Page 32 of Fierce-Hyde

“You go, Mom. I’ll stay with Dad.”

His mother left with the doctor and Hyde and his father sat down. “You should go home and get some sleep once you see her. I know you’ll want to.”

“You guys need more sleep than me. I’m sure it’s been a long time since you’ve pulled an all-nighter.”

“Longer than I care to remember,” his father said. “But when it’s your kid, you do what you need to. You go see her next and then get some sleep. You can come back after dinner to sit with her. We’ll all have to go home tonight.”

He was too tired to even argue at this point.

When his mother came out, he went back to see CeeCee.

Maybe it was a mistake to see his baby sister lying there drugged up and not aware of what was going on.

She looked so still and peaceful and all he could do was think of death and had to get out of there before he started to shake.

He left quickly, hugged his parents, then went to his car and drove home, where he crashed into bed face first.

Five hours later, he heard his phone ringing and sat up to look for it on the nightstand.

He pulled it closer and saw it was Ryder calling.

“Hey,” he said.

“Did I wake you?” Ryder asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s fine. I need to get up and go to the hospital anyway. I should relieve my parents.”

“How is CeeCee doing?” Ryder asked.

“Good. She came out of surgery well. I see my mother sent a text that she has movement with her toes so that is good. I was going to see if Cody can do her physical therapy.”

“He’ll do it,” Ryder said. “You know that. Just request him, but I’ll mention it to him if you want.”

“That would be good,” he said. “Thanks. I’ll be in the office tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ryder said. “Drake said for me to pass on to take the time you need.”

“Not much I can do. I might stop in to see her in the morning and then come to work. It’s all good.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Ryder said. “I was a little worried about you. You haven’t been answering texts.”

Hyde snorted and flopped back on the bed. “I wasn’t drunk. My phone was on silent until I noticed it earlier this morning when the battery was dying. Then I’ve been sleeping.”

“You know I’m here if you need anything,” Ryder said.

“I’m fine,” he said. “I appreciate it, but I’m not going to spiral down. I promise.”

“I know a good counselor you can talk to if you do,” Ryder said, laughing.

There was no reason to say anything else.

Ryder knew about the one date, but not the second one set up for last night that he forgot about or how Tori reacted to being stood up.

He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle that situation and wouldn’t even waste brainpower on it.

At least not now. Women had hurt him enough in his life and he wasn’t ready to set himself up for it again.

He got up and walked into the bathroom, turned the shower on, and stripped.

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