Page 98 of Never Stop
Why does it feel right, andwhy does part of me want him here?
How could so many years have passed between us, yet seeing him brings butterflies to my stomach?
Then, it hits me.
He needs to leave; it's not safe.
Dr. Abayon speaks again, "In the incident, you incurred multiple injuries, as you can see and feel. One of them resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Thankfully, it isn't severe, but itdoes appear that it has affected some of your memory. Which is normal and to be expected, but it's nothing that should remain permanent."
"Wha-What. . ."
"Was I in a car wreck?" I ask, pinching my eyebrows together, trying to settle the confusion that these fuckers won't seem to answer for me.
Ever since my family's accident, vehicles have been touchy for me. I've been working in therapy with Dr. Carr on my fear of getting in a vehicular accident, and I've gotten a lot better at controlling my fear.
All three of them shake their heads at the same time, which only pisses me off. Before I can speak, Ander speaks up.
God, his voice is exactly like I remember it.
"Via, I know none of this makes any fucking sense right now, but I need you to really hear me. Can you try to do that?" His words are gentle, and his tone is soft as he kneels at my bedside, placing his elbows on the edge of the bed.
"Please," He begs timidly.
Gosh, he's just as beautiful as I remember. His face is scruffy now, and he has a full beard. That's new. I kind of love it. Then there's those eyes—those creamy caramel-brown eyes—that have always pierced through me and stolen my heart. I could get lost in those eyes. Ialmostforgot how beautiful they were.
I hold his gaze and nod hesitantly.
Ander lets out a sigh. Instead of speaking, he looks around at everyone in the room, giving them all a look that screams, "Get the fuck out." Then he speaks up, but not to me.
"Can we have a moment of privacy? You can all wait outside the door; you can hear her call out if she needs any of you. Just leave the door cracked open."
He throws a look at me as if it's a question, asking for my permission to make sure this is okay.
I don't know what the hell is going on or why, but I want to hear what he has to say. Hopefully, he can clear the shit up.
All the staff nod and clear out of the room. Izzy stays rooted in her spot, and Ander flashes her a glare.
She huffs, "Oh no, big boy, I'm not leaving!"
"Iz. . . I'm okay. You'll be outside the room with the door cracked, right?"
A look of hurt briefly flashes on her face, but she holds it back, forces a smile, and then nods as she makes her way into the hospital hall with the others.
"Okay, Ander, I'm listening." My words come out strangled. His presence consumes me.
He flashes a weak attempt at a grin. "I'm going to spit a lot of information out at you all at once. Try to keep up, okay?"
I nod.
"Close your eyes. Try to picture what I'm saying." I huff out a sad laugh, considering protesting, but ultimately, I give in and do exactly as he asks.
"It's October. You get convinced by Dumb and Dumber, AKA Izzy and Maverick, to go on a blind date with a strikingly handsome man who works with Mav." He chuckles, and I can't help but grin at the sound. I'm trying to picture what he's saying as he speaks.
"You don't want to go on a date. You put up one hell of a fight. Ultimately, you do. You go on a date, only for the guy to end up being the man who loved you since he first saw you when you were kids, and he never stopped."
My eyes flash open and dart to his with a gasp escaping my mouth that's agape.
He's pleased with that response, and he smirks knowingly.
