Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Roux.
I fucking forgot she had a phone.
“Roux,” I grind out.
Sobs.
All I hear are sobs.
I lose my fucking mind.
Hollis
“There you are,” an unfamiliar voice says. “How are you feeling?”
I blink in confusion. I’m in the hospital. “What’s going on?”
“You, sir, are getting ready for surgery. I’m your nurse, Fran. Dr. Edmond will be in soon to go over what he’ll be doing.” She smiles. “Your parents are here to see you.”
Parents?
Dread washes over me, making the heart rate monitor beep like crazy. I don’t have a second to process her words before Mom rushes in. Her eyes are red from crying or fatigue, I’m not sure.
“Oh, baby,” she croons, grabbing my hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you were so sick.”
“I’m fine,” I tell her in the brightest tone I can muster.
“You’re not fine,” a deep voice booms. “Your stomach is bleeding, son. That hole is only going to get bigger left untreated.”
I cringe, closing my eyes. “Why is he here?”
“I’m sorry,” Mom whispers. “I am.”
“I’m here because you’re my son,” Dad says with such arrogance I want to slap him.
“You kicked us out,” I mutter, lacking the energy I crave to yell at him.
“I’m not here to fight.” Dad regards me with a haggard expression. “I’m worried about you.”
Hot tears burn in my eyes. I blink them away. I hate my father. I hate that he’s here. I especially hate that a tiny part of me misses him. That same little boy always seeking impossible approval.
“The CT scan showed no signs of peritonitis, which is fantastic news because if you were septic, that’d change the ballgame, son.” He places his hands on his hips. “The hole is decent and will only grow if they don’t repair it. If we were back home, I’d do it myself, but luckily I’m here and I’ll be able to advise the surgeons here on what to do.”
Oh, God.
Mom rolls her eyes at him. “Perhaps you should go discuss it with the doctor now.”
“Dr. Edmond is on his way,” Fran chimes in. “You might find him in the hall. You should hurry.” She winks at me.
Dad smiles, patting the top of my head. “We’ll talk after, Hollis. I love you.”
I look away from him, tears brimming in my eyes.
“I thought we’d never get him out of here,” Mom grumbles. “How you doing, baby?”
“I’m tired. I want to see Roan.”
Mom’s smile is weak. “After surgery, okay?”
“Is he okay? Is he wrecked?” Guilt swarms inside me as I worry about how he feels. He was destroyed about them taking Roux and then I got sent to the hospital. There’s no telling that boy’s state of mind right now.
“He’s been better,” Mom says. “He had to leave.”
“Mom…”
“He took Mike’s truck.” She frowns. “Roan’s a big boy. He can handle himself. Right now, we need to focus on you.”
“Mom, he’s going to do something dumb. He’s messed up right now. Why didn’t you try to stop him?”
She takes my hand. “Because you need me more than he does right now.”
“You almost ready?” Fran asks as she checks my vitals.
No.
I’m not ready.
I need to make sure Roan’s okay.
“Where’s my phone?” I demand. “I need it.”
Mom digs through a bag at her feet. “Here you go.”
I dial Roan’s number and it goes to voicemail.
Fuck.
“Make it quick,” Fran warns. “I can hear Dr. Edmond outside that door. He’s no nonsense. When he comes in, he’ll want to take you right back to surgery.”
Ignoring her, I flip through my numbers until I find Jordy’s. Roan gave it to me once for emergencies. I’d laughed it off, assuming I’d never have to call him, but here we are having a goddamn emergency.
“What?” he snaps.
“It’s me. Hollis.”
“Rat? Where’s Roan?” The instant fear in his voice sets me on edge.
“Not here. I’m afraid he’s going to do something stupid.”
“What do you mean? Why aren’t you with him?” he demands.
“I’m about to go in for emergency stomach surgery.” I close my eyes. “They, uh…they took Roux back to her mom’s.”
“They did fucking what?” he roars.
“Roan was here and now he’s not. For him to leave me, something bad is going to happen. Please help him, Jordy. Please.”
He curses. “Right. Okay. I’m on it.”
“Thank you,” I breathe.
“Rat…”
“Yeah?”
“Stay alive. For Roan.”
“I’ll do my best, man.”
“Still want to be a firefighter?” I ask, running my fingertip along the grooves between his abs.
“Yeah.”
“I always wanted to bone a firefighter.”
“Freak.” Roan chuckles, his stomach muscles tensing in a delicious way that makes me want to lick them. “What are you gonna be? Not a doctor, which sucks because I need a sugar daddy.”
I swat his stomach. “Maybe Mike will be your sugar daddy.”
“Gross,” he says with a laugh. “I think Mike wants to be your mom’s sugar daddy.”
“What? No fucking way.”
“Dude, have you seen the way he eyes your mom’s ass?”
No. I’m going to kill him.