Page 95 of Fight for Me
He shakes his head like I’m an idiot for asking. “We came as soon as Sierra called.”
It’s been six hours. Six hours and just as many tests to try to figure out why Sydney is nonresponsive. They have no answers that tell what is going on, just that she’s not waking up.
She has brain activity, her blood sugar is normal, and there’s no indication of a stroke, but still, she sleeps.
“Right. Sorry. Of course. It’s just …”
“No change.”
“None.” I take a few breaths through my nose, trying to calm myself. I can’t fall apart now. I have to be strong, sure, and believe that Sydney will be fine. Whatever is happening can be fixed.
“Syd will wake up.”
I nod because it’s true. “People don’t just slip into comas, right? Not when there’s nothing pointing to why it could be happening. They wake up when they’re ready. For all I know, this is her way of punishing me.” I laugh humorlessly. “It’s working too, so she can feel good about this.”
“She’s not that cruel.”
“Isn’t she, though? She didn’t tell me about the baby until two days ago. Then she finds out there’s something wrong and she has a fucking tumor, but she doesn’t tell me.” Anger and frustration start to build. “I find outwhile she’s in surgery, and she didn’t even know why I didn’t make it to the appointment.”
“Which was?” Connor asks.
“I was busy buying her damn farm, which she pushed the sale up for. It was either it sold that day or she was pulling it and going to another buyer.”
Connor smirks. “So you’re pissed at her?”
“I’m pissed—no, I’m fucking livid. I can’t lose her! I need her to wake up. I need her to live. She wrote this fucking direction sheet that says if it’s her or the baby, we have to save him. I can’t …”
Connor steps forward, pulling me into his arms. My youngest brother, who I’ve been more like a father to than anything, comforts me. I slam my hand on his back, and he does the same. He grips my shoulders, pulling me back, and then sets his jaw. “It won’t come to that.”
“I wasted so much time.” I step back and walk to the window. “All these years, I’ve been so sure that staying away was the right thing. I thought I was giving her a chance at a life I couldn’t provide. Now, I want to erase it all. I would give up everything to have time with her. I just want a second chance to make it all right.”
He sits in the chair beside me. “A true second shot will split the first arrow and create a solid path.”
“A lot of good that advice is now. I know the path I want, it’s clear and solid, but it might have an ending.”
Connor laughs without humor. “I feel like Mom was telling us things we needed to hear, but we weren’t smart enough to actually listen.”
“I’m terrified I’m going to lose her.” I confess my deepest fear.
His hand squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t give up hope, Declan. Sydney needs to believe she has something to fight for. Be that for her.”
I’ll be everything she needs.
Chapter Thirty
Declan
“It’s been twenty-four hours. I need you to hear me, Bean. Wake up. Open your blue eyes and let me see you.” I try to urge her to wake again. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. All I do is alternate with Sierra or Ellie by her bedside. Mostly, they can’t get me out of here though.
“Declan,” Ellie says softly as she stands at the glass door. “Please take a break.”
“I’ll rest when she’s awake.”
She comes in the room farther and watches me. “Connor and I have to head home. I’m going to get you some clean clothes and bring them back tomorrow.”
“That’s fine.”
She sighs heavily, looking at me and then to Syd. “You’re making him crazy,” Ellie whispers, but it’s loud enough I can hear. “He hasn’t shaved, showered, or done much of anything but pester you. Let him out of his misery, Syd. He loves you, and I promise that you can kill him if he hurts you again. We have enough land between the two of us to hide a body.”
