Page 85 of Taking Care of You
“What time is it?”
Ethan looks down at his watch. “Ten twenty-three.”
I do an inventory of myself. I reach up to my head and find I have gauze wrapped around it, making it feel about twenty pounds heavier than normal. My body feels like a big bruise, hurting everywhere. I look and see I’m covered in all kinds of scrapes and contusions, probably more underneath the gown. It hurts to inhale. The biggest thing is the contraption that’s wrapped around my leg. There are screws that are stuck into these circular things that go through my leg. It's hoisted in the air, looking pitiful. I stare at it, not able to make sense of why this thing is attached to me.
Jerking my head up, the pain sloshes around again, making me hiss and hold my head in my hands.
“What happened?” I ask, my voice sounding scratching and rough. I clear my throat and ask again to make sure he heard me.
Ethan stands on the side of the bed near my good leg and runs a gentle hand down my cheek. He drops his hand to mine, gripping it gently. I squeeze his tightly and look at him with pleading eyes. I need to know why I’m here with metal shit poking through my leg and gauze wrapped around my head like a mummy.
“Dawn tried to run me down.” He’s silent for a minute, but I see his throat moving, swallowing thickly. “You saved my life,” he whispers then breaks down into heavy sobs.
I pull him to me as best I can through my pain and rub his back. Brief flashes come back to me, but nothing I can hold on to. And the harder I try to think about it, the more it hurts my head, so I push it away.
Dawn tried to hit him with a car? What the fuck? I knew she was still feeling some kind of way about us dating, but that’s not something I would have seen coming. I don’t think anyone would have seen it coming. She could have killed Ethan because she couldn’t let go.
That’s something I can think about later. Right now, Ethan is hurting because of something that’s not his fault. It makes my chest ache, so I pull him in closer and he leans against the bed, trying to be gentle with me since I hurt everywhere. By the time Ethan gets himself under control, there’s a light knock on the door.
The doctor and the Kings walk in when Ethan calls for them to enter. Grace’s eyes are red-rimmed and Frank's face is pinched in what looks like of anger and worry. He gives me a brief smile and stands on my other side, squeezing my shoulder. Grace stands beside Frank and starts to straighten the blanket, soft tears running down her face.
After he pulls my chart from the end of the bed, the doctor looks at me and smiles. “Mr. Fisher. I’m Dr. Reynolds. You had a pretty rough accident.” Ethan grips my hand at that, then lets it go a second later. “You have a concussion, three broken ribs, and your leg was broken in three places. It’s a small wonder you’re conscious right now, let alone having normal brain function.”
Grace lets out a sob, and Frank gathers her in his arms. Fucking Dawn. Grace wouldn’t be crying like this, so broken up, if Dawn hadn’t been so…angry.
She smiles shakily at me and says, “Don’t mind me, Koby. It’s you we’re worried about.”
The doctor continues. “Your left leg took most of the impact. I won’t lie, this will be a long road to recovery. You’ll be with us for at least three weeks, with two additional surgeries lined up.” He points to my leg, the one with all the fucking metal and screws attached to it. “This is an external fixator, or an ex-fix. The ex-fix is keeping the plates and screws in place. Once the bone is set enough, we’ll go back in and add more stable plates. Then we’ll work on proper alignment and physical therapy. Any questions?”
Uh, yeah. The biggest question. I try to sit up, but I hiss from the pain in my ribs and the pounding in my head. Ethan helps, using the remote to raise my bed higher. “I don’t have insurance. How much will?—”
Dr. Reynolds cuts me off. “That’s been taken care of. We have you covered from now until after your physical therapy is complete.”
I look at him confused, but he doesn’t explain further. He just walks around and checks the bindings along my ribs and the gauze that’s wrapped around my head. “I’ll have the Ortho doctor give you instructions about the ex-fix.” With that and a few more notes on my chart, he takes his leave.
Grace comes over and Ethan gives her space to stand beside me. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Jakoby. You didn’t deserve this. But I want to thank you for saving my son.” She starts to cry and drops her head to my shoulder, the terrible sounds wracking her body.
I pat her shoulder. “You don’t have to thank me, Grace. I would do anything for him.”
She looks up at me and smiles. “Well, you don’t have to worry about your medical bills or your recovery. We’ve taken care of it, and you’ll be with us until you’re better or go off to college. Whichever comes first.”
I open my mouth, but Frank cuts me off. “I feel like you’re going to argue, but this is nonnegotiable. You saved our son’s life, so nothing will stop us from doing whatever we can for you. Nothing is too much.” I see the tears in his eyes and he blinks them away. “Jakoby, we were so scared you were…we thought you died. You’re like our second son. We don’t want anything to happen to you either.”
“Thanks, Frank,” I whisper.
They offer to stick around and keep us company, but I think it’s hard for Grace, so I tell them I’m tired and they tell me they’lllet me rest. I grab Ethan’s hand, not wanting him to leave. I just don’t want Grace to keep crying because she sees me laid up in this bed, looking like this.
Ethan pulls a chair over and sits heavily in it. He puts his head in his hands and says, “This is my fault. Had I not made you like me or made you my boyfriend, Dawn wouldn’t have been jealous. She wouldn’t have tried to run me over, and you wouldn’t have had to risk your life. Your leg could be ruined because of me.”
My head and side hurts and I want to sleep, but I have to set him straight before I do.
“Ethan,” I say sternly, “you didn’tmakeme like you ormakeme your boyfriend. I already liked you and I’m glad you tried to help me by saying I was your boyfriend. Up until today, I’ve had the best school year ever.” I reach my hand out and he grasps it, holding on for dear life. “This isn’t your fault. It’s Dawn’s. She’s the one that got behind the wheel and tried to hit you. I’d gladly save your life again and again, because I don’t just like you, I love you.” I say all this in as loud a voice as I can muster without making my head hurt. I’m not sure if the words sink in at first, but when I see the tears brimming his eyes, I know they did. And he knows I’m telling him the truth.
He kisses the back of my hand, a few tears falling down his cheeks. “I love you too, creep.”
Sighing, I tighten my grip in his hand. “Can you get up here and hold me? I need…you.” My breath comes out in bursts, and I grit my teeth against the pain.
“Let me get someone in here to get you some meds first, and I will.”
