Page 73 of When We Fell Again
“Why does everyone keep saying that? I’m fine.”
Knowing I was about to be a total bitch, I placed a hand on his back and pressed down on one of the bruises. He hissed and inched over to the other side of the bed.
“You need to see a doctor,” I repeated.
“I’m. Not. Leaving. The. House.” He bit out each word.
“Then I’ll get someone to come here.” I let out a hard breath. As a tour manager, I had to be prepared for every eventuality, and I had a private doctor in my contacts for incidents like this that bands didn’t want to get out into the wider world. Although I rarely spoke to Dr Nugent, I knew he’d come if I asked.
“Lex, I don’t want anyone here. Just leave me alone.”
“Not happening. I was the one pushing you away before, but you’re not doing it now when you need help. I’m making the call.” I practically leaped off the bed and left the room, knowing that if I didn’t act immediately, Jordan would persuade me otherwise.
Levi waited in the living room, sitting on the sofa and scrolling through his phone. When he heard me come in, he put the device down. “So?”
“He hasn’t told me what happened. But I have managed to get through to him that he needs to see a doctor.” Rummaging in my bag, I found my phone and pulled up Dr Nugent’s contact. While I waited for someone to answer, I paced around the floor, circling around the armchair. “Hi, this is Alexis Jagger. I need to arrange for Dr Nugent to visit a client.” I gave his personal assistant the details and was given a window for him to come around. Blowing out a hard breath after I ended the call, I turned to Levi. “He’ll be here sometime after ten.”
He patted the sofa cushion next to him, and I sank onto it, grateful that help would be on its way.
“Thanks, Lex. I have no idea how he got into that state, but I’m so glad you’re here.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “His room stinks. I didn’t know he’d been smoking weed again.”
Levi’s brow furrowed. “Me either. We know he’s pretty good at hiding things, though. He’s done it before.” His gaze fell to the floor, and I guessed he was referring to everything that had happened up to Dexter’s death.
Pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes, I tried to stop the headache building behind them. “I didn’t think I’d be here again.” Briefly, I told Levi what had gone on between Jordan and Arlo before the gig.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Lex.”
“But that doesn’t explain how Jordan ended up back here looking like he does. Who did that to him?” I dropped my hands into my lap. “It can’t have been Arlo because the timings don’t work. Jordan had left the stadium way before the end of the gig.” I had so many questions and zero answers. And, so far, Jordan wasn’t prepared to give me any.
“I have no idea. Maybe some kind of random attack? It happens.” Levi forced a smile. “And we both know Jordan can go off at the deep end at short notice.”
The corner of my mouth pulled up in agreement. “I guess we just have to wait until he tells us the truth.”
“We could be waiting a long time.” Levi stood. “And in the meantime, do you fancy a cuppa? Maybe some toast?”
Realising I hadn’t eaten anything since lunchtime the day before, I nodded, my stomach growling in response. “Yeah, that would be great. Thanks, Levi.”
He leaned down and rubbed my shoulder. “You got it.”
We spent the next few hours sipping tea and nibbling on toast while the news channel rolled in the background. I kept an eye on my messages and emails, but everything was going smoothly. Thankfully, Jude and Robbie didn’t seem to be around, so we didn’t have to tell them what was going on.
Dr Nugent arrived shortly before half past eleven. I told him the bare bones of what I knew, then showed him to Jordan’s room. Jordan was facing the window, still in the same foetal position I’d left him in.
“Hey,” I said. “There’s someone here to see you.”
He groaned as I went over and opened the curtains, letting in the sunlight. As an afterthought, I also opened a window to let some fresh air in.
“Can you give us a moment?” Dr Nugent asked.
I knew how this worked and had no hesitation in leaving the room. Jordan would tell me the truth when he was ready, but he had to tell Dr Nugent now.
Resuming my wait downstairs, I faffed about in the kitchen, making coffee and washing up while Levi had a shower. Forty-five minutes later, the doctor reappeared.
“Alexis, you did the right thing in calling me,” he said. “Jordan has sustained a lot of heavy bruising, but thankfully, nothing is broken. It’s nothing a course of strong painkillers won’t fix. He told me about the history with his shoulder, and how you helped him with the meds.” The doctor handed over a packet of pills and a prescription. “He’s asked if you can do it again.”
Memories of the first time I’d seen Jordan again came flooding back. It almost felt like a full circle of where we’d started from. I took the packet from Dr Nugent. “Of course. And thank you for coming out at such short notice.”
