Page 11 of When the Smoke Clears

My heart is full. After everything, my friends are here to help me through. I can’t decide if I’m annoyed with this stupid small town and all the trouble it’s caused, or happy that I’ve fallen in love and my best friends have easy access during my time in need.

The nurse sets the paperwork on the rolling table with my Styrofoam cup, swapping it for my untouched tray of food, and shuts the door on her way out.

“We’ll wait outside.” Sutton motions to Nick, who departs without question.

“Did we wake you?” Izzy sets the bag on the table.

“No?”

Leah plops into the chair Sutton occupied. “So, why the radio silence? Anesthesia fog? Sutton told us about the…” Her tanned face darkens, and her eyes drop to the floor.

“Actually, I need to get a new phone. I assume the police department has mine,” I say mostly to myself.

Izzy studies my face. “How are you really?”

I squeeze her hand tucked into the blankets by my hip. “I’ll be fine.”

“You’re so damn stubborn, Maci Grace. Can’t you just let people take care of you?” Leah huffs, while Izzy yanks a shirt out of the bag she’s holding in half-hearted annoyance.

I grin. “I love you. Thank you for being here.”

“Oh, honey, we wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Izzy brushes some hair out of my face. “Come on, let’s get you dressed so you can go home with your cowboy.” A faint smile passes her lips.

Moving is an effort, but I’ll do whatever is needed to get out of here. After Izzy helps me dress, I sit at the foot of the bed.

Izzy’s voice comes out in a whisper. “You had us worried.”

I don’t dismiss her emotions by telling her that nothing compares to thinking your one-night-stand-turned-stalker-stepbrother is going to gut you in your safe haven. Instead, I say, “All good.”

“Sure. I’m gonna grab the nurse so we can get you out of here.” She gives me a gentle hug before standing. “I love you. I’m really glad you’re okay.”

I release her quickly. I can’t get into all this emotional stuff right now.

The nurse makes me agree not to drive for twenty-four hours since I was under anesthesia. I doubt anyone around here would let me even if I wanted to at this point. She goes over how to take care of the incision and promises to return with a wheelchair.

Izzy addresses Sutton in a friendly tone. “Before you hold our bestie captive, why don’t you let us run her for meds and a new phone?” She’s not really asking even though she’s asking.

Sutton’s eyes bounce between us. “I don’t mind taking her, but that’s her call.”

The nurse returns with my metal chariot. “All set?”

Everyone looks at me. “Yep.”

As Sutton helps me into the chair, I say, “Why don’t you let the girls take me? You’ve been here all night.”

His face is tight, but he nods before pushing me out to Izzy’s car and helping me in.

Chapter 4

Sutton

LeavingMaciwithherfriends is almost impossible. Not that it’s up to me or I don’t trust them. But after everything that’s happened, I just want to bring her home and let her rest.

At home, I shower, but it does little to release the tension lining my body or wash away the images of last night from my mind. It’s past nine when I head into The Big House.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Mama hugs me as soon as I enter the kitchen. “How’s Maci?”

I shake my head and lean against the doorframe. “She’s acting mostly normal. They stitched her up and there was no organ damage, but the muscles took a beating, it sounds like.”

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