Chapter 7 Thayer
THAYER
I rushed down the hospital hallway, my heartbeat banging against my chest. I hadn’t been in a hospital since I lost my mother. The sterile smell and the dim lights sent me spiraling back. “Where is she?” I asked into my phone.
I ended the call and found the room halfway down the hall.
Kason stood over Giselle’s bed while his parents sat in the two bedside chairs.
It was an awful sight. They all looked up when they heard me enter the room.
My eyes, however, were on Giselle, and hers were on mine as I stepped up to her bed.
When I realized she was in one piece and breathing, I exhaled. “You good?”
She nodded, but I could tell she was lying by the tears glazing her eyes.
“You gave us a scare,” I admitted.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to respond, but then they pinched together.
I glanced around the hospital room, not really sure what to say now that I was there. “Do you need anything?”
She shook her head.
I buried my hands in my pockets, hating that she wasn’t speaking. I was used to the mouthy, vivacious girl. I couldn’t imagine how scared she must’ve been after what she’d been through.
I left Masie at my house as soon as Kason called me.
She must’ve thought I was crazy, ducking out on her so fast. I wasn’t even sure if what I mumbled as an excuse had been coherent.
But I needed to see for myself that Giselle was all right.
“Okay then,” I said. “I should let you rest.” I turned to leave.
“Wait,” Giselle said softly.
I stopped, wondering if I’d imagined it.
“Thanks for checking on me.” Her voice sounded small and defeated.
“Of course,” I said, turning to look at her. “You’ve done the same for me since I was a punk ass kid.”
“You’re still a punk ass kid,” she said softly.
Her family laughed.
My lips pulled into a small smile as I looked into the eyes of the girl who meant more to me than almost anyone else on this planet.
And, despite the last year being strained between us because my pride was hurt, there were so many things I wanted to say.
We’d both been stupid and immature. Her being alive and in one piece was what really mattered.
“Jesus Christ, Giselle,” Gino said, rushing into the room and brushing past me to get to her bedside.
I watched as he bent over her, hugging her rougher than he should have given what she’d been through. I didn’t need to see any more. I turned and walked out of the room.
Kason followed me. “Hey.”
I stopped and turned to him.
“Where are you going?”
“Where’s the cop?” I asked as I grabbed a chair from down the hallway and dragged it outside of Giselle’s room.
“Do you think she needs one?”
“Yeah, I think she needs one. Call them now and demand one. The guy’s still out there. Until then, I’m sitting my ass out here.”
“Dude, you don’t have to do that,” Kason said.
“Of course I do.”
Kason pulled out his phone and walked off to make the call.
I checked my phone, wincing when I found a text from Masie.
Masie
Everything ok?
Me
Not really. Sorry I had to bail. My friend got hurt.
Masie
Is he ok?
Me
Not really. Gonna stay at the hospital 2nite.
Masie
I understand.
Me
U still at my place?
Masie
No. I Ubered home.
Me
I’m such an asshole. I should’ve paid for it.
Masie
You were pretty shaken up. No worries. U can make it up to me next time.
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t think about a next time with Masie. Not when the girl I’d loved since I was a kid was lying in a hospital bed.
Kason walked back over. “They’re sending one over.”
“Damn straight they are.”
“They were pretty surprised one wasn’t assigned.” Kason crossed his arms. “I still can’t even believe this happened.”
“Yeah. It’s beyond messed up. What did the doctors say?” I asked, hoping to God the guy didn’t hurt her.
“Her knees are badly bruised, and her wrists are raw, but nothing’s broken. They’re just keeping her for observation,” he said, his voice low and concerned.
“Are the cops out looking for the guy?”
“Yeah. But he wore a mask, so she didn’t see his face. And, the fucking cameras weren’t working.”
“Since when?”
He shrugged. “Who knows.” I could see that he was thinking the same thing as me. If we were there, we would’ve killed him. “He took everything.”
I shook my head. “Not everything.” Giselle’s okay. Or, at least, she was going to be.