Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
The doctor left with a grumble while Brooks stared over at Grady in awe. “That was fucking awesome. You totally handed him his ass.”
“The guy is an ass,” Grady said. “Come on, we need to get to Effie.”
Yeah. They needed to go take care of their girl.
48
There’s nothing physically wrong with you.
Those words went around and around in her head. So if there was nothing wrong with her . . . then what the fuck was wrong with her? Because, no joke, she couldn’t feel her legs.
This was . . . terrifying.
It was actually worse than having a diagnosed medical issue in a way because how did she fix her brain?
And where was Grady? Why wasn’t he here? The nurse and doctor refused to give her any information on him, citing patient privacy policies. But she just wanted to know if he was all right. What if he was hurt worse than first thought?
Her breath came in fast pants. She was on the cusp of a panic attack.
“Aunt Effie?”
She glanced over to see Brooks standing in the doorway, looking more uncertain and scared than she’d seen him look in a long, long time.
Shit. Why hadn’t she thought of Brooks? Some guardian she was.
“Hey, honey.”
He stood there, just staring at her. She held open her arms. “Come here.”
He didn’t rush at her the way he would have when he was younger, but he moved steadily toward her. Then he gently reached down to hug her.
“Effie,” he whispered.
“I’m all right. I promise.” She hugged him tight as she pushed all of her fears and uncertainties down deep. She needed to be strong for Brooks.
Which is why she needed to fix the fucked-up mess that was her brain.
He held on tight for a bit longer, then he drew back. His eyes looked haunted and he blinked rapidly.
She hated that. Hated that look on his face.
“I’m all right. Everything will be fine. I promise. Turns out I’m a bit messed up in the head, but we already knew that, right?”
Brooks drew back to glare at her. “Do not say stuff like that, Effie. I don’t like it. You’re not messed up in the head.”
She gave him a shocked look. Although she shouldn’t have been surprised by his words. Brooks was definitely his father’s son. And Joe had also been a dominant man.
“Okay, honey. I won’t. But I don’t want you worrying. We’ll be okay, you and I.”
“Course we will,” he said with more confidence than she had. But that was the beauty of being sixteen with your life ahead of you. “Because I’m quitting school and taking care of you.”
“Nope.”
“Aunt Effie—”
“I told you, Brooks. I need you to get a good job so you can take care of me in my old age.”
“And I need to take care of you now. Auntie, you’re paralyzed.”
“Nope. Doc said I wasn’t. I just need to get my brain sorted out. I’m sure that will only take a day or so. Although I might need some help getting out of here. I don’t need to be here racking up a hospital bill.”
She tried to shift over, to get her legs to damn well work . . . but they didn’t.
What the hell was wrong with her?
“You don’t need to worry about the hospital bill because it’s covered by your job.”
Relief flooded her as Grady stepped into the room. She hadn’t noticed him lingering in the doorway.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
She had to hold back her tears of relief.
Nothing could happen to Grady. Or Damon.
Pull yourself together, Effie. No one needs to see you fall apart.
“You’re all right,” she whispered.
His gaze softened. “Of course I am, sweetheart. I might be a bit sore tomorrow, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“No pains? No headaches? Did they run some tests?”
“They were all fine. I promise.”
Okay. Now she could finally breathe a bit easier.
Steele walked in, his gaze even more intense than Grady’s had been. He leaned over her, kissing her lightly on the head. “Baby. Fuck. I’ve been so worried about you.”
Oh no.
She hated the thought of worrying him.
“I’m all right.”
“Baby girl, don’t make light of what happened. You were in a car accident and now you need some care. That’s what we’re here for, but you need to be honest with us. Got me?”
“I’ve got you.” She turned to Grady. “I’m confused, though. I thought I had to work there six months before it kicked in.”
“No.”
She eyed Grady suspiciously. The guy looked innocent, like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. But she was onto him.
He was a sneaky sneaky-sneak.
“Effie, everything.” Steele gave her a stern look.
Why fight them? She couldn’t afford to pay this hospital bill. It would send her further down the rabbit hole when she was only now in the black.
“And you will not be leaving school,” Grady told Brooks. He’d obviously heard what he’d said to her before. “You’re smart and you’re going places. To do that, you need schooling.”