Page 51 of Linc
“I love you so much, baby.I’ll wait for your call.”It hurts not hearing her say it back.“Just give me a chance to make this right.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything.With a last look, I grab my things and walk out of the room towards the elevator, but not before Tommy catches up with me.
“Stay the hell away from my daughter.”He has my elbow in his grip, stopping my stride.
“That’s not going to happen,Sir.”I yank free from him, then proceed away from him so I don’t punch the shit out of Everly’s dad.
The elevator takes forever but as I walk onto it and turn to punch the ground level button, I watch Tommy stand there with a menacing expression that tells me he’s going to be an obstacle I’m going to have to beat in order to get back to Everly.
Challenged accepted Mr.Bryant.
Everly
Iwatch the door open to my room and see my dad come back in.
“How are you feeling this morning?”He asks.
“About the same I guess,” I respond and then look out the window.
“The doctor seems to think you’ll make a full recovery after physical therapy.”He plates my bagel and spreads out my favorite cream cheese.
“Thanks,” I say as he hands it over to me.“Dr.Brewer said I can go home today after another head scan.”
“That’s good, honey,” he comments after taking a bite out of his own breakfast.I’m not hungry for food, at the moment but I want to get out of here so I know keeping my strength up will help in the healing process.“Do you want to come back home with me for a while?”
“I don’t know,” I shake my head but stop when I feel an ache.
“A change of scenery might do you some good, at least for a week or so.You can veg out on the back porch and read.It seems like you have a lot to think about, from what I gathered between you and that boy’s conversation.”
“He’s not a boy, dad,” I respond.“That does sound nice.I haven’t been to the house in a while.”
Dad lives out in a cabin style house that backs up to a national forest.Saylor and I loved growing up out in nature, getting lost with the trees and the quiet.
The door bursts open and Saylor barrels in with a man hot on her tracks, who stops in the doorway.He looks familiar but with all the medication I’m on, I can’t quite connect the dots.
“Oh Everly!Please don’t ever scare me like that again,” Saylor says as she rushes over to me, careful of all the wires.
“I’m fine,” I say, trying to reassure her.
“They wouldn’t let me see you yesterday at all.What the hell happened?I came to the spa at lunch and it was like a circus.The cops wouldn’t let anyone in or out for hours.Bubba finally told all the staff what happened and I raced here as fast as I could.Glammy has been raising hell, not being allowed to be updated on your condition.I called and called and didn’t hear anything after you were recovering from the surgery.Then they said visitors had to come back in the morning.”
“Yeah, I’d say yesterday was eventful.”I try and joke it off.
“What happened?Why the hell did Linley Lewis snap?I’ve always told you that bitches who don’t eat more than carrots are crazy,” she says again and then I remember the guy that came in standing at the door.
“Who’s that?”I nod over to the door.
Saylor looks over her shoulder then hops off the bed, “Oh, hi Tommy!”Saylor says nervously for some reason.She goes over to him and they both give each other a side hug in greeting.
“How are you, sweetheart?”
“Good, I’m good.”Dad looks over toward the door where the mysterious man is still standing and not moving any closer to coming in.“Have you spoken to my dad lately?”
Dad shakes his head, looking back, giving her his full attention.“It’s been about six months since we last had any communication.He might be out on a job but he might also be underground, laying low.You know how he can disappear for long periods of time, needing to clear his head.”
“That sounds about right,” Saylor scoffs.“He seems to be unplugging longer each time.”She leans in and in a low tone she says, “Do you think you can not mention the guy I’m with?The last thing I need is for Dad to cause a scene or do something before I’ve had the chance to sit him down and talk with him.”
“My lips are sealed, honey,” Dad says, rubbing her back in a comforting way.“Just know that if you need something I’m just a phone call away.You call and I’ll answer, got it?”
