Page 177 of The Forbidden Note

“Go home,” I tell them.

“No.” Dutch glowers at me from the chair where he’s slumped down. Cadey is curled in his lap, her head on his chest and her knees drawn up around her. Dutch dragged a blanket over her body, but she still doesn’t look comfortable.

The door opens. I’m surprised when Grey walks in, holding a cup of coffee. Her eyes land on me and widen. For a second, she seems sheepish as if there’s a part of her that wonders if I even want her here.

How could she think I wouldn’t?

Just looking at her makes it hard to breathe.

“Zane,” she says quietly. “You’re up.”

I keep staring at her, drinking her in. Her hair looks wet and so do her clothes. She must have gotten doused by the sprinklers tonight.

She squirms. “Uh… are you in pain? Should I call a nurse?”

Dutch glances at me.

Finn folds his arms over his chest.

Sol blinks sleepily.

“Everyone out,” I say as firmly as I can. Keeping my eyes on Grey, I add, “Except you.”

Her eyebrows fly up.

“Don’t over-do it, Zane,” Sol warns. “You just got out of surgery.”

I put a hand on the bed so I can shove myself up. Unfortunately, I’m stopped by a giant cast around my wrist.

My eyes widen at the sight of it.

“How long until I can take this off?” I ask the room.

No one speaks.

“How long?” I grunt.

“We don’t know.” Sol clears his throat. “The damage is bad, Zane.”

I meet his eyes and sense what heisn’tsaying.

A flash of brutally dark emotions overwhelms me.

“What did the doctors say?”

They seem reluctant to tell me.

Finally, Finn breaks the ice. “You might not be able to drum again.”

Sol remains quiet.

Dutch glances away.

In the stark and tense silence, I laugh.

Everyone looks at me like I’m crazy.

Maybe I am.

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