Page 56 of Clashing
Ryker stormed through the door with two other guys. He knelt next to Dan, scanning the various injuries. “Hey, Danny, you awake?”
“I’m awake.”
Awake, but his words slurred more.
“Stay awake for me, man. Where does it hurt?”
“Everywhere.” Dan laughed, then hissed and clutched his ribs.
“Scar.” Ryker’s calm but firm tone snapped my attention to him. “Go upstairs and get two fitted sheets. Strongest ones he has.”
Scrambling to my feet, I rushed upstairs to the linen closet. I returned with the least worn sheets. Ryker instructed me to arrange them on top of each other beside Dan. Once I had them down, Ryker and his friends cautiously moved Dan onto them. The four of us carried him outside, each grasping a corner. Thankfully, Dan hadn’t put the seats back after I borrowed his van, allowing space to lay him down.
Ryker and I sat with him as Ryker’s friend raced us down the street. During the drive, Ryker called the hospital and explained what happened, asking them to be ready for us. Dan lay quietly, one of his hands sandwiched between mine.
When we arrived, they wheeled Dan away on a bed and didn’t let me follow. Ryker stayed with me in the waiting room. As much as I liked being strong and taking care of myself, I needed his arms around me and didn’t fight him when he sat and pulled me into his lap. I tried not to cry but Dan was myworld.
Ryker held me while we waited. Pale linoleum floors squeaked from the sneakers of people running by. A telephone perpetually rang with small absences, and the constant bustle of doctors in and out of doors made me jump every time, hoping one of them was Dan’s doctor.
The sun set by the time they let me see him.Justme, since I was family. Well, not technically, but the closest thing he had, and thankfully he told them I was his niece.
The doctor pulled me aside and informed me Dan would be all right. I thanked him for telling me ahead of time because the relief at that news made me burst into tears. Dan didn’t need to witness me crying. I got a hold of myself before I entered the room to find him sound asleep. A pile of beeping machines reassured me he was all right.
Although I could breathe because he’d be okay, the list of injuries wasn’t anything to scoff at. A concussion. A broken arm, leg, and a couple ribs. It could’ve been worse, but he had to get his knees fixed whether he liked it or not. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to walk. He wasn’t in any position to use crutches, so they informed me they’d keep him for a couple days but would send him home with a wheelchair.
He’s going to hate that.
I stayed well past visiting hours and nearly passed out on the chair by Dan’s bed. The nurse gently encouraged me to go home and get some rest. She took my number, promised to call if anything changed, and said she’d tell Dan to call me when he woke.
Stiff limbs protested movement after staying tense in one place for so long. I stretched as I made my way to the waiting room, and only then realized Ryker didn’t have a way home. Someone picked up his friends earlier and he stayed with me, but he didn’t have his motorcycle, only Dan’s van.
I sped up and found Ryker still waiting, seemingly much more awake than I was. He stood at my approach.
“I’m sorry.” I rubbed my eyes, swollen from tears. “I didn’t think about how you wouldn’t have a ride.”
“Don’t be sorry. I could’ve had someone pick me up.” He closed his arms around me, blanketing me in comfort I needed as badly as I needed Dan to be all right. “I’m here as long as you’re here.”
I melted into him. “Thank you.”
Ryker stroked my hair. “How is he?”
“Fine. He’s asleep. He’s going to be in a wheelchair. I’m sure that’s going to piss him off when he wakes up.” I trudged toward the exit. “He’s not going to like sleeping downstairs.”
Ryker‘s hand enveloped mine on our way to the parking lot. “We’ll figure it out.” He squeezed my hand as we approached the van. “Give me the keys, Scar. You’re barely awake.”
Normally I’d fight him, but emotional and physical exhaustion stole my energy. I handed him the keys, but he guided me to the passenger side and helped me in before he hurried to the driver’s side.
The cool glass from the window I rested my head against didn’t wake me up. I barely registered the drive. At some point, Ryker’s hand landed on my thigh. I appreciated his show of comfort but speaking required too much of me, so I said nothing, and Ryker being himself, remained silent.
We arrived at the bar, where Ryker parked the van in the alley next to my truck. I pivoted toward Dan’s house, and Ryker followed. We stepped inside and a lump caught in my throat at the blood pooled at the bottom of the stairs.
“Hey.” Ryker squeezed my shoulder. “Go to bed. I’ll clean up.”
“No. It’s okay. I can handle it.”
I got a rag from the kitchen, but before I could do anything with it, Ryker snatched it out of my hands and crouched beside the blood. There was still the mess from the dropped plates as well, so I found a paper bag and the broom. Glass scraped against the floor, scratching the already scuffed wooden planks. A lot of the pieces were big, so I crouched and carefully plucked them by hand, then dropped them in the bag.
Ryker covered me with his body from behind and closed his hands over mine. “Stop. Come on, Scarlett.” He pulled me to my feet. “You need sleep.”
