Page 137 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“Excuse me! Did you forget I was in the room? In the hospital or not, no swearing,” Grams says.

I wince and the tension causes pain in my ribs.

“Sorry, Grams.” I grunt through the pain.

“Do you need me to call the nurse?” Evan asks. His face contorted.

I shake my head. “No, I'll be alright.”

“No prizes for not taking your pills,” Harvey argues.

“I’m not trying to claim a prize, I’m trying not to rely on them.”

“You’re not going to become addicted. You’re in a controlled environment here,” Evan adds.

“I want to be alert in case a doctor comes in and allows me to see Nova.”

No one speaks after I say her name, which means they all know she’s not well.

Why aren’t they angry at me?

I don’t deserve their love and support.

A thought comes to me. I can’t be there in person, but I can do something that will let her know I’m thinking of her and I’m there with her in spirit.

“Evan?”

“Yeah.” He calls out standing beside Mom who’s putting away my stuff.

Mom’s clearly taking it all home to wash. I don’t care what she does with it. She puts the phone on my tray table.

“Come here.”

He comes closer. We have an audience.

So when he’s close, I whisper, “I need you to go to the florist shop and get red roses for Nova. The biggest bouquet they can make and deliver it to her room, please.”

“When?”

“Now.”

“Anything else?”

I want to say all the things running through my mind, but they have to come from me when she wakes because she is going to wake up from this nightmare. I can’t have her leave me now; I only just found her.

“Sure.” He answers by squeezing my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

I dip my chin. And watch him leave my room.

“I need a moment alone with Remy. Can you all go grab me a tea from downstairs and give me some time with him?” Grams requests.

No one argues with Grams. So they all begin to rise from their chairs or walk straight to the door, telling us they will be back. As soon as they leave, she takes a seat on my hospital bed and reaches out to squeeze my cheek.

“How’s my handsome grandson doing?”

“Okay.”

“No, tell me, really. No lying to me.” She leans in a little.

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