Page 64 of Wild for You
I let the realization wash over me. We weren’t even close to Costa Rica. Jack was on a suicide mission in the complete opposite direction.
I close my eyes and thank all my lucky stars because, without Maggie’s rescue, we’d surely have been dead in a week.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Jack
A burningache wakes me from my sleep, and when I open my eyes, I’m lying in a hospital room, surrounded by noisy machines. I make out a hunched-over Sam in the chair next to me before being accosted by the memory of the events that led me here.
My leg is in absolute agony, and I notice an IV thing in my left arm. It’s not like any IV I’ve had before; it’s stiffer somehow, and I can barely move my arm.
I lift the thin white hospital blanket to inspect my wounds. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what I see.
Or what I don’t see, rather.
I let out a shrill scream at the realization, like a frightened child, which, of course, startles Sam awake. His fallen head shoots up, and he stands to his feet, rushing to me.
“Oh, shit, dude. I’m sorry. I tried to stay awake, but you were out for like eighteen hours and—”
“Where the fuck is the rest of my leg!?” I yell as if it’s somehow Sam’s fault.
He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it just as a nurse walks into the room.
“Mr. Manning, I see you’ve finally woken up.” She clicks her pen and makes a note on some paperwork. “By the sound of your screams, I assume you’ve just realized the doctors had to amputate your leg to save your life.”
My heart begins to race even more rapidly at hearing her confirm what my eyes witnessed for themselves. Maybe a part of me didn’t trust my own eyes. After everything I’ve been through, it could have been a hallucination or something.
I reach my aching arm—the one without the tubes—and feel my knee stump to confirm that my leg has indeed been amputated.
My eyes go wide, and I quickly check my second favorite body part and breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, my penis and balls are, in fact, still intact. My leg I can live without, my dick not so much.
“Don’t you have to ask my consent for something like that?” I snap.
“With all due respect, you weren’t exactly in the best place to be making medical decisions that could impact your life.” She scribbles another note. “Besides, your friend here signed the waiver,” she says, gesturing toward Sam.
I snap my eyes to Sam, who’s staring at his feet.
“So you did this to me!”
He holds his hands up in defense. “Whoa, whoa, you were going to die if they didn’t do it.” He looks back to the nurse for backup. “Right? That’s what they said, isn’t it? ‘If we don’t amputate his leg, the infection will spread to his bloodstream, and there’ll be nothing we can do to save him’.” He impersonates the nurse’s accent as if he memorized the exact words, which is such a fucking Sam thing to do.
I don’t know why I’m annoyed with him. I guess I need someone to pin the blame on, and it looks like I’ll be riding Sam’s ass about my leglessness for the rest of my life.
Fuck. The thought of missing a leg hits me like a boulder in the chest, knocking the wind from my lungs. Memories of my active lifestyle—my career—flash before my eyes, and I know everything will change because of this.
“Fuck you, man!” I slit my eyes at Sam, and he shrugs his shoulders.
“I’m going to take a walk and see if I can find some coffee. Maybe you’ll be in a better place by the time I get back.”
“Benjamin would’ve found a way to keep me aliveandsave my leg!” I scream as he leaves the room.
I know I’m acting like a bratty toddler, but shit, you’ve got to warn a guy before cutting his leg off.
“Are you done?” The nurse’s sarcastic voice pulls me back into the moment. “Because I’ve got to check your pic line.” She pulls at the IV bags hanging from the metal rod above my head.
So many different fluids are running through me, and I can’t even begin to imagine the damage they’re trying to repair.
“Ouch!” I scream when she pulls at the tape on my arm, leaving no trace of arm hair behind.
