Page 128 of Freshmeet
“I guess,” she said, her face softening as she looked up at me. “I’m just scared.”
Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, I cupped her cheek. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
Her eyes opened, and she leaned into my palm. “I trust you, Connor.”
The tightness in my chest lessened, and despite the tragedy we’d just survived, I felt a sense of hope. Of all the people relying on me, Sarah offered the space for me to be vulnerable and raw. My weaknesses and flaws didn’t make her push me aside. If anything, they drew her closer until she provided a support I’d never experienced before.
We shared a tired smile, and the elevator doors opened. Hand in hand, we navigated the halls to Jamie’s room.
The quiet beep of the heart monitor and the whirl of the machines were the only noises in the sterile room.
Mom sat beside Jamie’s bed, quietly crying and praying.
“Do you need anything, Ms. McCormick?” Sarah asked, placing a hand on Mom’s shoulder.
Mom patted it and shook her head. “No. I’m fine. It’s just hard to believe that all this is happening. So many lost lives.”
Sarah squeezed Mom’s shoulder, then sat in the chair on the other side of the bed.
I sat next to Mom and took her hand in mine. “How’s he doing?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but he’s doing okay. Dr. Reyes says he’ll wake up any time now. It’s all up to his brain.”
“Will he have any lasting effects?”
Mom gave me a gentle smile. “We won’t know until he wakes up, but the injury wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked. Your brother is one lucky guy.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief, thankful my brother was a walking good luck charm. Jamie would make it out of this whole ordeal relatively intact.
“And he’ll be safe here in the hospital until they find whoever did this,” Mom added, patting my hand. “I want the two of you to be careful out there.”
“We will be,” I assured her.
We shuffled into my apartment sometime after dawn, exhausted and ready to sleep. As soon as I left the hospital, I was finally able to drop the brave act.
“You should probably shower,” Sarah said from behind me, her voice soft like she knew I was barely holding on.
I dropped my chin to my chest and exhaled. “I’m tired.”
So tired. And hurting.
Warm hands ran over my back, loosening the knots in my shoulders. “I know, baby, but you need to get the blood off.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her soft, warm body against me, providing me with her strength and comfort.
I lifted my hand and grimaced at the blood caked under my nails. No matter how hard I scrubbed at the hospital, I couldn’t get clean. “I tried to get it off but?—”
“Let me help you.” She gently guided me to the bathroom. “It’s been a long day,” she muttered, turning the shower on to warm up.
I numbly nodded, lifting my arms to allow her to pull my shirt off. Specks of Jamie’s blood dotted my skin. I glanced in the mirror and had to look away. It was too much.
Sarah undressed with fast, efficient moves, keeping her bra and panties on, before stripping off my gym shorts and boxer briefs. A blush bloomed across her full cheeks, and she turned away from my naked body and toward the bathtub. Clearing her throat, she said, “In you go.”
A smile tugged at my lips, Sarah’s sweetness easing the deep ache in my chest.
Stepping under the warm stream, I let out a heavy breath and closed my eyes, wetting my face and hair. When I opened my eyes, the shower curtain was closed, and Sarah stood in front of me, shampoo at the ready.
