Page 64 of Forever Found

“I’m fine,” I whispered, not even lifting my head to look at him. We were waiting for Eli to return from the X-rays, but even when he did, it wasn’t like we could leave. We had nowhere safe to go. All we could do was wait for Ash, Adam, and Kane to arrive, all of us hoping they’d have a plan for what happened next.

“Yeah, you seem fine,” Jordan said dryly. I didn’t reply, knowing if I did I’d break down and fall apart. Instead I grabbed handfuls of his sweater and clung to him.

We sat in silence then. I don’t know if I just zoned out, lost in my mess of thoughts, or actually dozed off, but I jumped clear outof my skin when the door to the room was thrown open hard, jolting so hard I’d have fallen from Jordan’s lap if he weren’t holding on to me. He instantly moved his body, as if trying to cover me as much as possible, gripping me so hard it actually hurt, and I cried in fear as we both looked to the door.

“Kane!” Jordan snapped when we both locked eyes on him. “Don’t fucking do that. You scared the shit out of Addy!” he released me a little as he sat up, resettling me where I’d been on his lap and holding me more comfortably.

I watched as Asher walked into the room, followed closely by Adam. They closed the door behind them, then just all stood staring at me. Ash and Adam looked worried. Kane just looked pissed and I couldn’t take that, so I hid against Jordan again, turning away from all of them.

“Where’s Eli?” Asher asked.

“They took him for X-rays. He should be back soon,” Jordan said gently as he ran a soothing hand up and down my back.

“Addy,” Adam said. I knew I should turn to him, but I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have that much left in me.

“She’s okay. The doctor said she’s likely in shock,” Jordan explained.

“Eli said she was hurt?” Asher spoke next and I knew he was close behind me because I could smell his aftershave.

“Some cuts from broken glass, and she banged her arm pretty badly. It needs to be iced every few hours,” Jordan went on.

“I’m so sorry I left you, sweetheart. I never would have gone if I thought there was any chance this could happen.” I felt a hand run softly over my hair as Asher spoke.

I turned just enough to look at him and forced a smile. “It wasn’t y-your fault,” I whispered hoarsely. “ and I…I’m alright.”

“Think you can sit with Ash for a while now, princess. I really need to take a leak and grab some coffee?” Jordan asked. I turned to look at him, scared to have him out of my sight, but he had been sat there with me for hours. Of course he needed to move. He was bruised and hurt. He was likely in agony.

“Not alone,” I told him.

“I’ll go with him, angel,” Kane said, and the sound of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. He called me ‘angel’ so easily. I’d missed that so very much.

I turned slightly more and looked to where both he and Adam stood just inside the doorway, both watching me closely. They looked tired and stressed, but it didn’t take a thing from how amazingly handsome they were. Even if I didn’t feel ready to face them, I was relieved to have them there with me, where I knew they were safe, for now at least.

“Thank you,” I whispered as I nodded at Kane, then I looked back to Asher and held out a shaky hand. He took it and helped me as I unfolded myself from Jordan’s arms and got to my feet. Asher wrapped an arm around my waist when I started to waver as soon as I was up, then I was pressed against him as he held me.

“Sorry,” I uttered.

“Jesus, don’t apologize, sweetheart,” he told me emotionally. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I let you down again.”

“You’ve never let me down, Asher. Don’t s-say that,” I told him as I wrapped my arms round his waist and hugged him back.

“She needs to eat something. I’ll see what I can find,” Jordan said. When I looked up he was on his feet behind me, looking anxious and exhausted. “I won’t be long. Call me if you need me, okay?” He leaned in to kiss my cheek after I nodded, then he and Kane left the room.

“Let’s sit down, Addy,” Asher suggested as he led me back to the hard plastic chair I had trapped Jordan in for the last few hours. Asher held on to me until I was seated, then he sat right beside me in another chair, and wrapped his arm around me. I happily leaned into his side, needing the contact to feel safe for the time being.

“Sorry,” I told him, knowing it had to be weird how much I was clutching onto him, huge handfuls of his henley fisted in my hand that I had wrapped around his waist. “I…I don’t know why I’m acting like this.”

“You don’t need to apologize. There’s nothing to be sorry for. I think you’re doing just fine after what happened last night,” he soothed.

I dared to glance up at where Adam still stood in the doorway, just staring at me. I hated the stress and worry I saw on his face and I knew from the way he constantly tapped at his thigh with his hand that he wasn’t doing well.

“You c-can sit down, Adam,” I told him as loudly as I could, hoping he’d hear me. My voice was hoarse and I felt exhausted and just wrung out.

Adam nodded and sat in the last remaining chair, across from Asher and I, but he remained stiff, sitting awkwardly as he looked between the two of us.

“How’s your arm?” he asked as he looked me over again. “Did you get some pain meds?”

“No,” I shook my head. “They offered, but I…I don’t want anything making me sleep…not now.”