31. Georgia
Chapter thirty-one
Georgia
Three days later…
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A piercing alarm shrills inside my head. I want to make it stop but can’t figure out where it’s coming from. I try to open my eyes, but it’s as if my brain isn’t connected to my body. Jesus, make it stop. Every sharp beep grates against my skull. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I try to speak, but my tongue is sandpaper stuck to the roof of my mouth. A shallow breath escapes me, but the pain at the simple task sears through me. A ragged cry expels from my lips.
“Holy shit—someone help! She’s awake! Georgie! Oh my God, Georgie!”
My sister’s voice. Why do I hear my sister’s voice? “Let…” My throat burns. “I… I…”
“What’s wrong? I don’t know what you need. Do you need water? Help! Of course, everybody leaves for two seconds, and you decide to wake up.”
“Why are you screaming? Oh, fuck.”
Noah.
“Noah… stop. Make it stop.” My voice sounds unfamiliar to me.
“Stop what, George? Anything. Tell me what you need.”
“The beeping. Make the beeping stop.” Why does my throat feel like it’s on fire?
“I don’t know how to do that—”
“Jesus, are you crazy ? Don’t unplug the machines, you dimwit!”
“I don’t know how to make it stop!”
The shouting slices through my head, each word like a dagger plunging into my forehead. What is happening? Where am I? I blink. The lights are blinding.
“Where am I?”
“Oh, honey!” My mother appears, and she bursts into tears.
“Mom?”
Why is my mom here? Why does everything hurt?
“Oh, honey, we’ve been so worried.”
“Why? Why have you been worried? Why are you here?” I’m in so much pain. I choke on a sob, making the pain worse. “Mom, help me. What’s happening?”
“Honey, you need to calm down. You were in an accident.”
“An accident? How?” I look around the room, frantic for answers.
“Okay, everyone, let’s take a step back.” A man’s voice. I can’t make out his face. “Hey, Georgia. I’m Dr. Phillips. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
“Wake up from what? Where am I?”
“You’re at Chicago General Hospital. You were in a pretty bad accident. I know it’s hard, but I’m going to ask you to try to lie still so I can do some neuro tests. Can you do that?”
“My head. It hurts so bad. The beeping—make it stop.”
“I can do that.” He leans over and adjusts the machine, and I let out a cry of relief.
I glance back at my sister, her face buried in my mom’s shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her sobs shake her small frame, and the sight sends a pang of panic through my chest. Why does Mom look so frail? My gaze shifts, and I spot Noah standing behind them. His eyes are red, his face streaked with tears.
Then I catch movement in the doorway. Jackson’s eyes spear into mine, blazing with a mix of dominance and desperation. He looks utterly shattered.
“What did I do?”
“You didn’t do anything, baby girl.” She strokes my hair back, and the tears come without warning. The pain intensifies, and the tears fall harder.
“Georgia, I’m gonna need you to take a breath, okay?” That’s impossible. Each breath catches in my throat, and I choke on my own sobs.
“What are you giving her?” That comes from Noah.
“Morphine to help her relax. She’s becoming agitated, and this upset is not good for her recovery.”
I cry out. “Mom, is this a dream? Is this a bad dream?”
Tears fall down her pale face. “No, baby. I need you to close your eyes and get some rest. We’ll be here when you wake up, I promise you.”
“I don’t want to go back to sleep. Mom, please don’t make me. I don’t understand what’s... happening…”
The buzzing gradually fades, and my body starts to go numb. I close my eyes, trying to take a breath, and sink deeper into the darkness.
The sound of the door slamming wakes me. My room is dark except for the sliver of light creeping beneath my door. I lean over to glance at the clock on my nightstand. It’s almost three in the morning.
Loud voices echo from the hallway. Bill and Mom. She’s crying. I can’t make out what they’re arguing about, but I can tell he’s drunk. I pull my covers tighter over me, hoping the barrier will drown out their voices.
“Go back to sleep, Georgia,” I coo to myself, but my thoughts turn to Lettie.
“Bill, no. She’s sleeping. Leave her alone.”
“I told her not to leave her bike in the driveway.”
“I’m begging, please—”
The remainder of her plea is cut short by the sharp crack of his hand slapping her face. I hide deeper under my covers, flinching when my door is thrust open.
“Bill, please leave her alone.”
“Stay outta this.”
I curl into myself, praying he listens, when my comforter is ripped from my body, and he fists my ponytail. I cry out in pain as I’m yanked upright by my hair.
“What did I tell you about that bike?”
“Let me go! You’re hurting me.”
“That’s the least of your worries, you little brat. I told you to put that bike away, but you didn’t and I just ran it over.”
I put it away, but Lettie asked if she could ride my bike earlier. I had said yes, trusting her when she promised to return it to the garage. But I keep that to myself. I can’t risk him going after her.
“I’m sorry. I forgot.”
“Oh, you’re sorry? Do you think sorry’s gonna fix the bike I paid for?” He rips me out of bed, his fingers still tight in my hair. My mother cries in the doorway but does nothing to stop him.
“Let go of me!” I scream, but it becomes muffled when his hand swipes across my cheek.
“You’re gonna pay me back for that bike.” He shoves me forward. My back hits the corner of my bedpost, and I fall to the ground. I want to cry, but I’m too afraid my sister will wake up and he’ll redirect his anger to her. Instead, I curl into the fetal position as his boot makes contact with my stomach, taking away my ability to breathe.
“You’re gonna learn, you little bitch.”
“Bill, please. Just come to bed with me.”
There’s a pregnant pause before he speaks again. “Wear something more decent to bed. I won’t have little sluts living under my roof.”
“Bill, please…”
“Worthless kid.”
A beat later, my bedroom door slams shut.
I wake up, struggling to breathe, feeling the pain from Bill’s boot.
“Hey…” I blink, turning my head, groaning at the soreness. Jackson is sitting at my bedside.
“What…?” I try to sit up, disoriented. My throat burns.
“Take it easy. Try some ice chips.” I do so. The wetness feels glorious as it slides down my throat. I suck too many chips into my mouth and choke. “Easy.”
I’m too unsettled from the dream. I don’t know why I’m here. Did Bill put me in the hospital? Why is Jackson here? “What happened?”
He cradles my hand, placing gentle kisses along my fingertips. “You were in an accident.”
“With you? What happened to your face?”
Guilt flashes in his eyes. His voice is barely audible. “It wasn’t me. You were in an accident with Vince.”
“Vince?” My voice trembles with confusion. Why can’t I remember?
“You got into a car thinking it was your Uber, but it was Vince’s mother, Veronica.”
“What? Why?” I can’t bear the way his eyes are locked on me. “Who did that to you?” He doesn’t respond, and I open my mouth to demand he tell me when a name slips off his tongue, silencing me.
“Noah.”
“What?” Snippets flash through my mind. Noah and Jackson fighting. Punch after punch. “Oh, God…”
“Peach, you gotta calm down.”
“What have I done?”
“Nothing. You’ve done absolutely nothing but be this amazing, beautiful soul that came into my life.”
“He knows. I destroyed him. I destroyed you.” The words catch in my throat. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Jackson stands, his shadow looming over me as he cups my cheeks. “Stop,” he says urgently. “Stop. That doesn’t matter.”
“I ruin people’s lives. I should’ve never agreed to go home with Noah—”
“Stop,” he commands, his tone thick with emotion. “I won’t let you believe that was the better option. If you hadn’t, I never would’ve found you.” His eyes lock onto mine, raw and unguarded. “Peach,” he whispers, “you’re everything I thought I could never have. Before you, l felt nothing. And then you walked into my room, and I felt like fate had finally delivered exactly what I needed.” He pauses, taking in a deep breath. “I fought it. God knows I did, but it was impossible. I found myself needing you, selfishly wanting you—your smile, your touch, your laughter. I had no right to crave you the way I did, but I couldn’t stay away.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I have no right to love you, but I do. These past few days, I’ve been so damn lost without you.”
He lowers his lips to mine, soft and tender, and a sob escapes me as I kiss him back, my tears wetting both our cheeks. “This isn’t your fault,” he murmurs against my lips. “It’s mine. Because I can’t stay away from you.”
“ Holy. Shit .”
Jackson pulls back, and I catch a glimpse of my sister standing in the doorway, her eyes wide in shock.
“Lettie.” She doesn’t move. Fuck. How do I explain this? “Lettie, I can explain.”
“Um… I—maybe I should just—okay. Wrong room. Not my sister making out with her boyfriend’s dad. God, I need more sleep. Or coffee. Hospital coffee is wretched—okay, bye!” She spins on her heel and strides off before I demand she come back so I can explain.
“Great.” I groan at the stabbing pain in my ribcage.
“Relax.”
I look at Jackson. “Why was I in a car with Vince? The last thing I remember is the fight. You and Noah…”
“You sure you want to know? I think it may be best you heal more before—”
“Don’t treat me like a child, Jackson. If that’s how you see me, get out—”
He grabs my hand. “Georgia Price, I’ve tasted how sweet your cunt is. I don’t think of you as a child.” His comment causes my cheeks to flush. “I won’t lie or keep anything from you. I only want to protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting. Jackson, please.”
“All right. I don’t know what you remember, but you’re right. Noah knows. I don’t know to what extent, but Vince told him.” I close my eyes, trying to shield him from my guilt. “No hiding, Peach. You want to know, I’ll tell you, but I do it with your eyes on me.”
“Okay.”
“Noah and I fought. It got out of hand. You were accidentally pushed, and I lost control with him. It wasn’t my best moment, but I refuse, no matter who’s at fault, to ever let him put his hands on a woman. During the scuffle, Vince disappeared. Somehow, he knew I’d moved the ledger to the safe in my bedroom.”
“He has access to your surveillance. He’s been watching us.” The thought sends chills down my spine.
“I know.” There’s shame in his eyes.
“Hey, it’s not your fault,” I tell him.
“I should have protected you from him.”
I brush my hand against his cheek. “No taking blame. We’re all at fault here, okay?” He nods. “So, he has the ledger?”
He stares at me as if waiting for something to click. “You don’t remember anything?”
I fight through the cloudiness of my memory. “No. Jackson, what are you not telling me?”
There’s hesitation in his eyes. “No one knows the full story. That’s something only you can fill in when the memories come back. At one point, you opened your door and threw yourself out of the moving car. Vince chased after you. You two fought, and he was hit by a car in oncoming traffic.”
I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. “Is he?”
“He’s dead.”
I cover my hand over my mouth. “I killed him,” I whisper, but the words sound foreign.
“Georgia, no,” he says, his tone stern but gentle. “Don’t go there. He was planning something far worse for you than the fate he suffered.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jackson inhales a deep breath and explains Vince and Veronica’s plan. By the time he finishes, stating I was also hit by a car, my head is spinning.
“I don’t—”
“It’s a lot to take in. Don’t push yourself. Things will come back to you when you’re ready.”
“And Noah?”
“What about me?” Jackson leans back as Noah walks into the room. My heart drops at having to face him, knowing all the pain I’ve caused. He stops in the doorway, refusing to come any closer.
“Noah,” I say his name, my voice laced with remorse.
“Glad to see you awake, Georgie. I’ll grab the doctor.”
“Noah, wait.” But he doesn’t stop.
“He needs time. He’s taken this really hard. All of it.”
“Oh, Jackson, what have we done?”
“I know this is all fucked up, but I won’t apologize for falling in love with you.”
“Where do we go from here?”
“Mom, is that a new top? I must say, it looks lovely on you!” The sound of Lettie’s raised voice from down the hall tells me she’s giving me a heads up. Jackson steps back, shoving his hands in his pockets as my sister and mom enter the room.
“Hey, baby. You’re awake. How’re you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a car.” My mom’s eyes widen, then narrow, not appreciating my humor. “Sorry, too soon? I feel awful. My head is throbbing.”
“Let me find the doctor and see if they can prescribe anything for you.” She retreats slowly from my room while Lettie sips her coffee, her gaze fixed on me.
“Just say what you have to say.”
“Who, me? Why would I have anything to say? Why don’t you say what you have to say?”
“I’ll give you two some privacy.”
“Wow. Thanks, Mr. Blake .”
“Lettie,” I scold as he walks out, ignoring her snarky comment. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“Neither was hiding that you’re sleeping with your boyfriend’s dad from me—”
“Shh! Can you keep it down? Mom can come back any time.”
“Georgie, what the hell are you doing? I mean… really?”
I sigh, trying to get comfortable. “It’s not what you think.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure it is. I know you and Noah had problems, but how can you do that to him?”
“We broke up at the beginning of summer. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”
She throws her hands up. “Well, too late for that! Instead, we get a call that you’ve been run over and to get here now to most likely say my goodbyes. Not how I expected to take my first flight, by the way!” She raises her voice, shocking me. “And when you finally wake up, I find you playing kissy face with a man —an attractive, hot, super built man—but what the fuck !”
“Lettie!”
“WHAT!”
“I’m in love with him.” She stares at me, then bursts into laughter. “What’s so funny?” I ask, frustrated.
“What you said. Oh… wait. You’re serious? Shit… wow… shit .” She scratches the top of her head, bewildered. “And how exactly is that gonna work?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t know how it can—”
“And the whole age gap thing. I mean, it’s hot. I read this book once—super hot trope. But yeah, Mom’s going to have a heart attack. You might want to wait to confess this one—”
“Confess what?”
“I’m pregnant!” Lettie shouts.
“Hush it. You’ve never even had a boyfriend,” Mom says, reentering the room.
“Gee, thanks , Mom. You have heard the story of Mary and—”
“You’ve never had a boyfriend?” I straighten at Noah’s return.
“None of your business. I’ve had plenty.” My mom rolls her eyes while Lettie puffs out her chest. I shake my head. “Everyone. Can I have a moment with Noah?”
“Sure thing, sis.” She winks at me, sending Noah a cold glare, and leads my mom out the door.
The silence is suddenly deafening, and I don’t know where to start or what to say. “Noah—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“But I have to say it. What I did. It wasn’t fair to you.”
“Fair? How about it was fucked up? He’s my dad . Twice your age. What, did you think you would sleep with him and the two of you would run off together? You don’t know him. He’s a cheating piece of shit. He takes what he wants without caring who he hurts in the process—”
“That’s not true—”
“Jesus, Georgia, open your eyes. You’re just another toy to him. Where do you think I got all my issues from? He’s why I am who I am.”
“I’ve always tried with you.” Noah’s head snaps to his father in the doorway, and I wonder how long he’s been there and how much he heard.
“Please, you can feed her your bullshit, but it’s not gonna work on me.”
“Noah, I love you.”
“Yeah, so you sleep with my girlfriend. Great show of affection.”
“You two were broken up. I would have never crossed the line if—”
“But you did! You always fucking do! Why her, Dad? Why did you have to take the one good thing I had in my life?”
Tears stream down my face.
“I never meant to hurt you, son.”
Jackson steps toward him, his hand outstretched, but Noah slaps it away. “Stay away from me,” Noah snaps. “You’ve done nothing but hurt me—hurt Mom.” His furious gaze shifts to me. “I wish I never brought you home,” he spits, and my heart shatters. “Our fate was already sealed, but at least I could have kept you safe from him.”
“Noah,” I call as he runs out. Jackson moves to go after him but finds my mom, who witnessed the whole thing.
She walks in, taking the empty chair next to my bed. She’s quiet for a moment, then says, “So… you think your sister’s really pregnant?”
“You don’t have to do that. I know you heard everything.”
Her shoulders rise and fall. “Do what? Just making small talk. I don’t get to do that much anymore. I miss it.” I adjust myself as best I can and take a good look at her. She’s too skinny. And her skin is ashen. It doesn’t take a genius to put the pieces together.
“Are you—is something wrong? I feel like there is, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t tell me.”
She pats my hand, wearing her mom smile as if she’s about to tell me the world’s gonna end but in a sweet mom way that makes it all okay. “Just spit it out, Mom. I know you.”
“Baby, I have cancer.”