Page 5 of The Lie
“She wants to see Roman. But if you don’t know where he is, then I don’t stand a chance of finding him.” James runs his hands through his hair. “I’ve been so worried about Mila, I let him slip past. I wouldn’t have let him leave.”
“I don’t want her worried about that right now, either. I’ll find him,” I reassure James.
James has dark shadows under his eyes, and his cheekbones are sharper than usual. He looks like he hasn’t eaten in a few days, and it’s obvious the stress has taken a toll on him.
“Don’t get her all riled up, Asher. She needs to rest.” His mom pins him with a look.
He puts his hands up and points to himself. “Me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His mom just makes a sound that lets him know she doesn’t believe that. I don’t have time to think about what she meant by “riled up.” I’m only feet away from my girl.
As we walk past them both and head toward the room Mila’s in, I shoulder-check Asher.
“Hey, what the fuck?” he calls out, and a nurse glares at us.
“What did your mom mean by riling her up? You into her?” Okay, so I couldn’t let it go. Is he into Mila? Not that I blame him. Anyone Mila encounters is drawn into her orbit. It’s just who she is. But, fuck him, she’s mine. He better not be into her.
He put his hands up defensively and shakes his head. “No, nothing like that. Just, when we’re together, we seem to cause havoc. Mostly at home. Just ragging on each other, riling her up, and she riles me up too, man. Just Mila being Mila is all. Nothing else.”
Sounds like Mila. After being around Asher all week, I’ve noticed they are very similar in their personalities. So, I can imagine them messing around like that. But I still don’t like it. I give her butterflies. She said that. Does he give her butterflies too? He better not, or I will have to kick his ass.
Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I put on a smile as I walk into the room and see her. She’s so tiny in such a huge bed. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles at me. My heart’s in my throat at the sight of her. She has dark and yellowing bruises and only a few scrapes, but several are deep enough that they will leave scars. Knowing Mila, she will call thembattle wounds, and she’ll be even hotter than before by owning them.
I make my way slowly toward her, not breaking eye contact and trying to smile like everything’s okay. It will be. She’s alive. She’s going to be fine.
The door clicks shut as Asher makes his way up behind me.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” I ask her.
“Like I got hit by a car,” Mila deadpans back at me.
I stop and my eyes widen. Asher lets out a huge, bellowing laugh, and I laugh too. Mila will be more than fine. Even though she lies broken on a hospital bed, she’s still the feisty Mila we know and love.
“If I’d known that’s all I needed to break the tense atmosphere, I would have told my dad the same thing when he asked how I felt.”
Moving away from Asher and as close as I can to Mila, I smile down at my girl.
She’s gonna be mine.
“Well, if you had, he would’ve known you’re just fine. Smart-ass and tough as nails.”
She holds up her right arm to display a blue cast. “Not that tough. I broke my wrist. I have to wear this for six weeks. Or maybe it’s only five now. I’m confused by the wholeI’ve been sleeping for daysthing.” She looks over to the door then back to me, her eyes darting between Asher and me.
“When do you get to go home?” I ask. I know who she’s looking for, and I quickly change the subject so I don’t have to tell her Roman isn’t coming.
“If everything goes well, I can leave here in a few days and continue to rest at home. They said they kept me under the meds longer because of something…I can’t remember, but it’s all good now.”
She throws her hands in the air, the one with the cast wobbling a little from the weight. Then she places them down on her blanket and stares at it for a moment.
“I didn’t get hit too hard. Or I have a hard head…I don’t know, but I’m hoping to go home Sunday. Thank you for coming to see me.”
I nod and reach for her hand. She sighs at the contact. “Mila,” I bend over and press my lips gently to her forehead, where there aren’t any cuts or bruises. “I’ve been here every day waiting to see you. I wouldn’t not be here. They had to drag me home.”
When I draw back, I see her eyes. Since I don’t want her to cry, I reluctantly let go of her hand so Asher can get closer to her and give her a break from me for a moment.
“You gonna watch my game tomorrow? Cheer me on? Mom will come back with your dad and Madison later. They’ll bring your laptop so you can watch Netflix and me.”
She smiles. Good, that cheered her up a little more.
