Chapter 78
The hospital waiting room is chaos.
Logan’s parents arrive the same time we do, and Luke and Brayden go down the hall with them to find a doctor.
Logan’s brothers arrive five minutes after. All three of them are normally so laid-back, but today, their faces are creased with worry.
Blake rushes in right after them. His eyes find mine, and he crosses the room and wraps me up in a hug.
“He’ll be awake in no time,” he murmurs.
I relax into his warm embrace, allowing myself a few moments to breathe. I pull back at the sound of a familiar shriek.
Gigi’s just arrived with her parents. She and her mother are both hysterical.
“Oh, Macey!” Gigi grabs my hand. “Has Logan ever had an accident before?”
“Not like this,” I say honestly. “But his cousin, Luke, was a professional bronc rider, and he’s trying to talk to the doctor now.” I look into Gigi’s blue eyes and see genuine concern there. “Logan’s going to be fine, Gigi. I swear.”
I’m trying to convince myself as much as her.
Luke comes over to tell me Logan’s still unconscious. “They’re running all sorts of tests,” he says.
Mr. Wild has his arm around Logan’s mom, who’s crying.
“Your son is the toughest person I’ve ever known,” I say as I approach them. “He’s going to wake up.”
I take a deep breath and look toward the closed double doors leading to where Logan is.
Please wake up.
I go take a seat by myself in a corner seat.
And I wait.
Ginny and Dave race into the waiting room.
Ginny hugs me tightly and says she dropped off my gun at The Cowherd.
Mama calls me, asking for an update. She says she and Daddy are praying right now, and they’ll keep praying until Logan wakes up.
Ben shows up with Riley and Freedom. They brought coffees and snacks for everyone.
I can’t touch any of it.
All I can do is sit in the corner of the waiting room and pray. For my best friend who I can’t imagine not being by my side.
A single tear slides down my cheek, and I wipe it away angrily.
I will not cry over Logan. Because Logan is going to be fine. He’s going to wake up.
Ginny sits down next to me and squeezes my hand. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, Mace. But I do know this—being strong for Logan is the best thing you can do for him right now.”
I glance at her. “You’re right. Thank you.”
The double-doors open, and a doctor steps out. He walks over to Logan’s parents.
They’re too far away for me to overhear, but when a smile crosses Mrs. Wild’s face, I sag against Ginny’s shoulder in relief.
“He’s awake!” Reid shouts.
Thank you, God.
I want to see him.
I need to see him.
But lots of people are here to see Logan.
And now that we’re allowed to go through the double doors, it’s awfully crowded as we walk down the hall and peek through the open doorway of Logan’s room.
My stomach twists into knots when I see Logan lying in bed with machines around him and a bandage on his head.
Gigi races into the room, and Logan’s entire family follows.
I hang back with Ginny and Dave.
“I think we should wait,” I murmur.
The three of us stand outside the room while Logan’s mom fusses over him.
After a few minutes, everyone but Luke leaves the room.
As Mrs. Wild comes over to me, I stand up.
“How is he?” I ask.
“A concussion and bruised ribs,” she says. “But no broken bones and no internal damage. It’s a miracle.”
I throw my arms around her, fighting back my own tears. “I’m so glad.”
“He asked for Luke,” she says as I pull back. “I thought he might.”
Knowing Logan and Luke’s history with bronc riding and what they went through together, I nod. “It makes sense. I’m sure you’ll get to visit with him again really soon.”
Logan
Macey peeks through the doorway, but then she disappears.
I shift my gaze past Mama chastising me, Dad glowering at me with a look of concern, and Gigi doing her whole worried-fiancée routine. I can’t see Macey anywhere.
Once my brothers and cousins have made their way to my side to ask how I’m doing, I ask to speak to Luke alone.
The room clears out immediately.
I’ve got a killer headache. The right side of my face hurts. And my body feels like it’s been stepped on by a thousand-pound bull.
I flash back to the moment I flew off the bronc’s back as he reared up. I don’t know how I missed hitting the wall. The wall easily could have killed me.
And yet, here I am—in pain but in one piece.
I feel pretty fucking lucky.
“It seems like I came to Texas to help you pick up the pieces in more ways than one,” Luke says as he shuts the door tight behind him and takes a seat at the edge of my bed.
I exhale. “Hold the lecture until I’m feeling good enough to argue back.”
He runs his hand down his face. “You scared the hell out of me.”
His words hold weight. And he knows it.
I open my mouth to say something sarcastic, but I take a good look at the scar on his face, the worry in his eyes, and I shut up.
“The last thing I wanted was to invite you down to Texas to make things worse for you. You know that.” I try to sit up straighter, but my head hurts too much. “I apologize.”
“No need.” Luke gestures to my head. “This isn’t about me. You’re the one who’s lying in a hospital bed.”
“They say I should be able to leave tomorrow.”
“The doctor said things weren’t as bad as he thought they’d be. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
Luke shakes his head. “You’re not fucking fine.”
I try to grin even though my jaw hurts. “I will be.”
“Logan. Listen to me.” His gaze is hard. “Don’t get yourself torn up by a horse. That’s no way to deal with a problem. Trust me.”
“I didn’t set out with that intention,” I say. “It just happened.”
“Like you just happened to get engaged?” Luke asks in a light tone that belies the seriousness of his question.
“Don’t start on that right now.” I wince as I shift and pain shoots through my ribcage. “I’m not in the mood.”
He nods. “I want you to heal up. So I can drop that subject. But I will say this—I know there’s something strange going on. And I know somehow, helping Macey has to be what’s behind it. I remember our phone conversation from the other day. I put two and two together.”
“This is just between us,” I tell him. “If it gets out…”
“It won’t,” he says. “But do you want to tell me what the hell’s going on?”
After what happened at the rodeo, I feel like my control on things isn’t just slipping—it’s pretty much gone.
“I could use some advice,” I admit. “I’ll give you the cliff notes version of what I’ve gotten myself into.”
“I’m all ears.”
When I’ve finished telling Luke the backstory of my engagement to Gigi, he whistles.
“You really went all out for Macey.”
“And I’d do it again.”
His expression softens. And I know I now have an ally in my crazy plan. Luke doesn’t even smile unless he means it.
“I don’t know what it’s like to care about a woman so much I’d do anything for her,” he says. “I envy you that, Wild.”
I gesture to the IV and machines around me. “But I’ve lost focus. You were right.”
“I don’t think I was.” He sucks in a breath. “Yes, you’re a little off course. But you have the right intentions. So.” He looks at me. “I get why you’re doing this. I think it’s nuts, but I don’t think you can back out now. And if there’s any way I can help, tell me.”
I nod. “I appreciate the support. I could use your help right now, actually.”
He raises his eyebrows. “I know what you’re going to ask. Yes, I’ll go get her for you.”