Page 104 of Tight End

I let out a shuddering breath, unease grabbing my by the throat.

“I’m not dead.”

“No, thank God.”

I solely twist my head to the side. “Sam?”

His face is pale, eyes red. He pushes past the nurses and limps over to my bedside with his crutches and takes my hand before bringing it to his lips. “You fucking scared me to death. Me and the rest of the world waiting outside for good news.”

“I honestly was doubtful we’d have any to give.” The nurselooks between us, her mouth open, head shaking. “This whole thing is crazy,” she murmurs. “His pressure dropped again, so I ran in when the alarm sounded. I was afraid he was going to code, and just as I was about to hit the alert button, everything suddenly stabilized for the first time since he arrived post-surgery. I checked the readings to be sure, and then he just woke up, after all those hours. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“How do you feel?” The dark-haired doctor asks me.

“Like I was shredded by a few bullets.” I try to manage a smile but it fucking hurts like hell to move even my mouth muscles.

“Makes sense,” the doctor says. “That definitely happened. It’ll be a long recovery, but you made it through the critical point.”

“He’s a stubborn ass,” Sam says. “He wouldn’t have quit so easily.”

“I shouldn’t have quit on you, either,” I say, looking up at him. “I didn’t fight hard enough.”

“Luckily, you’ll have plenty of more chances to fight me on anything you want.”

“That sounds like a good plan.”

He gives my hand a squeeze.

I see the nurse smile out of the corner of my eye.

“So it is true,” she says with a conspiratorial smile. “I knew all along it wasn’t just a publicity stunt.”

“Nope, this shit is real,” I say, winking at her.

“Thank God you’re awake,” Allie cries out, rushing into the room and over to me. She drops a kiss on my forehead then looks at the doctor. “Is he going to be okay? This is a good sign, right?”

“It is good news, indeed.” The doctor smiles. “Now, I don’t want to interrupt this very emotional reunion, but I have to examine our wonder patient.”

Allie and Sam walk out into the hallway and loiter in the doorway as the nurses and doctor check every possible one of my vitals.

“I’m in a lot of pain. You guys got any of the good stuff?” I ask, wincing when I move my left arm. The nurse nods and rushes out of the room. A few minutes, she’s back with injectable pain meds that she pushes into my IV line.

“That should give you some relief,” she says, patting my right arm.

“It truly is an incredible recovery,” Dr. Rajan says as he leans down to flash a penlight into my eyes. I recoil, the brightness temporarily blinding me. “You were very lucky because although the bullet damaged your heart, it didn’t hit any other major organs, vessels, or arteries.”

“Who did it?” I ask, my brain fogging up from whatever drugs they just pumped into my IV to call up the memory of those horrific seconds. “Did the cops catch them?”

“We don’t have any information on the shooter, but the police will be in at some point to take your statement. There’s a lot of pressure to find who was responsible and they won’t rest until they do.”

A few minutes later, the doctor and nurses leave. Allie and Sam rush back inside.

Allie runs a hand down the side of my face. “There are so many people who care about you, B. You have to know that. I think all of Oakland is outside the hospital right now. And the waiting room is full of people who love you, people who are your family. You always had a family. You were just too stubborn to let them in.”

She pauses and exchanges a look with Sam over me. “Your dad is here, too. He’s downstairs with Jules but I just texted him to let him know you’re awake.” A smile lifts her lips. “He wants to see you, sweetie. I think he?—”

“I don’t care.” My voice sounds thick, my tongue heavy.

“B, you just had a brush with death. I don’t know if you’re thinking clearly right now,” she says. “Let him see you. Take the chance to make things right. Be the bigger person here.”

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