Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“How’d she make out at the hospital?” Nash asked.
Dare explained the situation and the fact that he was at Liza’s house now. “Want company?” Nash asked.
“Not so sure that’s a good idea,” Dare said, uncomfortable having guests over while Liza was passed out. Especially since he was barely an invited guest himself.
Dare heard Kelly in the background, and then Nash spoke again. “Kelly said to ask you if you’re capable of making Liza something to eat when she wakes up.”
Dare rolled his eyes. But the truth was, even if Liza had had food, Dare wasn’t much of a cook. “Her fridge is pretty empty.”
“Then help’s on the way,” Kelly said, obviously having grabbed the phone from her husband. “And don’t worry. If she wakes up and it seems like you can have time alone with her, we’re gone.”
Before Dare could respond, Kelly hung up. And despite his reservations, Dare had to admit he was grateful to have family to help out.
Unlike Liza.
He shook his head, bothered more than he should be by the fact that she was injured and nobody close to her knew. Didn’t anyone care? Her parents? Friends?
Alone and lonely were two different things, and Dare couldn’t help wondering if Liza was both. Regardless of who did or didn’t line up for her, Dare knew enough to realize the first thing she’d ask him once she woke up was about her brother. With that in mind, Dare called Sam to find out the status on Brian, who, as expected, had been driven home and left there to sober up.
The memory of the man hitting his sister was as fresh in Dare’s mind as the party Brian had thrown back in high school. His parents had been away, and there was a mix of kids from both private and public schools. Brian had gotten into an argument with Stuart Rossman and punched him. Already intoxicated, Stuart had gone down hard and cracked his head on the pavement. The kids who’d witnessed the event, Dare included, had either run or helped Brian cover up the reality of what happened. Dare still hated himself for leaving and not calling 911. Simmering anger at Brian lived in Dare. Liza deserved so much more than she received in the way of family, he thought in disgust.
Not wanting to think anymore, Dare wandered from the kitchen to the den and settled into Liza’s comfortable couch, remote in hand. Then he turned on the television, finding a Mets baseball game to watch while he waited for Nash and Kelly to arrive or for Liza to wake up, whichever happened first.
Chapter Six
Liza woke up surrounded by her throw pillows, her neck at an awkward angle. Her head pounded, and her mouth felt bone-dry. She didn’t have to wonder why, either. The scene at the fair came back to her in vivid detail, and she let out a groan.
How would she ever show her face in town again? And what was she going to do about her brother? Knowing she couldn’t think clearly about anything right now, she decided there were more important things she needed to do.
Like determine how she was feeling. She pushed herself to a sitting position, not an easy maneuver. Her head hurt as badly now as it had after Brian had hit her. While she waited to get her equilibrium, she noticed water on her nightstand. She reached for it, succeeding only in knocking over the tall glass.
Tears of frustration filled her eyes, and she lay back against the pillows.
“Liza?”
Dare’s voice startled her through the pain. Though she remembered being hit, she’d forgotten he’d taken her home until now.
And she definitely hadn’t remembered he’d be staying.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding closer.
“No.” Embarrassment meant nothing to her at the moment, and she answered him honestly.
“That’s probably because the meds have worn off. You slept for almost four hours. Is the pain bad?” he asked.
“Yes.” One-word answers were the most she could manage.
“Okay, first things first. Let me clean up this water, and then I’ll bring you something to eat. Your last painkiller was a shot, and Alexa said it’s not a good idea to take the pills on an empty stomach.”
She heard the sounds of him getting a towel from her bathroom and cleaning the nightstand beside her. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Okay.”
Some time later, his weight dipped on the bed as he sat down beside her. “I wasn’t sure what your stomach could handle as far as food,” he said.
She forced her eyes open and found him looking down at her, concern in those gorgeous brown eyes. “Hey,” he said, smiling at her.
“Hi.”
“So…food. I made you some toast and jelly. That always works on an upset stomach, and Alexa said you might be nauseous from the concussion. I also brought you some soda. Coke or ginger ale?” he asked, pointing at two separate cans on her nightstand.