Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
I sit next to Tony, touch his hand, and tell him everything will be all right.
Though now, not even I am sure of that.
He did something to his spine—something bad—that will put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
It breaks my damn heart because how is he going to be a doctor in a wheelchair? Is it even possible for him to do so? I stay by his side all week. He wakes and then drifts back off easily, barely saying a few words.
When he does fully wake, his face tells me he knows without me having to say it.
I’m not sure I want to say it.
To break his spirit like that.
I stay for another week, and his sadness eats away at me every day.
“You need to go. I’m going to do rehab and learn how to use the wheelchair. Go home,” he tells me.
“I want to be here for you.”
“You sitting here every day being a big saddo is depressing.”
“I’m not sad. I’m glad you’re doing better,” I tell him honestly.
“How’s Piper?” he asks, changing the subject. Truth be told, I haven’t messaged her, and she hasn’t reached out. She has my number. I know she does because I messaged her that night asking her to call me.
“Why are you asking?” I move around the bed, and his eyes track me.
“You like her, and you hate most people.”
“I do not,” I scoff.
He laughs. “You do, and that’s okay.” I look at him. “I like it that I’m one of the people who have you in my corner, Ezra.” I nod, not sure what else to say. “Now I need you to go, and I’ll call you when I have an update, or if I need help with anything. You can’t do much while I’m in here. You have a shop to run.”
“I’ll be back every weekend,” I inform him.
“Stop! I’m not a child. I’ll call you when I need you to come back.” I stare at him silently. “And call Piper,” he adds.
“I told her to fuck off the last time I saw her,” I admit.
“Well, that wasn’t very friendly.” He laughs. “I’m sure you can find a way to make her forgive you.”
“Yeah, I guess. We will see.”
The nurse walks in, and Tony talks to her like they’re old friends. None of his friends who were in the accident with him have bothered to come in and check on him. And I know they’re all home and doing well. I may have done some digging. Assholes.
“I’m going to buy you a new phone,” I tell him, grabbing my jacket and walking out. I find the closest shop and buy him a new phone with a new phone number. When I step back into his hospital room, the nurse who was there when I left is smiling brightly at him as she leans a little too close. When she spots me, she turns and hurries off, a blush on her face.
“Do you think I can still have sex?” he asks as I hand him the new phone. He grips it and looks up to me with hopeful eyes.
“I didn’t ask the doctor. But I’m sure there’s some way you can. You still have a mouth.” He nods, happy. “Who was that?” I ask, referring to the nurse. I’ve seen her a few times.
“We were in med school together.” His words hit me hard. “I like her.”
“Talk to your doctor. It might be too soon to even think about sex, but you never know.”
He nods in agreement.
I leave that night.
Ready to go back home, but wishing I could take Tony with me.
Chapter Seventeen
PIPER
“I’m not going,” I tell Joey over the phone.
“You don’t have a choice. Just go,” he replies, and I hear him huff out a breath.
“I don’t want to go. Can’t Lucas do it himself?” I grumble.
“He is doing it himself. You need to pick him up. And no one else can know we go there. Only the four of us do, so you have to pick him up. He can’t Uber it from there, you know this. And quit being a pain the ass.”
“I fucking really hate you right now.”
“Yeah, well. It’s been over a month, Piper. I’m sure he’s moved on. I think it’s time you did as well.
“Shut up,” I snap, then hang up and drive to the last place I want to go tonight.
His lights are on, and his door is open. I don’t see him immediately when I pull up, but I spot him when I get out of the car. He’s shirtless and covered in grease. His hair is a perfect mess, and his jeans sit low on his hips. It takes him a moment to notice a car has pulled up, and he squints out the window. I watch as he grabs a rag and wipes his hands before he walks out and sees me leaning against my car.