Chapter 31
thirty-one
. . .
Georgia
Everyone bustled around me as I tried to process all that was happening.
Dr. Pruitt, my parents, my siblings—everyone explaining the events of the last two days.
The only one not speaking was my boyfriend, who’d sat silently in the chair as people came in and out of the room.
I’d heard him when I was sleeping, or as they liked to call it, when I was in a coma.
I’d heard them all talking around me.
But Maddox was the one I’d heard endlessly. I had flashes of the car ride to the hospital with him, sobbing as he held me in his lap. I couldn’t recall the specific words, but I felt the impact. The pain. The desperation in his voice.
And here in the hospital, I heard the words.
How badly he needed me.
But I wasn’t leaving Maddox. It would take a lot more than an ice bath and a concussion to pull me away from this man. I was just resting. Just tired.
But I knew it was time to wake up because his sadness rocked me.
I hated that he was hurting.
He’d cried when my eyes had opened. Kissed every inch of my face and ran out to get the doctor, and then my mother came running in shortly after.
And from that moment on, there’d been too many people in the room. We hadn’t been alone. But every time I looked over at him, he was watching me.
Silently observing.
He looked exhausted.
Dark circles that were a mix of black and purple settled beneath his eyes. His scruff was overgrown, and he was wearing Hugh’s hoodie, along with a pair of joggers.
My mother told me that Maddox had never left the hospital. Not to get something to eat. Not to go home and sleep or change clothes or take a shower.
He’d refused to leave me.
But he’d barely spoken to me, as all my siblings, my niece, and my parents crowded the room the morning after I’d woken up.
“Hey, I’m going to let you be with your family, okay? I’m going to head out.” Maddox kissed my forehead, and when he pulled back and my gaze locked with his, I knew something was off.
He looked… sad and distant and lost.
Maybe it was exhaustion, I wasn’t sure.
“Yeah. Of course. I’m fine. Thanks for—” My eyes welled, and I looked away. They’d all told me what happened numerous times, and I had flashes of memories, but I knew that Maddox had saved my life. “Pulling me out, and breathing for me, and staying with me.”
There wasn’t enough that I could say to thank him. My words were jumbled, and even though I’d slept for two days, I was exhausted.
He put his finger to my lips. “You are the one who saved yourself, Tink. You nearly burst through that ice. You’re stronger than you think. Get some rest.”
His hand slipped from mine, and I missed him the minute he backed away from me.
For whatever reason, it felt like goodbye.
I’d fought to come back to him, and now he seemed to be the one pulling away.
Cage
How does it feel to be home? Do you need anything? Are you okay to be by yourself?
Brinkley
She’s been home for five minutes. Perhaps you could wait a little bit before you start firing off the questions.
Finn
Mom said that you didn’t want her to stay with you tonight. You sure you’re okay to be by yourself?
Hugh
Lila and I could bring you dinner tonight?
I’m good, guys. I haven’t been alone in days. I just want to have a little quiet time, take a bath, and get in bed early.
The elephant in the room was the fact that my boyfriend had left the hospital three days ago, and I hadn’t heard from him since. I’d called and texted, but he hadn’t responded. And they were all afraid to ask about it because no one wanted to upset me. But everyone had clearly noticed his absence.
No one more than me.
And it hurt like hell.
Brinkley
You sure you don’t want to sleep at Mom and Dad’s house tonight?
Hugh
You also have a room at my house. You don’t need to be alone.
I know you’re all worried because Maddox has disappeared on me. But I’m a grown-up. I don’t need to sleep at Mom and Dad’s or at Hugh’s house. I do know how to be alone. I’m fine here.
Hugh
He’s processing, Georgie. It was a lot. He blames himself for the accident. The dude was an absolute mess.
Cage
No question that he loves you. Just give him time. He’ll come around.
Finn
It was scary. We thought we’d lost you, Georgie. Everyone deals with things differently.
Brinkley
Yeah. I don’t give fucking grace to anyone that hurts my sister. So, if he doesn’t get his act together quickly, he can suck it. There, I said it.
Finn
There are times I feel like Brinks would be better suited to be a mob boss than a sports reporter.
Hugh
Yes. She’s totally giving off gangster vibes at the moment. You terrify me sometimes, Brinks.
Cage
Normally, I’d agree with you, Brinks. But I saw the man. I saw the torment and the hurt. He gave her fucking CPR and brought her back to life. I think he gets a pass while he figures his shit out.
Brinkley
Touché. I suppose he does deserve credit for pulling you out of the freezing cold water, breathing life back into you, and hauling ass down to the hospital. Even mafia bosses can give passes sometimes.
You do realize I’m on this thread, right? I know what he did, and I’m grateful. I’m not mad at Maddox for running. He’s scared, and I get it. I just hope he finds his way back to me.
Finn
Should you go find him?
Nope. He knows how I feel. I’m not a mystery in any way, shape, or form. I’ve been honest with him. So, he’ll have to come back on his own, otherwise this will keep happening every time he gets scared.
Hugh
Fuck. That was deep, girl.
Cage
You amaze me, Georgie. I don’t give you enough credit for how much you’ve grown up. I’m proud of you.
Finn
Did someone steal Cage’s phone?
Cage
Brinkley
Fine. We let the bastard live. For now. But he best figure out his shit quickly.
Hugh
Or what? Horse head in the bed?
Cage
Can we not talk about dead animals, please?
I took a few days off work to be at the hospital, and Mrs. Remington has been blowing up my phone with texts letting me know that Mr. Wigglestein was still single.
Guess the fuck what? I’m still single. The pug is no different from any other dude out there trying to survive.
Finn
The fact that you put yourself in the same league as the pug says a lot. You choose to be single, brother. There is a slew of women who wouldn’t mind being Mrs. Doctor Reynolds.
Brinkley
Wait. If you marry a doctor, you don’t get to use the title of doctor in your salutation, do you?
Hugh
No fucking way. If you marry a football player, you don’t get to call yourself a quarterback.
Cage
What the fuck are you people talking about? Are you drunk?
Finn
I’m three sheets to drunkville. It was a joke. Duh. You people have no sense of humor.
Hugh
Did you just say, duh? That word is so over. Hell, it hasn’t been used in your lifetime.
Brinkley
Let’s reel it back in. You still there, Georgie?
Yes. I’m enjoying the riveting conversation. Getting in the tub. Love you, guys.
Cage
Text when you get out, please. You did have a serious concussion, and I know that you would like to have us all call the coma a “long nap”, but the truth is, you were in a coma.
Finn
Wow. You really are a doctor. Impressive advice, Dr. Reynolds.
Hugh
Well, even if it was a long nap, you should still let us know when you’re out of the tub. You did hit your head hard. I don’t need to be a doctor to know that’s dangerous.
Brinkley
I’m at your front door, Georgie. Open up. I’m sleeping over.
Finn
Well, that’s another way to go about it. She said she wanted to be alone, so why not go right over there and insist she let you in?
Brinkley
I padded to the door and pulled it open to see my sister holding a bag from Cottonwood Café.
“I got you the mac and cheese. I know it’s your favorite.” She walked in and dropped the bag onto the counter before wrapping her arms around me.
The tears started to fall. And for the first time since my accident, I let myself fall apart.
I cried for what happened and the trauma that it put everyone through.
I cried for the fact that my favorite place was now tainted by this horrible accident.
But mostly, I cried because the man that I loved was hurting, and I couldn’t help him.
“You’re okay, Georgie,” Brinkley said, and there was a crack in her voice when she said my name.
I pulled back and swiped at my face. “Wow. You were willing to deal with Mrs. Runither just to get me my favorite pasta?”
“It’s the duty of being a big sister. But she didn’t ask about me tonight. She only talked about you.” She moved toward the bag and pulled out the two containers, setting them up at the little island counter where the two barstools sat.
“Really? That’s so unlike her.”
“Well, she started out by asking if you were okay. But then her questions were all about you and the hot billionaire, and if you were boinking him. She commented on his height. His hands. That he appeared to have large feet. And that his broody demeanor probably made him a lion in the bedroom.”
My jaw hung open, and my tears turned to laughter. “She is unbelievable.”
Brinkley handed me a fork, and she sat beside me and took a bite. “It is damn good. Totally worth the awkward conversation.”
I groaned as the warm cheese hit my system. “I get the fascination with the man. Hell, I’ve been fascinated by him since the moment we met.”
“You love him, huh?”
“I do.”
“Have you told him?”
“Yes. We’ve said it to one another and I heard him say it when I was,” I paused to hold my pointer and middle fingers on each hand to make air quotes, “taking a long nap. I know he loves me. I’ve known for a while.”
“Damn. That’s kind of hot.”
“What?” I smiled and searched her gaze.
“That he stayed by your side during your hospitalized nap time and declared his love. And then he ran away when you woke up because the pain of almost losing you was too much. Sounds like a great romance book.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, but that’s why romance books are fiction. Living that is not as charming. You don’t want to have to go through hell to be together, you know? But I’ll mention it to Ashlan. She could probably use that plot in one of her books.”
There was a knock on the door, and I startled.
“Do you think Bossman sent you more flowers?” Brinkley chuckled as she glanced around my apartment at the endless arrangements that he’d sent since he’d left the hospital and hadn’t said where he was going.
I moved to my feet, and when I opened the door, my mouth fell open. Dylan, Everly, Ashlan, Charlotte, and Vivian stood there. Vivian had a large pink bakery box in her hands.
“What is happening?” I shouted, and they rushed toward me one at a time.
Once they’d hugged me and Brinkley and pulled off their coats, Vivian handed me the box of pastries.
“We thought you might want some cupcakes when you got out of the hospital.” She kissed my cheek.
Everly flicked her finger at Dylan. “We needed to see that you were okay. And money bags over here had her husband send the helicopter for us, and then we grabbed her in the city, and here we are.”
“We know you’re exhausted. We’re just here for a few hours. We can eat cupcakes and laugh like old times.” Ashlan wrapped an arm over my shoulder and rested her head there.
“You knew, didn’t you?” I chuckled and glanced at my sister.
“I’m a reporter, Georgie, I know all things.
Of course, I knew. Plus, someone had to tell them where your new place was.
So, we figured I’d feed you real food first, and then we’d binge on Vivi’s cupcakes.
” She carried the bakery box down to the coffee table, and we all found spots on the couch and huddled together.
“I can’t believe you guys are here,” I said, and my bottom lip started to tremble. Tears broke free, and once they started, I couldn’t stop them.
But I felt all the love right here in this room, and it was exactly what I needed.
“I know you went through some serious trauma,” Charlotte said, “but Brinks gave us the short version about what’s happening with Maddox. Boys are so freaking stupid sometimes. I swear, they put us through hell before they sweep us off our feet.”
Everly reached for a tissue on the coffee table and wiped at the tears falling down my face.
“It’s all going to be okay, Georgie. Everyone handles trauma differently.
Trust me, I can vouch for that. I was a runner myself.
Sometimes, the fear of losing someone is so overpowering you can’t think straight. ”
“But no one runs forever. He’ll figure it out,” Vivi said, handing me a chocolate cupcake with pink icing formed into the prettiest flower. “I know these are your favorite.”
“Cupcakes make everything better, don’t they?” Ashlan said as she reached for a vanilla pastry from the box.
“They really do.” Brinkley took a big bite of the pink, sugary icing and groaned. “This is a good temporary fix.”
“So, tell us about Maddox Lancaster. Wolf knows him and says he’s a brilliant guy, and he really likes him,” Dylan said before wincing. “Or do we hate him now? Because I can blow up a photo of him and get us some darts, and we can beat the shit out of him on paper if you want.”
I laughed and I cried all at the same time.
Though my body was still recovering, and my heart was aching… family always made everything better.
Even if my heart was beyond repair, I wasn’t alone.
But the thought had my chest aching again.
Because I wondered if Maddox was alone.
Suffering all by himself.
And the thought of him hurting made my entire body ache.