Page 101 of Everlasting Love

“Did you get any sleep?”

I shake my head. “Nope. Every little move or sound and I was on my feet, studying him like a science experiment. How about you?”

“Not a wink.” He drops his gaze to his long-time friend. “I was so scared,” he murmurs, peering around the room. “It was hard coming back here, and I had hoped I wouldn’t be back here anytime soon.”

I nod. “Yeah. Me too.” The memories of Cass have been fighting for attention but I’ve managed to push them aside and focus on Shane and what he needs while trying not to think about the worst-case scenario.

We sit in companionable silence for a while both of our gazes trained on the giant of a man lying unnaturally still in the bed between us. Shane twists his head from side to side with a groan, and I jump to my feet, sliding my palm across his forehead and down the side of his face in calming strokes. His eyes flutter open, revealing unfocused brown eyes that I’m elated to see. A tear splashes his cheek and I quickly wipe it away, then wipe my cheek to swipe at the wetness while giving him a shaky smile. I lean down and press my lips to his forehead, leaving them against his skin for a moment before pulling away. “Hey,” I whisper.

“Hey.” His lips tip up slightly as his roughened voice forms the simple word, mending some of the cracks in my heart.

Quickly, I grab the cup of water from the table and press the straw to his dry lips. “Drink.”

His eyes clear, and I see the mirth at my bossiness but he takes a sip. “Thanks.” He takes another drink, then asks, “Is Jasmine okay?”

My bottom lip quivers, and the tears return to my eyes but I swallow past the painful thoughts of how this situation may have turned out if not for Shane’s quick thinking. “She’s perfect, thanks to you.” He smiles tiredly and closes his eyes. “I don’tknow how I’ll ever thank you for what you did.” I lean down and press my lips to his in what is meant to be a kiss of gratitude but his hand weaves into my messy hair and holds me in place as he teases my lips.

He pulls away slowly and presses my forehead to his. With his eyes on mine, he murmurs, “No thanks necessary, Blue.” There’s something new in his gaze replacing the usual regret I see there. I can’t quite place it but he seems more at peace.

Toby shifts in his seat and Shane turns toward the sound. Something passes between the two men and I step back as Toby rises from his chair. He bends over Shane, grasping the back of his neck and pressing their foreheads together. “You scared the shit outta me. Don’t do that again.”

Shane huffs out a laugh and pats Toby on the back. “I don’t intend to, brother.”

I watch Toby’s body deflate, the tension falling away from him as he taps Shane’s cheek with a slight grin. “You’re one tough motherfucker.”

They both break into quiet laughter, and the mood in the room lightens considerably.

The door opens and the doctor I met this morning walks in wearing green checkered pants, a purple paisley shirt, an orange bow tie with white spots, a yellow jacket, and bright red glasses. His outfit hurts my eyes but his demeanor is unlike other doctors I’ve met in the past. He grins when he sees Shane is awake. “Well, good morning!” If he notices the famous rock star in our midst he doesn’t show it, keeping his focus on his patient. “Great to see you awake.” He squeezes Shane’s foot. “How are you feeling, young man?”

Shane takes a moment, and I can almost see him working through every part of his body. “I’ve been worse.”

The doctor nods, his humor falling away. “Yes, I noticed that.” Toby’s brows scrunch together over his oceanic eyes,forming creases. “We’ve been dosing you up with antivenom and pain meds, and we’re happy with the improvements we’re seeing. We’ll keep you in another night and you should be fine to go home tomorrow. It’ll be a couple of months until you’ll have full use of that leg, so we’ll need to sort out physiotherapy and crutches for you.”

Shane nods. “Thanks, Doc.”

“Now, I’m just going to check a few things, and I’ll be out of your hair.” He busies himself as he checks Shane over thoroughly as well as the machine monitors showing various details that I have no idea about.

Once he leaves, Toby leans forward, studying Shane intensely. “What did the doctor notice?”

My eyes jump to Shane’s, and I can see the resolve there. I know he’s never told anyone but me and his dad what happened to him. It was even tough for him to open up to Mom when she noticed the scars on his legs when he came downstairs wearing shorts yesterday morning. God, was that only yesterday? He looks at me and I nod slightly, telling him without words that he should share his truth with his best friend. I watch him swallow and make the decision that I know is hard for him.

With a grunt, he slowly sits up and turns his back toward his friend. Toby gasps when the exposed portion of Shane’s back comes into view. He reaches around to release the ties, but I push his hands away so I can help him. I want him to know that I’m here to support him in any way I can. As the fabric falls away, revealing the broad expanse of Shane’s back as well as his arms, I glance up to watch Toby carefully. His eyes are glassy and his chest rises and falls quickly as he flicks his eyes up to me and back again.

“Fuck!” Toby curses under his breath. Shane just grunts and looks up at me, telling me he’s ready to cover himself again. Iredo the ties and he turns back to lean against his pillows. “What the hell happened to you?”

I pass Shane his cup of water and he takes a greedy drink then launches into his story. Toby covers his mouth with his hand, tears running down his face as he explains the cause of the scars that mar his body from top to bottom. I’ve grown somewhat accustomed to them now but it doesn’t hurt any less knowing how much he’s endured.

Toby stands abruptly, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. His hands dive into his hair and his expression is livid. He points angrily at Shane and snaps, “I’m so fucking angry with you. You had no right keeping that from us. Not allowing us to be there for you. I would have fucking flown to Germany to be by your side, you stupid dick.” He turns his back to us and I study Shane closely after Toby’s outburst. He doesn’t seem to be angry, more like he’s resigned to accept Toby’s ire. “You didn’t need to deal with that by yourself.” Without looking at us, he makes his way to the door and Shane calls his name to stop him. He freezes but doesn’t turn around, holding up his hand. “I can’t right now. I thought we were friends, man.” He steps through the doorway and disappears.

Shit!

“Fuck!” Shane grunts. “That was fucking awful.” He looks up at me. “I’ve made so many mistakes. Let so many people down. Hurt so many people.” His eyes skate away from mine and he exhales a long breath, running his hand over the top of his head. His jaw clenches and that tic of his comes to life.

I carefully lodge my ass on the edge of his bed and cup his cheek, turning his face toward mine. Flicking my eyes between his, I absorb his anguish as I lean down to press my forehead to his. “Why did you shut everyone out?” I have to know. “Make me understand.”

He tries to break our connection but I hold him in place and watch him swallow. “I didn’t want them to see the mess I was. How weak. I was so fucking broken I wasn’t sure I’d ever be whole again and I didn’t want anyone to see that version of me. If I’d died, I wanted them to remember me how I was, not the broken man I’d become.”

“Oh, Shane,” I whisper against his lips.

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