Page 20 of The Art of You

Yeah, I could see that. So stubborn.

“But if I had concerns about her health, I’d strap her ass down, and you know it.” Constantine was also stubborn, andthat was the only thing reassuring me right now she really was okay. Like hell would he let her be standing next to me if not.

But why were the two of them staring at me like the dog they never actually owned died? My head and face may have hurt like a motherfucker, but I knew them well. Drugs or not, I could read them, and something else was wrong. Far worse than bruises and a defective airbag. “What’s going on?”

“You had a few nasty hits to the head, so we took precautions to ensure there was no internal damage. You’ve been asleep for about twelve hours, but the scans show you’re in the clear,” the doctor said from somewhere in the room.

I wiggled my toes, ensuring I had feeling down there and that my spine hadn’t been jacked up. While it hurt to test everything out, I could move just fine. So, I was pretty sure I’d be able to walk out of there when the doctors eased up on the drugs.

“How much do you rememberafter. . .?” Constantine let that last word hang heavy in the air, as if it were supposed to mean something.

After what? After we were hit and flipped over?“I remember pulling onto the road. Someone came around the corner ahead of us, and . . .”Then what?I shut my eyes, trying to grab hold of the memories. “I think we were hit again. Maybe two more times.” What the hell happenedafter? “Who did it? Do the police have them in custody? Drunk driver, or just driving too fast in the bad weather?”But that wouldn’t explain the multiple hits.The drugs didn’t dull my headache, and the harsh pain in my skull made it difficult to try and recall more. I was forgetting something important.

“Finally, you’re awake.” That voice definitely belonged to my father. If I were the Tin Man, he was behind the curtain pulling all of New York’s strings. Only, in all reality, there were still others behind the puppet master.

Why am I thinking about this?

My dad skipped right over concerns for me. Not that I expected it, but he didn’t even offer an,I love you.Instead, he cut straight to questions. “Do you remember what happened after the accident?”

There was that word again.After.It spun around in my head, searching for somewhere to land. “Why don’t you tell me since I clearly can’t recall.” I opened my eyes and stole a look at Bella, curious how much she remembered. She lightly shook her head, letting me know we were on the same hazy page of don’t-know-shit.

“Don’t feel bad. It’s not uncommon after an accident to forget some of the details, especially with such a traumatic hit to the head and face.” The doctor seemed to care more about my overall well-being than dear old Dad. “You both blacked out long enough to give everyone a scare. Really is a miracle you two aren’t in ICU, or worse.”

Or worse?No, when it came to Bella, “or worse” was an unacceptable and illogical concept I’d never tolerate.

“Now that you’re awake, I’d like to run a few more tests, though,” the doctor said. “While he’s talking coherently and moving just fine despite the accident and pain medicine, I should?—”

“Tests will have to wait,” my father cut him off, barking out orders like the man was his campaign manager instead. “I need to talk to my son alone.” He rounded the bed and planted himself between Bella and Constantine. Suit jacket gone, red tie loose around his neck, he’d gone almost ghostly pale.

“I’m not leaving.” Bella remained glued to my side, standing firm in her decision to stay.

I could barely look at her without feeling gutted. I didn’t save her from injury, which meant I must not have reacted quickly enough or we wouldn’t be in the hospital right now.

My pain wasn’t just taking a back seat at the sight of her injuries. It was in another country, on a train heading forI Don’t Give A Damn About Myselfland because I almost lost her.

“No, the testscan’twait.” Constantine’s declaration shocked my father, pulling his eyes from me. I doubt even the governor could go head-to-head with my best friend. “Hudson needs time to wake up before we start talking more about what happened.” He may not have been blood, but he gave all the fucks my dad didn’t seem to give about me.

“And what exactly happened that I’m not ready to hear about?” I tried to sit. Still no luck. Because Constantine was right. The drugs were being obnoxious, and so were my apparent head injuries.

“Run your tests,” Constantine bit out the command, ignoring my father’s order, eyeing someone else in the room, presumably the doctor.

“My brother’s right. He needs time.” Bella gave my father her mopey expression: sad eyes and a downturned bottom lip. To say she’d used that expression on me a time or two, turning me to putty in her hands, was an understatement.

“Fine. I’ll hold off the Feds and make some calls.” My father had his phone to his ear before leaving my side.

The doctor attempted to shine a light in my eyes, and I waved him away. “Wait.” I focused on Constantine, too curious to be left completely in the dark before I was given that time I supposedly needed first. “Just tell me why you look like someone died.”

Constantine squeezed the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. “Because last night, someone did.”

Chapter 7

Hudson

“I’m not goingto sleep. The doctor told y’all three times now my brain is A-the-fuck-okay, so talk.”

“Based on that sailor’s mouth coming back, I’m going to have to agree with you.” Bella had the uncanny ability to unfuck any bad situation with her humor. When she threw a smile on top of it, I might as well throw in my hand and fold.

“Yeah, okay.” Constantine joined Bella at my bedside. She hadn’t left me alone for a second. He quickly glanced at my father, who was standing before the window, quietly observing us. “You want to fill him in, or do you want me to?”

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