Page 58 of Driven By Desire
“Thanks but I think I’ll get myself a fresh cup.” She needed to walk off some of the turmoil inside her. “Message me in case you hear something before I’m back?”
When he nodded, she started to stand only to stop when the doors opened to reveal Krish walking out with the doctor. They stood to one side and continued a hushed conversation that Chirag walked over to join. When Adi groped for her hand, she closed her fingers around his and squeezed in silent reassurance.
After several more minutes of intense conversation, Krish and the doctor shook hands. Max and Adi got to their feet as the doctor peeled off and Chirag and Krish walked over.
“Will she be okay, Bhai?”
The quaver in Adi’s voice had Krish pulling him closer in a reassuring one arm hug. “She has a concussion and needed eight stitches for the wound on her head. She’s also got a possible tear in her ligament in the wrist but on the whole she should be fine. They’re going to keep her under observation for tonight since it’s a head injury.”
“Has she woken up yet?”
Chirag’s quiet question had Krish scrubbing a tired hand across his face. “Briefly. They’re keeping her sedated after that because of the pain.”
“Any idea what happened?”
“Best I can figure she wanted to practice her swimming so she could learn to dive tomorrow. I guess we’ll know more when we get her home.” Patting Adi once on the back, he added, “They’ll be shifting her to a private room soon. I’ll stay the night. You guys should go home and get some sleep.”
He still wasn’t meeting her eyes. The fear was slowly turning to panic. “I’ll stay with you.”
He was already shaking his head before she’d finished making the offer. “No, thank you.”
No, thank you? What the hell was that? What was going on here?
“Okay.” Pasting on a shaky smile, she said, “I’ll bring breakfast and come in the morning. I’ll get dad to whip something up.”
“Don’t.” The quiet word had panic start to bubble inside her.
“Don’t what Krish?” She couldn’t take it anymore. Her voice rose with her anxiety and fear. “Don’t bring breakfast?”
“Don’t come.” Now hewaslooking at her and the flat, dead look in his eyes was something she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.
Panic stilled and an icy numbness spread through her. Knuckles whitening as she slung her purse over her shoulder, she held his gaze. “To the hospital? Or don’t come anywhere near you?”
He didn’t answer. The bloody coward.
“You’re blaming me?” The words would barely make their way past her numb lips.
He still didn’t answer. Aware this wasn’t the time or place for a scene, she muttered her goodbyes to Adi and Chirag, both of whom were looking like they wished themselves to the farthest reaches of the globe, to anywhere but here really.
“I’ll transfer the final payment on the car renovation to you by the end of the week.”
The words struck her like a physical blow to the stomach. Turning to him slowly, she said, “The car’s not done.”
“No, but we are.”
“Just like that?” Pain made it hard to get the words out.
Not a hint of emotion touched those shuttered eyes that watched her. Controlled and remote, he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. If they were out of sight, she wouldn’t know how they shook with the need to reach for her.
“This isn’t your fault. It’s mine.” His words were flat, toneless, a ghost of the man who’d held her, who’d loved her.
“Please.” Bitter, corrosive hurt leaked through and had her flinging hurtful words back at him. “Don’t bury me in platitudes. Either tell me the truth or shut up.”
“You want the truth?” Fury, self-loathing and grief burned his eyes as he took the two steps required to stop in front of her. “You’re the reason I wasn’t with her. You’re the reason I didn’t check to see if she was safely tucked into bed like I always do. You’re the reason she even wanted to learn to dive in the first place. You’re the reason I failed her.”
Every shouted word ripped her heart to shreds. Feeling like she was being buried alive, Max struggled to breath as his anger rained down on her.
“I told you. Repeatedly. I told you that I needed to take my responsibilities seriously and that I needed you to do the same. But as far as you’re concerned, everything is about fun. That’s what you’re all about, Max. Irresponsible, thoughtless fun.”
