Page 7 of The Lie
I hug him. It hurts, but he is gentle. “I love this, Dad. Thank you.” I swipe the back of my hand over my eyes to stop the tears from falling.
“I wanted to do it when you got back, but then so much was going on that it slipped my mind. I hope you like it. Kate and Madison helped with the colors. Asher and Walker helped carry it all up here while I was with you. They put the desk and bed together and set it all up without me.”
“So, if it falls apart in the middle of the night, I need to blame Asher and Walker is what you’re saying?”
Dad chuckles. “I’m just so glad to have you home, Mila. You scared me so much; I thought I had lost you.”
I hug him again, sad that I made him feel like that. He already lost me once when Mom took me to New York. Which reminds me…
“Does Mom know? Did she call?” I held my breath, waiting for the answer.
“I called her and told her”—he holds the bridge of his nose—“and there is no excuse for her to not come here. But she said she had to think of the baby and that the flight would cause too much stress. She said she would call you once you woke up, but…”
He gives me a small smile and mouths, “Sorry,” as he kisses my head.
I feel bad that Dad has to tell me that. I’m not sure what I thought Mom would do but doing nothing seems to have answered that question. She knew I was in a coma and still didn’t see me or call me. I feel bad for the poor child she’s bringing into this world. No one deserves to be treated like that; she’s a shit mom to me. I don’t see her improving for any new children.
“Let’s get you into your new bed. The mattress is soft and so comfortable.”
Dad helps me into bed, and he’s right, the mattress is soft and so much better than the old one. He sets up my laptop on the odd little table so I can watch all the Netflix I want.
“Now, call me if you need anything, and I’ll come right away.” He lifts a bell from the nightstand that also matches the dark walnut furniture. He rings the bell and I laugh.
“Rest, and I will make us a late lunch.” He walks out, leaving the door open. To hear my bell, I guess. Sinking deep into the mattress, I close my eyes.
“Well, hello there, angel.”
My eyes fly open, and I jerk up in bed, my body protesting at the sudden movement. I gasp for air, my heart racing a million miles a minute. That voice…his face.
The cops had been to question me, but I knew if I told them where I’d been and who had hurt me that Roman would get in trouble. I couldn’t do that to him. Even though I haven’t heard from him since I woke up. No one has.
Hunter told me that they’re out looking for him. I need to get well again so I can look for him too. Would the guy who hit me…would he be back? Does he have Roman?
I let out a loud sob as my heart starts to break for him all over again. Where’s Roman? He needs me. He’s hurting, he has to be, and he’s hiding like a wounded animal would. He needs help. Deep in my chest, I can feel that he needs me.Us.
“Mila? Mila, sweetheart.” Dad runs into the room, his eyes wide and unsure of what to do. His hands hover over me, he doesn’t know how to help me.
I give him a sad smile, tears flowing and my throat tight with worry. “I’m okay, I just worry about Roman. He’s out there all alone; he needs someone, and I’m worried he’s lost. I need to go find him. I will keep him safe.”
Closing my eyes, I put my hands to my face, the edge of the cast smacking my cheekbone which makes me cry harder. Not at the pain, but at the reminder that, while I’m here, Roman could be in real trouble, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
I eventually cry myself to sleep as my dad holds me.
Dad has to help me move around the house, it’s part of the doctors’ orders. Someone needs to be here to help me for at least the first week. And knowing my dad, he is taking that job extra seriously.
The stairs hurt more than I wanted to admit when I got home, so being confined to my room is good enough for me. The only crap thing is Dad has to be there all the time…like, even when I go to do my business, he is right outside the door.
I told him I will call out when I’m done, but he is so worried that he spends the whole time asking me if I’m okay just on the other side of the door.Over and over.
I’m hoping to sneak in there by myself when he goes to work. He needs to go to work. I don’t care what the doctors say, I’m fine on my own for a few hours.
“Do you want some tuna casserole that Ella made?”
I shake my head. That’s one thing Dad has been doing all day—feeding me meals that people have cooked for us. Ella popped over earlier to see how I am and to take requests. I asked for her fish tacos. The way she cooks them, they’re amazing. She said she will have them ready for tomorrow night’s dinner and to expect Grady to be the one here eating them with me, since they are his favorite.
It made me happy to know I would be seeing Grady. He brought a care package over while I was sleeping earlier. It’s full of chocolate and a card with a puppy on it. Inside, it read, “Get well soon, Mimi. Love, your Rebel in red. Go Rebels.”
I chuckled at that. I think Asher might have given everyone the idea that I’m a King supporter now. I did watch the Kings play…and like I said, the Royals were better. But I also watched the highlights of the Rebels game. They didn’t do well missing two of their star players. I could see the frustration on Jace’s face.
