Page 35 of Forever Always

“Yeah. We are family. His name is Jaylin Parks. His mother is Lydia Parks. Room 22B. Let us back.”

I could tell the nurse was unsure how to handle this. She typed something in the computer, likely to confirm the information Becks had just given her.

The nurse opened her mouth to say something else, probably to deny us again, when the doors buzzed open.

A man in scrubs with an employee badge that said "nurse” passed through. He was maybe in his early thirties, with reddish brown hair cut short to his head. He had a mask over his face, but I could still make out the smattering of freckles on his cheeks.

“Sam, let them through. It’s fine.”

The nurse, Sam apparently, rolled her eyes. “Since when are you the boss around here, Dakota?”

“Sam, just let them through or the next time you ask me to cover your charts for you, I might be busy.”

I raised my eyebrow at Becks, who just shrugged. He didn’t know who this guy was either, but if he got us back there with Jay, he’d be my new best friend.

Sam wasn’t happy, but she buzzed us back. “You’re responsible for them,” she snapped at the nurse, Dakota. The fuck? What were we, toddlers?

Glancing at Beckett, I guessed we did look a little rough. We didn’t have time to shower after the phone call and just threw on the closest clothes we could find. Beckett’s tattoos were out in their full glory in his too tight black T-shirt that was paired with jeans that probably should’ve been retired years ago. But it wasn’t like we were gonna take time to dress fancy to go to the fuckin’ hospital.

I felt a little self-conscious, though, and wrapped my arms around myself. That was, until Beckett grabbed my hand, and gave the asshole nurse a deadly look. I grinned when she shrunk back.

“C’mon, butterfly. We need to see Jay.”

I nodded and let him lead me to Dakota, who watched us carefully but without the judgement I’d felt from the guard.

“Thank you,” Beckett said as we walked past the doors and to the main part of the hospital.

“You’re welcome. Jay needs someone now.”

I swallowed down my unease. I hated hospitals. I didn’t remember much about them from when Mom was sick, but back then, they’d smelled a little funny and the cafeteria food had hurt my stomach. Well, I didn’t know about the food, but the smell was the same. I inched a little closer to Beckett.

“You know Jay?” Becks asked a little too sharply. I tugged on his arm. This guy was our ally. He didn’t need to antagonize him.

But Dakota didn’t seem bothered. He wasn’t as tall as my brother, but he was broad. He didn’t seem like the type to take shit from anyone. “I’ve been his mother’s nurse the last few days. I’ve spent some time with him so he wasn’t alone all the time.”

I felt the unspoken dig against us so of course Beckett did too. I hoped he didn’t lose it on the guy.

Beckett flinched. “Thanks. I’m glad someone was there for him.”

I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by that, Dakota or me. But Dakota had no fuckin’ clue what Beckett had been through the last week. He had no room to judge or say anything. Luckily, he stayed quiet. He just jerked his head to a room across from the nurses’ station.

“He’s in there. I’ll give you three some privacy.”

I thanked him again and was glad Beckett was still holding my hand because my legs became really heavy all of a sudden. It felt like I was wading through pudding, making it harder and harder to get to the door and Jay.

Finally, we made it in, but it wasn’t any better in the room. Jay was in a chair in the corner. He was slumped halfway down so that his long legs were stretched all the way out. Dark circles marred his skin like he hadn’t slept in days. He was looking straight ahead and didn’t seem to notice when we walked in.

“Shit. Jay, I’m so fuckin’ sorry.” Beckett stumbled toward Jay and fell to his knees in front of him. Jay didn’t even blink.

I came and stood next to Becks, unsure what to do. I felt so helpless. Again. I was always so helpless.

“Jay, talk to me, man,” Becks practically begged.

Finally, Jay blinked, startling when he realized we were there.

“Beckett?”

“Yeah, man, it’s me.”

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