Page 10 of Love Me Back
I opened my mouth to question him again, but he shocked meto my core when he said, “But I will find out what happened.”
The call disconnected, and I closed my eyes.
I had fucked up. Royally. There was no stopping him. His strong sense of family would bite me in the ass. No matter how many times I told him I wanted to be free, he still held on, albeit loosely.
There was nothing I could do but wait for his next move. Walking back into the hospital, I headed straight to Grayson’s room. Carson was in the hall with the others, and Hudson had arrived.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Everyone turned my way, but Carson spoke first.
“He woke up. The doctor’s in with him now.”
“Thank God,” I whispered. Not that I believed in God anymore. Not after everything I had seen. Everything I’d experienced. God didn’t exist in my world. He couldn’t. Because if he did, and he allowed all the things that happened in the world, well, I wouldn’t want to know him, anyway.
It was easier just to ignore him.
We waited forty-five minutes before the doctor returned from Grayson’s room.
“You can go in and see him now.”
“Doctor, how is he?”
The doctor looked at us all, and said, “He asked to tell you himself.” Then he walked off down the hall, leaving us all expecting the worst.
I followed at the back of the group as everyone filed into the room. My eyes immediately sought Grayson’s to tell me he was okay. I knew I shouldn’t be here. But I couldn’t stay away now. I had done my best to keep him from breaching the walls I had built around my heart, not wanting him to be hurt. But he was hurt anyway, and I had to find out why.
Carson and the others gathered around the sides of his bed, while King and I stood at the end. When Grayson’s eyes met mine, he frowned.
“You should go, Jessica.”
I reared back as if his words were a physical blow. Carson turned toward me with concern. Addie frowned at her brother. And Emerson and Hudson looked everywhere but at me.
Winchester stood by my side. The look on his face said he wanted to throw me out. Only I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. I didn’t know what his issue with me was, but it was clear he didn’t want me here anymore than his brother did.
I nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay.” My eyes lingered on him for only a moment more before I turned and walked out of the room. I was halfway to the elevator when Addie caught up with me.
“Jessie, wait.”
I picked up my pace. I didn’t belong here. My place was upstairs with my best friend and her new baby. Not in that room with the man I refused to surrender to. No matter how much I wanted to.
“Jessie.” Addie grabbed my arm and halted my steps.
Securing my resting bitch face in place, I turned around.
“He didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, he did. And he’s right. We aren’t together, and that’s how I want it. I was worried just the same as I would be if anyone else in town was hurt. I wanted to make sure he was okay, and I did. Now, I need to get back to Ellie.”
Before she said another word, I spun on my heel and hurried to the elevator. When the doors closed, my shoulders slumped against the wall. Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall. This was my fault. I was the one who had kept him at arm’s length.
This was what I wanted. A clean break. Grayson was done chasing me, and I was glad.
Bullshit!
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened onto the fourth floor. The hallway was empty and quiet, and as I made my way to Ellie’s room, I hoped they had all left. I didn’t have the strength to field questions I couldn’t answer.
I knocked lightly on the door before slipping inside. The room was quiet. Ellie was asleep on the bed. Ryder sat in the chair nextto her, holding the baby.
“Grayson alright?” Ryder asked, looking up when I slid the door closed.
