“Fine. Can I have some toast?” The turmoil inside was difficult to hide. I wanted to be able to go back home and shut everyone out.
I was quiet while I ate the toast and then swallowed the pills. My mom sat beside me and my dad joined us.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by another car,” I responded dryly. “Where’s Matty?”
“He is dealing with your car.”
I tightened my hand. My car. The last I had seen it, it was jumbled into an array of memories that were difficult to sort through.
“How bad is it?” I ventured.
“It’s a write-off.”
I let out a breath.My dad reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Try not to worry about it. Just concentrate on getting some rest so your body can heal.”
I had stitches and my body was full of bruises but the pain was nothing compared to my bruised heart. To have to go through something so traumatic and be unable to depend on the person I loved was so disappointing I wasn’t sure I could get over it.
“I want to go home,” I murmured, sitting back in the chair.
My parents shared a look. I knew what was coming.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured them. “I promise to take it easy and not to overdo it.”
“Okay.” Reluctantly, my father gave in.
I tried not to allow myself to think about Mark and where he could be, instead I went through the motions of letting my dad take me back to my apartment.
He fussed for a while before leaving and when I was finally alone I sat down on the sofa and got my laptop. I had appointments I had to reschedule.
I called Maggie to let her know what had happened. She was concerned. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m fine.”
She said she would relay the message to Sebastianand Cole.
An hour later both of them showed up on my doorstep, wanting to see I was okay. They brought a massive bouquet of flowers, which was touching.
“I’m fine,” I argued when Sebastian took in the bandage on my forehead.
“What happened?” Cole asked, and I relayed as much as I could remember.
There was a knock at the door and I slowly rose to open it, wondering if Mark was finally going to show up, but I was disappointed when it was Matthew.
“You should have stayed at home where Mom and Dad could have taken care of you,” he said disapprovingly.
“Hello to you too,” I replied dryly, allowing him in.
He stopped at the sight of two strange men in my living room. Then I realized they had never met before.
I introduced them and watched while they sized each other up. It was such a male thing.
“We need to go. Let us know if you need anything,” Sebastian said before leaving me alone with Matthew.
“They seem nice,” Matthew said, sitting down.
I sat down beside him slowly so as not to jar anything that hurt.