8. Chapter 8
Jake
It feels like forever since I last slept in my own bed.
The cot the hospital provided is rock hard and small.
Honestly: sleeping on the floor would be better.
Wren and I were originally going to take it in turns to stay overnight with Lottie, but it seems neither of us are very good at leaving her side.
So now we have two cots squeezed into this tiny hospital room.
They advised they don’t normally do this, but Wren and I weren’t afraid to throw our names around to get what we wanted when it came to being with our girl.
Right now, Wren and Sawyer have had to go back to their hotel so she can do some work. Life for a wannabe CEO stops for nobody it seems, but she promised me she wouldn’t be long.
While she’s gone, I do the one thing I haven’t done since school—pray. I’ve never believed in God, not since he took my father away from me, but now more than ever, I need him to do me a solid and wake Lottie up.
Taking hold of her hand tightly in mine I shut my eyes and start, “God, I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, and it’s been a long time since I prayed to you, but I need you.
My best friend, the love of my life, is in a coma and I need her to wake up.
I can’t function without her, man. She’s the peanut butter to my jelly, the ying to my yang, you get the drift.
Life is meaningless without her and I’m holding on by a thread.
So please, God, help a brother out and bring my girl back to me.
Give me a chance to show her how much I love her and need her.
” I finish by kissing Lottie’s knuckles and silently cry, wishing it was me instead of her in that bed.
Making myself as comfortable as I can on the cot, I close my eyes and try to get some sleep.
“That’s it, I’m staging an intervention.” I can hear my sister’s dulcet tones as I flit in and out of sleep.
“What are you even doing here?” I ask groggily, refusing to open my eyes for fear of the pity I’ll see in hers.
“I’m here to sit with Charlie for a bit, so you can go and have a shower and a proper sleep.
I don’t mean to be rude, brother, but you stink and look like a homeless man.
Is that the impression you want to give Charlie when she wakes up?
Wren called and told me you haven’t left this place since Charlie was brought in. ”
I get up and take a long look in the mirror. Jesus, I’ve aged about 20 years in the space of a week. Maybe Alyssa’s right.
“Plus, it would be great for you to spend some time with Bella. She misses you and she might make you feel close to Charlie?”
Reluctantly, I agree, mainly because I do look like a hobo. I kiss Lottie on the forehead, cheek, and hand before I head toward the door. It’s taking every ounce of willpower I have not to stay by her side, but I know she would lynch me for not taking proper care of myself.
After driving to my place for a shower, power nap, and a change of clothes, I also pack a small bag for the next few days.
I’ll admit I do feel refreshed, but there is no way I’m letting my sister know that.
Wren has messaged to let me know she’s back at the hospital now and there’s no news, so I should take my time.
While I’m at it, I text the guys and give them an update, along with Kayla. They’ve visited Lottie whilst she’s been here, but with restrictions on how many visitors you can have in the room at one time, it’s made things difficult.
Grabbing my overnight bag from the sofa and my car keys, I make my way over to my mom’s house.
They say dogs are like their owners, and I never believed this to be true, until I met Bella.
Not only is her fur almost the exact same color as Lottie’s hair, but she’s also a timid little thing just like my girl, although both of them are getting better.
Bella adores my mom, though, she constantly sits with her whilst she knits her little doggie sweaters.
Bella jumps down from the couch, her tail whipping back and forth while I stroke her head and rub her ears.
I also brought snacks, which I’m hoping will get her to forgive me for not seeing her in so long.
It seems to do the trick, and the pup cup I got from Starbucks is demolished in seconds—just like Lottie, she can’t resist a sweet treat.
This is just what I needed. I read somewhere once, dogs can sense when a human is in distress, and it feels like Bella can sense I need her as much as she needs me. We snuggle for a bit before I eventually fall asleep, and I’m woken up by the she-devil that is my sister.
“Where’s Mom and why are you hovering over me like a creeper?” I rasp; my mouth feels like sandpaper.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Jakey. Mom has gone to the hospital to see if Wren and her yummy boyfriend need anything, and I think she’s gone to talk to that silver fox doctor, too.
” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “She’s also most likely telling Charlie any embarrassing stories about you that she doesn’t already know.
” She cackles like a witch as she says it.
“Well lucky for me, Lottie knows all my embarrassing stories.” Like a child, I poke my tongue out at her.
At the sound of my sister's voice, Bella jumps up and starts fussing around her. “Hey Bella Boo, have you missed me?” She picks her up, snuggling her whilst Bella licks her face.
“Well as great as it is to see you, sis, I’m going to get back to the hospital. Just in case Wren and Sawyer need to go again.”
Alyssa wraps me in a one-armed hug while still holding Bella. “I know I joked about you looking like a homeless person, but please take better care of yourself, ok? You won’t do Charlie any good like this.”
Kissing my sister on the cheek, I stride toward my BMW and floor it back to my girl.