Page 107 of Beat around the Bush
“Stabbed in the side. I don’t know how deep,” Lennon answered them.
I was laid down, but all I wanted was to be back in Lennon’s arms. I reached out, my arms heavy, but my hands couldn’t find him.
And then my eyes fell shut, and I found him in my dreams.
40
Oakley
Beeps filled my ears as my eyelids cleared away the haze with each blink. Once the room cleared, I sat up, but instantly regretted it as an ache punched me in my side.
Lennon sat forward from where he was seated beside me and grabbed my hand. His other hand cupped the back of my head gently. “It’s okay, Oak. You’re okay.”
I gently laid back on the hospital bed, looking around the room. “I’m in the hospital?” I remembered Lennon picking me up, but after that, everything got blurry.
He nodded when my eyes found his again. “The knife went in about half an inch. They gave you seven stitches.”
My eyes widened. “Seven?” How bad was I hurt?
He moved his hand from the back of my head, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “They said it should heal quick. We can leave in about twelve hours.”
“How long have I been here already?” Was it even the same day?
“I haven’t been keeping close track of the time, but I’d say about four hours? I think everything just tired you out. You’ve been sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you.”
It seemed everything had taken a lot out of him, too. He looked exhausted, his hair sticking up in every direction, clearly showing he’d been tugging at it.
“You can go home, get some rest-”
His gaze hardened. “I’m not leaving you, Oak.”
I felt terrible that he had to go through all of this. He must have been so scared, not knowing what was going to happen. But if I was being honest, I didn’t want him to leave. Lennon was the only person I wanted right now. He made me feel safe, and after all the pain that JP inflicted, safe was the only thing I wanted to feel at the moment.
“Where’s JP?” I asked.
Lennon studied me for a moment, like he was gauging if he should tell me all the details while I was in the hospital. “They arrested him, but he was pretty banged up, so he’s at the hospital until they can bring him in.”
My hand tightened in his with the fear that he was in the samebuilding as me. “Is he-”
“No,” Lennon said with a shake of his head, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. “He’s at a different hospital. I wouldn’t have let them bring him here, even if they wanted to.” He hesitated, making me worry.
“What is it?”
He shifted. “Leo was there.”
My eyes widened. “Is he okay?”
Lennon inhaled deeply, his brows pulling together slightly. “He was a part of it.”
My mind whirled, my voice catching on itself. “He- What?”
His other hand rested on my thigh, his thumb rubbing gentle circles. “He and JP were friends, I guess. They both had separate agendas, but planned it all together. JP wanted you, and Leo knew I’d come.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s okay. I haven’t really fully processed it either. But what matters is that we’re both okay, and they’re both going to prison for a long, long time. You’re safe.”
Before I could respond, the door to my room creaked open and my body braced, but Lennon gave me a reassuring squeeze. “It’s just the police.”
