Page 97 of Wine & Whiskey
If he was awake, he would protest her conclusion and try to convince her otherwise. She lifts his hand and presses it against her cheek. “The worst part is, through it all, I’ve been too scared to tell you how much I love you. I thought I was keeping you from getting hurt, but that’s exactly what I was doing. And, maybe if I had told you how I feel, you would have remembered me last night and not…”
She swallows down the sob bubbling in her throat and pushes away the memory of Nick dragging her to the floor by her wrists. No. The only thing that matters is him knowing the truth.
Until now, he’s only shown her love with nothing from her in return. He deserves better. He’s going to know how much she loves him. She’ll wear his ring and set a date. And be happy. Make him happy.
Giddiness overtakes her, and she smiles to herself. They’ll have a beautiful wedding. With a huge cake. Maybe a double ceremony with Carrie. She laughs out loud.What am I, twelve?
“I wasn’t expecting to find you laughing in Nick’s hospital room.”
Carrie! She jumps out of her chair and runs to her. Unexpected tears roll down her face. She wants to share her happiness with her best friend, but somehow sadness takes over.Why did he hurt me?
“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t cry. Everything’s going’s to be okay.”
Her best friend holds her until the heaves subside. Carrie steps back and cups her face, her own lined with worry. “You’re exhausted. Why don’t you go home and get some sleep? I’ll stay with Nick.”
Shae shakes her head. Carrie doesn’t understand. There’s too much she has to tell him. “I can’t. I have to be here when he wakes up. I have to tell him I love him and make everything okay. He has to know he deserves love, and I—”
“Whoa, friend. You’ve both been through a lot. I think you need to slow down.”
“But I love him.”
“I know. Give him a chance to be conscious for a day or two before you overwhelm him with your proclamation. Okay?”
She is tired. And scared. Maybe her love isn’t enough. What if it’s too late?
Carrie plops down on the small sofa in the corner of the room and pats the cushion next to her. Shae rests her head on Carrie’s lap as her best friend strokes her hair. Anxiety releases from her body at the gentle touch. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry we left in such a hurry last night.”
“It’s okay. I know you needed to get back to Nick.”
“Yeah, but I was too late.” She rolls up the sleeve to Max’s coat and holds out her arm, purple and blue streaks emerging on the reddened skin. “He hurt me when all I wanted to do was help him.”
“I know.” Carrie’s voice cracks, and she blows out a long breath. “I’m sorry. He’s going to be devastated when he finds out what he did.”
“It was the drugs, not him. He didn’t know what he was doing.”
“That won’t stop him from blaming himself.”
She shudders at the truth of Carrie’s words. Helping Nick overcome his guilt will take everything she has. And then, there’s the other anger issue. “Did you talk to Nathan?”
“Yes.”
The flatness of her voice implies their conversation wasn’t good. “He’s going to make you leave, isn’t he?”
“Rest your eyes. We’ll talk about it later.”
* * *
Unaware she drifted off, Shae blinks a few times, uncertain where she is.
Marta’s smile squelches her rising panic as she sits up. “Should say good morning, but is really afternoon.”
The hospital. She rubs her hand along Max’s jacket before nodding. “Hi. When did you get here?”
“Hour ago. Jacks bring me.”
Marta’s news makes her smile. Maybe it’s a sign of positive things to come. “I’m glad he’s feeling better.”
“Yes. Nick get better and then all is good.”
