Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Then do that. Go home, give Val a big squeeze, take a shower, change and bring some clothes back and whatever else you might need while you sit here in this room.”
She could use some fresh air and to clear her head, because she had a feeling she would be spending a lot of time in this hospital room for the next week or so.
She nodded. “Okay. I’m going to send your mom home, then. I’ll stay with Val until you get there and once you do, I’ll come back to the hospital.”
“While I’m home, I might be able to find someone to take Val for a bit. Maybe one of my brothers with younger kids.”
“Val might like that.”
“I’ll call you if there are any changes. If you need to rush back, just bring Val with you. I’ll meet you downstairs and take her from there.”
Pulling in a long breath, she nodded again and rose from the chair. He stood, too, and once again took her in his arms and gave her a tight, reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. She’s in good hands here.”
Sloane hoped so. Because she had a feeling if things didn’t change after this, then the fight to save Sadie would be over.
And they’d both be the losers.
Decker slouched in one uncomfortable hospital chair with his boots propped up on another. With his eyes closed and his head hanging over the chair back, he listened to the non-stop noises of the machines hooked up to Sloane’s sister.
Dread had burrowed deeply into his chest at the thought this might be the end of the road for Sadie. If she didn’t make any major changes after this, the next “change” would be her final one.
And for Sloane, the most devastating.
For Sloane’s sake, he wanted to believe her sister would change, but the reality was, she wouldn’t. He could only hope like fuck he was wrong.
Hearing movement made him open his eyes and look toward the door, thinking it was a nurse coming in on their rounds.
When he didn’t see anyone, he glanced back to the bed to see Sadie’s eyes open.
Barely.
Her dull blue eyes landed on him and her voice sounded like two pieces of sandpaper being rubbed together when she asked, “What… is… this?”
Shit. He sat up and quickly pushed the nurse call button.
“Where… am… I?” Blinking slowly, she lifted her hand in front of her face and stared at the needle stuck in it. How they managed to get the IV in her collapsed veins, Decker had no idea.
“I’m sure you know where you are,” he answered, grabbing a nearby plastic cup and filling it with ice water. He put it within her reach.
“But… why?” Her question was a bit sluggish. No surprise.
“Sure you know that, too.”
“I… don’t… want… to be… here.”
“No one wants you to be here, Sadie. And if you try pulling out those IVs, I’ll have them tie you down to the bed.”
Her thin, cracked lips pulled downward. “Who are you?”
“Decker.”
“That doesn’t,” she dry-hacked for a few seconds before finishing with, “tell me jack.”
“I’m a friend of your sister. Remember her? The sister who loves you and worries about you?” The same one you put through the emotional and financial wringer.
A nurse bustled in, fussed with and over Sadie for a few minutes, checked the monitors and made some notes in Sadie’s chart. “Good to see you awake. I’ll inform the doctor.”
After doing a few more nurse things, she hurried back out, leaving them alone again.
Sadie cleared her throat. That effort sounded painful. “I want… out of here.”
“I’m sure you do, but that’s not going to happen. Not yet.”
“Why… are you… in my room?”
“Because I promised Sloane I’d stay here until she can return.”
Decker had to resist filling the silence that followed with what was really on his mind. While it would feel good to get some shit off his chest, it wouldn’t help Sadie. It wouldn’t help Sloane, either. So, he kept it to himself.
But it was a struggle.
Instead, he quickly sent a text to Sloane that stated: She’s awake.
When he didn’t get an answer, he figured she was in the shower.
Sadie extended out her bony hand. “Let me… borrow that… phone.”
He huffed out a “No.”
“Need… to make a call.”
“No, you don’t. The only person you need to talk to are the doctors and your sister.”
“Did she… put me... in here?”
“No, I did.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re nothing but a shell of a human right now, Sadie, and Sloane wants her sister back. You have no idea what she’s been going through.”
She took a sip of the water and licked her colorless, cracked lips. “Told her... to leave me… be.”
“I’m sure you did. But for some reason, she thinks you’re savable. How about not dispelling her of that notion?”
“How about... you mind your own... fucking business and... leave me alone?”