Page 68 of Sweet Oblivion

I sighed, my hands clasped. “He knows where I am.”

Hugh’s expression turned befuddled. “Didn’t you hear me? He’s in the hospital.”

I blinked up at him. I’d missed that. In fact, I’d missed everything. “Take me?” I begged.

Hugh nodded, his shoulders relaxing. “There’s the Aya I expected.”

I gripped the side-door handle the whole way to the hospital—the last place I wanted to be. But I needed to see Nash, make sure he was okay. I couldn’t lose him, too.

My stomach flipped. Except I already had.

Something about this entire situation bothered me. I was missing something. Something important.

“Aya?”

I blinked. We were here. I stared up at the hospital building, a sheen of sweat coating my forehead. I didn’t want to go in there, didn’t know if I could handle hearing Nash was dead. When the doctor had told me about my mother, I’d lost it.

Now, once again, I was supposed to walk in there and have my world fall apart? I shook my head wildly.

“No. I can’t. I can’t.” I slammed my fists against my knees. “I can’t.”

“Hey. Hey. It’s okay,” Hugh said. “Look. Cam’s there. He would have called if something bad had happened.”

I quieted a little. Right. Yes. That made sense.

Hugh exited the car and walked around to my side, but I was already out the door, running toward the large glass sliders.

He followed, gasping. “This way.” He pointed as we entered.

I froze again. My mind and body numb. Not the ICU.

I shook my head, my knees turning to water. I went down hard, shaking.

Hugh had already walked through the doors. I hugged my knees to my chest and rocked. I couldn’t go back in there.

“Aya?”

Cam crouched down next to me. I turned in time to catch his grimace, but he stayed on his heels, forearms on his thighs. “You gonna come in and sit with us?”

“I…” I licked my lips. “My mum died.” My voice cracked. “Yesterday morning.”

Cam cursed. “And now you’re back.”

“Is he…” My throat closed.

Cam’s face contorted. “It’s bad.”

“How…”

“Drugs. I don’t know what.”

I whimpered.

“Will…will he…”

Cam sighed. “I don’t know yet. Come on. Let’s get you inside.” He rose with a grunt and offered me his hand.

I wanted to take it. I wanted to go in, but the last time I’d been in there, my mother died. And Nash might, too.

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