Page 15 of Sixty Days Of Summer

“Hey, Doc, I’m lost here. Can you break this down into simpler terms? I just need to know if my son will be okay.”

A sigh escapes the doctor’s lips, followed by a slow, solemn nod. “Yes,” the doctor says, “your son will be just fine. The surgery went well, and his vital signs are stable. He’ll need ample rest and a significant amount of time for his shoulder to recover, but apart from that, he’s doing fine. It’s going to be a long recovery, but the operation was a success.”

I feel Theo’s grip on my hand tighten as a visible wave of relief washes over him. My usually composed dad releases my mom’s hand and takes a step forward, surprising everyone bypulling the doctor in for a hug. Witnessing my father’s tattooed arms embrace the small doctor is a surprising and heartwarming sight, leaving the doctor momentarily caught off guard. With a warm pat on the doctor’s back, my dad expresses his gratitude, saying, “Thanks a lot, Doc. You don’t know how much this means to us.”

“Can we see him?” my mother asks, stepping forward.

“Yes, he’s awake, though still a bit groggy. I’ll have a nurse come in to escort you to his room.”

With that, the doctor exits the room, leaving us in anticipation as we wait for the nurse. Observing my father, I notice how he exhales deeply, his body relaxing as the burden of worry about Nate seems to vanish. I know him well enough to recognize that he’d have concealed his anxiety, always putting on a brave face for my mom’s sake, a dependable pillar in times of crisis.

Just then, the petite nurse returns—the same one from earlier, her cheeks still flushed with a touch of embarrassment from her encounter with Xander. Before uttering a word, she glances at Xander, then redirects her focus to my mother and father.

“Follow me,” she says. “Your son’s room is this way.” She spins around without waiting for a reply, leading the way to Nate’s room. With brisk, purposeful strides, she heads down a long corridor, her focus fixed on leading us to Nate’s room, barely pausing to check if we’re keeping up.

Finally reaching the room, she moves aside to allow my parents to enter. Her eyes linger on Theo standing beside me before shifting to Ace and Xander trailing behind.

I’ve seen this kind of shit way too often, especially with my brother and Theo. Instead of being seen as ordinary guys pursuing their passions, they are treated like celebrities. But Xander’s level of attention is on a whole different scale. It’smind-boggling how he manages it. Even a simple task like getting an update on my brother turns into the nurse, stumbling over herself in Xander’s presence. I get it; Xander’s a big deal. But no wonder Ace had to intervene and speed things up—otherwise, we would have wasted the entire day, waiting for the nurse to break free from her fixation on Xander.

The sight of Nate lying in the bed prompts Theo to tighten his grip on my hand, clearly taken aback by what he sees. Nate looks so frail, his arm and shoulder encased in a stiff, bound cast. His chest grabs my attention, displaying a tattoo that proudly states “Bianca” over his heart—a constant symbol of his unwavering devotion to her, a love that endures with unwavering intensity.

As Theo releases my hand and moves toward the bed, I stand frozen, unable to tear my gaze away from Nate lying there in that damn bed. A whirlwind of emotions crashes over me, and I can’t help but wonder what if things had turned out differently? What if I had lost him today? Would he ever know just how much he means to me? Life's fragility hits hard, especially for Theo, Nate, and me. The pain of losing Bianca hit us like a punch to the gut, a stark reminder of life’s unpredictable nature.

Xander navigates around me, making his way to the end of the bed, while I can sense Ace’s quiet presence behind me. Even though I can't see him, I feel a comforting warmth as his hand rests on my lower back, guiding me gently forward. His touch sends a tingling sensation coursing through my body.

“Come on, Scarlet. Nate needs you,” he says softly, nudging me forward.

With my mother and father on the right side of the bed and Xander stationed at the foot, I make my way around to the other side and stand beside Theo. Holding Nate’s hand, Theo clenches it with such force that his knuckles whiten. A dense silenceengulfs the room, bearing down on us as we quietly observe Nate sleeping, each of us wrapped up in our own thoughts.

Ace moves closer, positioning himself beside me. Without even touching me, his presence alone sends my heart racing, like an electric surge. It’s a reaction that I don’t experience with anyone else, perhaps because of the profound connection we had a few months ago - those two nights where he pushed my boundaries and awakened sensations I had never felt before. Even though he explicitly stated that our encounter was nothing more than a casual fling—his words, not mine—the impact he has left on me is undeniable.

I lift my head and scan the people standing around the bed, taking in the sight of my parents, their eyes fixated on Nate. My gaze then shifts to Xander, whose eyes remain locked on Ace, their intensity making me feel as if he’s accusing him of something. I can’t help but wonder if Xander knows the truth of what happened between us. The intensity of Xander’s stare makes me suspect that Ace might have let something slip.

In a split second, I divert my eyes, praying that my brother never finds out about this news. I know how fiercely protective he is, just like Theo. High school was a nightmare whenever I tried dating—thanks to Nate and Theo, my reputation as unapproachable spread like wildfire.

But this is something entirely different. Ace is one of them, and I know that if my brother or Theo ever found out, it would destroy the strong connection these guys have. I know them well enough to realize they’d never forgive Ace for crossing that line.

Witnessing the profound connection between these guys, I can’t help but yearn for a similar experience, something that has eluded me my whole life. It’s incredibly frustrating how my appearance overshadows any chance for genuine relationships, leaving me pursued by men who see me as nothing more than a conquest. This shallow perception has strained my friendshipswith other women. People wrongly assume I’m promiscuous, making it nearly impossible to build meaningful connections. Now, I feel more alone than ever.

My brief fling with Ace—just a one-night stand, or you could say a two-night affair—only reinforces the painful reality that guys often see me as just someone to get down and dirty with for a night. Despite that, I still crave to be valued for who I am beyond my physical appearance. Since those nights with Ace, I’ve been left wondering if I’m destined to always be just another conquest, with men treating me as a temporary pleasure and discarding me like I’m nothing more than a passing thrill.

Nate's eyes slowly flutter open, and as he begins to stir, I instinctively reach out, intertwining my fingers with Ace’s, seeking solace in our touch. To my surprise, Ace doesn’t pull away; his hand remains steady and comforting, offering a small refuge amidst all the tension in the room. Despite the warmth of our joined hands, my gaze stays locked on Nate, unable to shift away from his fragile state.

“Theo,” Nate mumbles, his voice heavy with sleep as he slowly opens his eyes, still adjusting to the brightness.

“Hey, Nate,” Theo replies, his voice filled with a gentle yet unmistakable sense of relief. “It’s so fucking good to see you, man.”

Nate scans the room, his eyes darting around until they finally settle on Mom and Dad. A slow smile spreads across his face. “I told you, Mom, I’d see you before we head out on tour,” he murmurs.

“Yeah, you did,” she replies, her eyes filled with love and tenderness as she leans in to plant a soft kiss on his forehead.

My brother was over the moon about the band finally going out on their own—selling out stadiums in thirty minutes and adding new dates due to the overwhelming demand. He was so proud that they were managing everything themselves, from thealbum to the tour. But now, all of that’s gone to hell because of this accident. It’s going to take months for Nate to get his arm back in shape, let alone play for hours on stage. I can already see the headlines: Broken Oasis forced to cancel their sold-out shows, leaving fans disappointed and speculating about the future.

As Mom pulls away, Nate’s eyes meet mine, then drift to my cheek, noticing the marks. I hold my breath, silently pleading that he won’t mention Beck’s violent outburst in front of Mom and Dad. It’s bad enough that everyone here knows what I’ve been through—Nate bringing it up would only make things more uncomfortable, especially with Dad in the room.

Chapter 6

Ace

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