Page 13 of Sixty Days Of Summer

“Yeah, those assholes were all over me outside, shoving microphones in my face and grilling me for whatever info I had about Nate,” I snap, still pissed off.

“And Walter called,” Xander adds, his frustration clear. “It’s even on the headlines in Australia. He wanted to know if the tour’s still going ahead.”

“Fuck,” I mutter, taken aback. It’s insane how fast shit spreads.

Behind us, the sound of footsteps reverberates, causing all of us to abruptly turn. Stepping into view, a young nurse, fresh out of graduation, anxiously clutches her clipboard.

Xander is the first to rise and make his way over to her.

As soon as the nurse spots Xander, her eyes go wide. True to fucking form, she blushes and fumbles with her words, just like all the other women who come into contact with Xander Williams.

"I'm... um..." She licks her lips nervously, glancing between her clipboard and Xander. Her face turns an even deeper shade of red. "The doctor wanted me to give an update," she finally stammers, swallowing like it’s the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.

I swear, Xander’s always had that effect on women. Even back in school, they’d lose their shit over him. One look, and they were practically melting. Nothing’s changed—he’s still got that same power over them.

The nurse glances down at her clipboard again, desperately trying to regain her composure, but her trembling hands give away her inner turmoil. Her eyes dart between the clipboard and Xander, and it’s starting to piss me off. I’m here to get a fucking update on Nate, not to watch Xander play the charming romantic lead. Xander just stands there, his presence adding to her growing fluster. At this rate, we’re not getting any news if this chick keeps melting down over him.

Fed up, I get up from my seat and march over to Xander, grabbing him by the arm and yanking him away. “Go, sit thefuck down,” I snap, stepping in front of the nurse to get her full attention.

With Xander out of the way and me taking charge, the nurse finally regains her composure. The starry-eyed, dazed chick who was stumbling over her words a moment ago is long gone.

Regaining her professional composure, she starts to speak. “The doctor asked me to update you. Mr. Reynolds is still in surgery. They’re currently pinning the bone in his shoulder,” she reads from her notes. “It was a clean break, so it’s a relatively straightforward procedure.”

Glancing down at the clipboard, her eyes move swiftly as they scan over her notes. I wait for her to keep going, but her eyes remain fixed on the paper, and not a single word escapes her lips.

"How long until that shit’s done?" I snap, my tone harsh with impatience. I couldn’t care less if I come off as intimidating—I need more fucking details on what’s happening. What’s the point of her coming out here to give us an update if she’s not going to tell us anything?

She stares at me, swallowing hard, clearly rattled by my sharp tone.

I feel a hand on my arm and, even though I don’t like how my body reacts, I know exactly who it is. I shrug her off, stepping aside and pulling my arm away from her touch. Scarlet steps forward, and her intoxicating scent fills the air around me, overwhelming my senses. However, I forcefully push those thoughts out of my mind. Fuck, I need to get laid.

“Hi, I’m Nate’s sister, Scarlet,” she says, stepping in front of me. “I think what Ace is trying to say is if there’s anything else you can tell us.”

I pivot, putting some distance between me and Scarlet, and head over to Xander. I glance up to see his reaction, hoping hehasn’t picked up on the effect Scarlet’s having on me. Thank fuck, he’s too focused on the nurse to notice.

“Yes, his vitals are stable. The head scans came back clear, which is a relief,” she says, giving Scarlet a reassuring smile. “We’re focused on his shoulder right now. It shouldn’t take too long. I don’t have the exact details of the procedure—the doctor didn’t specify—but the x-rays confirmed it’s a clean break. I’ll update you as soon as I know more, or the doctor will come out when he’s done.”

“Okay, thanks,” Scarlet says.

The nurse shoots me a sharp look, her eyes filled with irritation before she turns and strides away. It’s obvious that she’s still seething with anger over my sudden interruption.

Chapter 5

Scarlet

As I sit and wait for more updates on my brother’s condition, my mind races with worries beyond just Nate’s well-being, like my parents seeing my face. Just the thought of them seeing me like this, broken and bruised, makes my stomach churn with anxiety. Nate and Theo get it—they understand the hell Beck has put me through, the suffocating possessiveness and the constant control he exerted over me. They know all the shit I’ve endured with him over the years. That’s the thing with my brother and Theo, I don’t hold back; I tell them everything.

Well, almost everything. I haven’t told them about those two wild nights I spent with Mr tall, dark and brooding sitting acrossfrom me. He’s been avoiding eye contact with me ever since we arrived.

Theo sits beside me, his grip on my hand so tight that it feels like my circulation is being cut off. With anxious energy, his leg bounces uncontrollably, and I reach out and rest my palm on his thigh, hoping to offer some solace. His gaze immediately shifts upwards when he feels my touch, his attention drawn to the bruises adorning my face. I make a mental note to fix them up with more concealer in the bathroom before Mom and Dad arrive.

“You alright?” I ask Theo.

“Yeah, Scar,” he replies, his smile appearing forced and not reaching his eyes.

Over the years, I’ve learned to read Theo’s every little quirk, just like I can with my brother. Even though he’s putting up a brave front, I can see through the facade and sense the underlying struggle he’s going through.

“Don’t worry,” I reassure him, attempting to lighten the mood, “he’s tough. Remember that time he fell out of the tree and broke his ankle? It took several days before he finally broke the news to Mom that he might need to go to the hospital. If he could handle that, he can handle this.”

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