39. Elias
Elias was in a world of pain. But the green pain whistle helped.
Levi and Alexis were hovering, and Alexis had her phone in her hand.
‘Don’t,’ he said, shooting her a glare.
‘Don’t what?’
‘Don’t call her.’
Alexis rolled her eyes. ‘You’re being ridiculous. You need to let Kate know.’
‘She’s better off without me. Her and the baby both.’
‘If you weren’t injured right now, I’d punch you,’ Alexis said.
Levi remained silent. His eyebrows pulled down in a deep V between his eyes and his forehead wrinkled.
Elias didn’t remember much after coming off his bike. He’d come to when some passerby had stopped to check on him. He’d remained conscious but not communicative as the paramedics stabilised him and got him into the ambulance.
His head was fine. He was banged up and bruised, but he was okay… well, except for his leg. An X-ray had shown a complicated fracture that required surgery. He’d need some pins and screws and whatever. His bones would look like one of his sculptures. He’d be in pain for a while and would have trouble moving around for a few months.
Yeah. Kate didn’t need that.
Everyone had been right about him after all. He was a screwup. Kate’s greatest fears had been realised. He’d let her down in spectacular fashion.
She was better off without him.
‘Alrighty, then,’ an orderly said, approaching the bed with a clipboard. ‘It looks like your flight is ready to board. Please keep all limbs within the confines of the rails, and we’ll get you off to Lala Land in no time.’
Elias knew he was only trying to lighten the mood, but he was in too much agony to appreciate it. Any other time, Elias would have laughed along with the guy.
‘We’ll be here when you get out,’ Alexis said, elbowing Levi.
‘Yeah. We’ll be here,’ Levi agreed, but he was distracted.
Elias had a terrible thought that maybe he had finally crossed Levi’s line of tolerance. Admittedly, Levi had put up with a lot from him, but was this the point when Levi washed his hands of Elias?
He wouldn’t blame him if he did.
Lying on the bed in pain while the doctors and nurses prepped him for surgery, Elias felt as low as he could ever be. This was it. This was rock bottom.
When they inserted the IV and asked him to count backwards from a hundred, Elias welcomed the oblivion. Maybe he wouldn’t wake up? Maybe that would be better for everyone.
* * *
Levi
Levi waiteduntil they took Elias into surgery and then turned to Alexis.
‘I’m going to see Kate.’
‘It’s late.’
‘I know, but she still deserves to know.’
‘I agree she needs to know that Elias is hurt, but is it a good time to tell her now? In the middle of the night? Won’t it be bad for the baby?’
‘I don’t think the time of night will make a difference. It’s still going to be a shock.’
‘But maybe let’s just wait until he’s out of surgery. Maybe we should have a full diagnosis and recovery time before we worry her.’
One of the nurses approached them. ‘Are you Elias Beckingsale’s guardians?’
‘I’m his brother,’ Levi said.
She held out a plastic baggy. ‘These are his personal effects that came in with him.’
‘Thanks,’ Levi said, taking them from her.
The bag contained Elias’ wallet and phone. His phone was smashed and non-responsive when Levi tried to switch it on. He flipped open the wallet, and in the little photo pocket was an ultrasound picture.
Fuck.
There were so many emotions swirling around in Levi. He was livid with Catherine. And he had been angry at Elias for not immediately standing up and kicking her out but… but then he’d actually looked at Elias, and he’d seen it. The panic attack. Most people thought panic attacks were big and splashy. But freezing? That was also a legitimate panic attack. Most people would dismiss it. They might even think Elias was a coward, but Levi knew better. And he hoped Kate did too. She was an emergency doctor. She dealt with trauma on a daily basis. Surely she understood what had happened to Elias in that moment.
But just in case…
The next morning, after Elias had been moved out of recovery and into a private room, Levi made an excuse that he had to drop into work to let them know what was going on and he wanted to shower and change. Alexis knew where he was going, and she gave him a subtle head nod. Elias was too far inside his head to even acknowledge Levi. He wished he knew what was going through his brother’s head, but Elias wasn’t talking.
Levi had already called work, and he wouldn’t bother about a shower or change of clothes until after he’d seen Kate. He was surprised she hadn’t called him. Had she even tried to reach Elias? Surely, she would have reached out to him if she couldn’t get hold of the father of her child?
He drove straight to Kate’s house. He was still numb. Getting the phone call about Elias’ accident and then seeing him in the hospital bed… it had shaken Levi up more than he wanted to admit.
He slowed when he saw the car parked out the front. Was that Hugo’s car? It was a bit early in the morning for visitors… had he spent the night?
Levi knew Hugo in the way people knew friends of friends, in that he didn’t really know him at all. Levi hadn’t realised it was the same guy when Elias had mentioned him. Levi and Hugo had done different courses at university, but they’d shared a few friend groups. He’d never really had an opinion about the guy one way or another, but after seeing him at the baby shower the day before and then seeing the way he had tried to manipulate Kate and Elias, he had a healthy dose of suspicion now.
Regardless of Hugo being there or not, Kate needed to know about Elias. She was probably mad at him for leaving, and Levi understood that, but she would absolutely want to know about the accident. He had seen Elias and Kate together. There was something between them that was more than a one-night stand and a surprise baby. They cared for one another.
The door opened, and Levi took a step back when he saw Hugo.
‘Levi,’ Hugo greeted him with a wide smile.
‘Hugo,’ Levi replied, not smiling at all. He tried to walk into the house, but Hugo barred his way.
‘I need to speak to Kate.’
Hugo looked over his shoulder and then stepped out of the house, pulling the door closed behind him. ‘She’s pretty upset. I’ve just managed to calm her down enough for her to have a shower. She hasn’t slept all night.’
Levi frowned. Hugo had spent the night, then? ‘It’s really important I speak to her. It’s about Elias.’
Hugo grimaced. ‘I doubt she wants to talk about him right now. She was a mess after he left. You saw that yourself.’ He shook his head. ‘Your brother is a piece of work. And as for your mother?—’
Levi held up his hand to stop Hugo speaking. ‘I really need to speak to Kate. Elias has been in an accident.’
Hugo frowned for a moment, but then his face cleared. ‘I take it he’s not dead?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I doubt you’d be here on Kate’s doorstep if he was dead.’
Levi shook his head slowly. ‘I need to speak to Kate.’
‘I will get her to call you.’
‘Hugo—’
The other man stepped back into the house and closed the door. Levi heard the lock click into place.
What the actual fuck?