Chapter 16
MILES
“We’re here,” Zach announced, his hand gently squeezing Miles’s shoulder. The past few hours had been a blur of Googling worst-case scenarios and waiting for updates, and he hadn’t realized they were already parked in front of a large hospital.
Anxiety swirled in his gut. Max was here, in this giant building, surrounded by doctors and equipment that couldn’t do anything.
When he met Zach’s eyes, the quiet concern sent a pang of guilt through him. “Shit, Zee, I’m sorry.” Miles scrubbed his hand down his face roughly, forcing himself to snap out of his stupor. “You shouldn’t have had to drive all the way on your own.”
Zach placed his hand on Miles’s knee, a flood of warmth bleeding through the denim. “You were in no condition to drive. Any news?”
He shook his head. “Nothing since we left Portland.”
“Let’s go,” Zach whispered and gave him a final pat before getting out of the car. Miles trailed behind as they made their way to the front desk, grateful for Zach’s initiative. Without him, Miles would have been completely lost, hyperventilating somewhere on the side of the highway.
“Third floor to the right, and follow the signs for the neurological ICU.”
Zach’s hand brushed against his back, gently steering him around the corner. Miles let himself be led without thinking, falling into step the way he had all morning—on autopilot, not quite present.
When Zach dropped his arm, Miles immediately missed his touch. The elevator hummed to life and jolted, starting its slow ascent. Neither one of them said a word, keeping their eyes forward, but Miles could feel Zach beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed with every breath.
He wanted the easy comfort of Zach’s hand again.
Wanted to lean into him the way he always had, but for the first time in his life, asking for that closeness felt…
strange. Miles could take nothing for granted, not anymore.
They hadn’t had a chance to discuss everything that had happened the previous night, and he had no idea where Zach’s thoughts were.
Did he regret it? Would it affect their friendship?
The kiss they’d shared in the dark gave him hope, but it already felt like a lifetime ago.
He followed Zach through the hallways like a lost puppy until a familiar face appeared around the corner.
“Mara!” He opened his arms, and she crashed into him, crushing him in a hug so tight he could barely breathe. “How is he?”
“He’s okay. He’ll be okay. Everything is okay.
” Her red-rimmed eyes crinkled up at him in relief.
The good news washed over him, the leaden weight that had been building up in his stomach all morning crumbling into dust. Mara hugged Zach with the same vigor, still talking, “Sorry I didn’t text—my phone died a while ago.
Max hasn’t really woken up yet, but all the tests say he’s fine, and he’s been drifting in and out for the past hour, so—”
“Miles!” A shout came from the double doors with a Do Not Enter warning in large letters. His mom sniffled and rushed over, not waiting for his dad to follow. She squeezed him to her chest, her heartbeat so rapid Miles felt it more than his own.
After she kissed his forehead and stepped back, Miles got a better look at her, and his heart clenched at how tired and disheveled she looked.
Puffy eyes, uncombed hair, and, strangest of all, she wore a baggy shirt and lounge pants—a far cry from her usual neat dresses.
It was a testament to the hellish night she must have had, sitting by her son’s bedside, not knowing if he would ever wake up.
Zach was next to be swept up in an embrace. “Oh, Zach. I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for bringing Miles.”
Miles bristled. She made him sound like a piece of luggage.
He was perfectly capable of bringing himself—though considering Zach was the one to buy the tickets, arrange the trip to the airport, get the rental, and drive three hours across the state…
all signs pointed to Zach having dragged him along like an unwieldy suitcase missing a wheel.
His dad gave him a terse nod and a rough clap on the back. “Get here alright?”
Miles shrugged, swallowing the urge to ask for a hug like he used to when he was little.
It would be pointless. These days, a solid handshake or a brief pat on the back was the only kind of affection Anthony Carter had to offer.
He wasn’t unkind, just one of those men with a silent stare and calloused hands. Their town was full of them.
“Mara said Max is doing better?” Zach asked, cutting through Miles’s thoughts, reminding him why they were there.
He peppered his mom with questions, hanging on to every word as she filled in the gaps.
Max had regained consciousness three times and recognized his parents—a great sign—but never stayed awake for longer than a few seconds, so doctors wanted to keep him in the ICU until he was fully alert and talking.
No one knew how long that would take—all they could do was sit and wait.
He also learned that Max was on a ladder at ten o’clock at night because he’d left his hammer on the barn roof.
Yep. That was Max.
His mom stifled a yawn mid-sentence and shook her head.
“I’m glad you’re here to sit with Max. I hate heading out before he’s awake, but your dad’s running late to start the day, and Mara needs sleep.
I’ll drop them off, pick up a couple things, then come straight back.
We rushed out the door so fast I don’t even have my wallet!
Thank the Lord for Mara and that phone of hers—she worked some little application and managed to get us some coffee while we were waiting. ”
Miles suppressed a chuckle and gave Mara a teasing look. She rolled her eyes in return.
“Shanna!” His mom waved at a nurse who’d emerged through the doors. “This is my son Miles and his friend Zach. Can they visit with Max while we’re gone?”
“Good morning!” Shanna said cheerfully, zipping over to them with a reassuring smile that instantly eased Miles’s fatigue.
He couldn’t help smiling back. She had the perfect face for a nurse—earnest, sweet, and strangely healing.
She addressed Zach first. “I’m sorry, sweetie, only immediate family is allowed in right now.
You’re welcome to wait out here, but they’re keeping it pretty tight until he moves upstairs.
” She gave him an apologetic shrug and turned to Miles.
“Come up to the nurses’ station when you’re ready to go in, hon. ”
She rushed away, and his mom placed her hand on Zach’s shoulder. “How about we give you a ride home? You can spend some time with your folks instead of hanging around the waiting room.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine—” Zach started to argue, but Miles wasn’t having that.
“Zee, you’ve been dragging me around all morning on barely four hours of sleep. Go home and rest. I’ll see you when I get back.”
Zach scrunched his face, about to argue, but one pleading look from Miles had him sighing in defeat.
“Fine. My bag’s in the car—drop it off when you get a chance.
” He handed over the key fob, his fingers brushing across Miles’s palm with a softness that stirred a pang of longing deep inside.
Something passed between them, a fleeting moment of wordless understanding, and then Zach snatched his hand back and headed toward the exit after Mara.
Miles stopped his mom before she followed, grabbing her by the elbow. “Mom, be nice to Zach, okay? It wasn’t his fault that I went to Portland. He didn’t know I was coming until I showed up.”
“Oh, Miles.” She cupped his cheek tenderly.
“I know it’s not Zach’s fault. It wasn’t nice for you to leave the way you did, but I’m not mad at either of you.
All I care about is that you’re here, and that Max is gonna be okay.
” She dabbed at her eyes with a wadded tissue, and Miles wrapped her in another hug before he could burst into tears himself.
After several reminders for him to call if anything changed, everyone left.
For the first time since learning the news, Miles was alone.
A selfish part of him wished Zach had stayed, but to what end?
To hold Miles’s hand and provide moral support?
With a self-deprecating shake of his head, he walked up to the nearest nurse—a young woman rapidly typing something into an ancient-looking computer.
“I’d like to see my brother,” he said. “Max. Maxwell Carter.”
“No one can go in right now, sweetie,” she said curtly, throwing an anxious glance at the double doors. “Check back in a bit.”
Something was wrong.
“Is my brother okay?” he asked anxiously.
Her tone softened. “He is. Come back in a few minutes, and I’ll take you to him.”
Miles stepped away, throat tightening for whatever emergency was happening on the other side, for whatever family might be receiving bad news.
Leaning against the wall, he glanced around the waiting room, noticing his surroundings for the first time.
The air was steeped in grief. Several people were scattered throughout, each one miserable in their own way.
Some were slumped over in their hard plastic chairs—sleeping or staring off into space with red-rimmed eyes.
Others were pacing, radiating concern and dread with each step.
In the corner of the room, a man sat hunched forward, face buried in his hands as if he’d been crying.
Miles quickly averted his gaze, not wanting to gawk at someone else’s tragedy.
His phone vibrated, and he pulled it out in time to see the low-battery warning flash on the screen before it went black. He’d forgotten to charge it before bed—too distracted by Zach, by the whirlwind of emotions bottled up inside him, by the possibilities stretching before him.
By the hope glowing inside his chest.