge.

“How are you feeling?”

“Umm.” I wasn’t entirely sure how to answer that. I actually felt more rested than I had in a long time. But mentally? I was shaken. “I’m thirsty.”

That was as much as I could commit to in this moment.

Declan’s soft chuckle rumbled in his chest, and I felt it all up and down my back. “That, I can fix, sweetheart.”

He grabbed me around the hips, and I realized I was wearing one of those flimsy hospital gowns and nothing else. Oh geez. My whole-ass backside was naked and had been pressed against him all night.

Declan moved me off his lap and he slid off the side of the hospital bed. I watched all his muscles flex as he stretched. God, he was so strong, and I wanted him back in the bed with me, keeping me safe from the outside world for just a little bit longer. I shivered and pulled the flimsy blanket up to my chin.

“The nurse was here to check on you a couple times, and I think she wanted to kick my ass for being in that bed with you. But she left this jug of water for when you woke up.” He poured me a cup and handed it over.

I was more grateful to have something to do that wasn’t thinking or talking about what happened than I was for the water.

Before we could say more, the door burst open. Skeeter, my manager and agent, stormed in, her face a mask of concern that somehow didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Kelsey. Thank god you’re awake. Can you perform today? The label is freaking out.”

Declan’s body tensed, and I saw the anger flicker in his eyes. He stepped between us, ready to confront her, but I touched the back of his arm, stopping him. “She’s not doing any more shows, Skeeter. She’s exhausted, and she needs rest.”

Skeeter’s eyes widened, and she took a step back, clearly not used to being challenged. “Declan, I appreciate your concern, but this is between me and Kelsey. The record company?—”

“Skeeter, I can’t.” Knowing I had someone on my side was what would give me the strength to fight this battle that I’d known was coming for a while. I’d been avoiding it, ignoring it, hoping it would go away. It wasn’t just a battle against Skeeter or the record label. It was against my own instincts too. But I had to do it now while I had this fresh, new fear motivating me.

Her eyes widened. “But Kelsey, you have to. The festival?—”

“No,” I cut her off firmly. “Last night scared the shit out of me, Skeeter. I don’t want to let down my fans, or the label, or you, or anyone. But I don’t have anything left right now.”

Declan stayed silent but stood beside me, like my own personal guard dog. No wonder Pooh had fallen for him so hard. I was right there with her, and that scared me almost as much as ending up in the hospital.

Skeeter’s face turned a shade of red I don’t think I’d ever seen on a human being before. “Do you know how much is at stake? The label?—”

“Look. If I go out on that stage today, I’m afraid it will be my last show.” I wanted my voice to come out stronger, but there was a waver in it that I hated. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t going to do what I thought would make everyone else happy, or believe in me, or love me. That was really scary too. “Ever. Go tell the label that, Skeeter. I need a fucking minute to myself, or I’m done.”

My heart was racing, and we all knew it because the monitor next to me was going crazy. I imagined the nurses or doctors were going to be in here any minute thinking I was having a heart attack.

Skeeter opened her mouth to argue, but a look from Declan silenced her. She huffed and slid in one last warning. “You have a contract for another album, little girl. Don’t forget that.”

She stormed out, and it was a good thing too, because I think Declan was about to punch her in the face. Not that I think he actually would, but he was not a happy camper right now.

Once she was gone, I turned to Declan. “Thank you, for backing me up. I... I needed to do that myself.”

He nodded, understanding. “I know, and I’m so fucking proud of you for telling her off, babe. I just hate seeing you pushed around. She’s supposed to work for you, for your best interests, not the label.”

“I’ve trusted her for a long time, but maybe I need to evaluate a lot of things about my career.” I lowered my eyes and stared down at the pattern of the blanket, blinking back tears that just seemed to sprout up. “I hate that I feel so overwhelmed with everything and I can’t really see through to the other side.”

Declan cupped my chin and lifted my face so I had to look at him. He leaned down, kissing my forehead. “I’ll always be here for you, Kels.”

I’d scared him too. And I knew he wanted to be here for me, but I couldn’t have him forever. I barely had him for a week. He had a real life to get back to, and I didn’t want to interfere with that. But I was going to take him for the few more days I had him.

I just wished there was a way we could avoid the outside world for just a little while longer. But the press was definitely waiting, and I needed to make some kind of statement to my fans. I already wanted to hide under my blankets.

With Declan.

I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch. Despite the chaos going through my head, in that moment, his touch gave me a sense of peace.

The room was quiet now, save for the occasional beep of the hospital monitor. My feelings, my vulnerabilities, were laid bareto him, and he was still here. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with concern and something else.

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