Page 120 of Collateral Damage
“I remember what happened. I don’t need anyone to explain that part to me. I was in a boating accident.”
She nods once.
“Did anyone else get hurt?” I hesitate. “Did anyone… die?”
She pales, and my heart races, the monitor next to me beeping faster.
“Who?” I demand.
“I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say?—”
“Please tell me.” I have to stop myself from yelling at her. I’ll try begging instead. “I can’t sit here in any more agony. I need to know.”
She checks over her shoulder, then closes the door to the hallway. “The driver of the boat passed away.”
I blink at her, heart jumping to my throat. “Which boat?”
She can’t mean Ethan. He was there. He was with me before I passed out. I think he might have been the one to pull me from the water, but I’m not sure. What if something happened to Ethan after that? What if he’s gone? I can’t live without Ethan.
“The, umm… the older guy? Mr. Laurence.” She clears her throat. “You were in surgery for a while, and then you were sedated, so things may have changed. You were life-flighted here from Nantucket. They… they can’t find Mr. Laurence’s body.”
The emotions that hit me are complicated and numerous. Relief. Grief. Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Everything. All at once.
Every. Fucking. Thing.
“Okay,” I whisper. “Anyone else?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t believe so.Youalmost died, Cooper. You’re lucky to be alive.”
I huff and turn away. I don’t feel so lucky. “You’re probably going to tell me they did everything they could to save my leg?”
“I’ll leave that to the doctor,” she says, and then she’s gone.
I can guess how this is going to go. The doctor is going to come in here and tell me the same things she did about how lucky I am to be alive. Then he or she will explain the surgery I underwent. Ask if I have questions. Tell me about a care plan I’mgoing to have to follow whether I like it or not. Rehabilitation. A prosthetic leg. Medicine. Maybe more surgeries.
I’m too exhausted to hear it, so I lay my head on the pillow and let myself cry. I don’t want anyone to see me like this, but I can’t help it. I’m so fucking angry and so fucking sad—this never should’ve happened.
I give myself five minutes.
Shortly after that, the doctor comes in, saying the exact things I expected him to say. This is going to be a long process. Lifelong, unfortunately. He leaves, and the nurse gives me more medicine, and I’m left alone.
Not for long.
Someone knocks on the door.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up,” Ethan says, rushing inside. “They told me you wouldn’t be awake for another hour. I went home to shower. Fuck, I’m so sorry, Cooper.”
I hold up my hand. “Don’t. It’s fine, probably better I faced waking to this alone.”
Ethan’s frown deepens, and he sits on the edge of the bed. He picks the side where my leg should be, and I kind of want to kick him in the kidney for the reminder. Not that I could forget.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask.
“On his way. He’ll be here soon.”
Sure. Guess we’ll see.
“Why did Gregory do that?” I ask, anger boiling over instantly. “Whythe fuckdid that guy drive his boat into us?”
