Page 24 of Stopped

“I'm so sorry, Will. Raine and I will help however we can.”

“I appreciate it, man. More than you know.”

“Do you want me to update the crew? Raine can handle your requests for some time off so you can concentrate on him.”

My gaze lingered on my father's motionless form for a while. The reality of it all was so overwhelming, it was difficult to articulate what I was thinking and feeling. I ceded with a nod. For as hard as it was to accept the fact that I couldn't handle it all, the help was a relief.

“Yeah, please. EJ, too.” I shifted forward in my seat to rest my elbows on my knees and lace my hands behind my head. “There's so much to do and so much we don't know yet.”

“That’s why I'm here, bro.” Josh crouched down and thunked his brow against the top of my head. “One step at a time.”

We lingered like that for a long time, silent but together, until someone cleared their throat at the door. In unison, our attention shifted toward the doctor standing in the entrance.

“Evening, gentlemen. How’s our patient doing?”

“Same. No change.” My sigh carried the weight of the world.

“That’s not unexpected. The results from the most recent scans do look promising.” The doctor moved through the room, checking monitors and printouts and vitals before quietly excusing himself.

“So, you and EJ?” Josh pulled a chair closer and plopped down beside me. “Told you it would work out.”

A smile crept across my face as I shrugged. “Something had to give. I'll take the win.”

“I'm happy for you, man. Took you two long enough.” He nudged my knee with his. “Just don't be afraid to ask for help. You're going to need it.”

I grunted out a noncommittal noise and pursed my lips. It was hard not to let my lingering guilt, stress, and anxiety get the better of me when it came to EJ. A large part of me wanted to pretend it was all okay and that I wasn't juggling ten different balls and about to drop them all, especially since this thing between us was about as new and fragile as it could get.

“William,” Josh warned, eyeing me like I was the biggest idiot in the world. I guess if the shoe fit…

“Yeah, I know. I'm gonna call him later and let him know what's up. I ran out of there so fast last night.”

“Cam said his mom told Elijah when he came into the café this afternoon. Have you even checked your phone?”

I shook my head and clasped my hands against my mouth.

“You should do that. There are a lot of people worried about you.”

I relented with feigned annoyance and a playful eye roll. Josh was ultimately right—my phone was full up on notifications from dozens of people, some I barely knew. Evidently I had underestimated my network of friends and acquaintances. I ignored most of the messages and scrolled until I found the one name I hadn't realized I wanted to see so badly. One voicemail from Elijah himself was waiting to be listened to.

My finger was hovering over the button when a groan stole my attention. Movement caught my eye shortly thereafter. I was out of my seat with a gasp, rushing to the bedside to gather the bony hand of my father between mine.

“Dad? Dad, it's Will. Can you hear me?”

He stirred fitfully and groaned again before his eyelids fluttered open to reveal bloodshot, unfocused eyes.

“Welcome back, Dad.” I squeezed his hand and choked back my tears. The relief was massive, but short lived. The vacant wariness in my father’s gaze turned the contents of my stomach into noxious, churning acid.

“Dad?” I searched his weary and scraped features for any sign of recognition to no avail. My heart sank even lower when his chapped lips parted to speak in a low, growly rasp.

“Who th’hell’re you?”

I knew this day was coming. I'd known for a long time. But knowing did very little to soften the blow.

“D-Dad… it’s me. It's William.”

“Get off me.” My dad pulled his hand from my grip with a grunt and tore my heart away with the movement. We’d officially reached the most heartbreaking stage of all and I finally lost the battle as my iron-grip on my emotions faltered and tears slipped down my cheeks.

“Dad?”

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