Page 71 of Perfect Guy
“It’s like a family pattern,” she hiccups.
Grady scrunches up his face and looks between us. “She has a point. Can’t we do anything different?” He shakes his head.
“Considering our moms are twins, and we were raised together, this doesn’t even surprise me,” Wilder smirks. “Besides, I’m not trading you in because we’ve got some weird intertwined family.” He hugs Hallie and stares down at her.
“It’s all legal,” Cole jokes.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Joey adds. “Mason Creek is also a small town, so it’s hard not to have situations like this.”
“Three of you are not from here,” I laugh.
“You have a point. I need to stop drinking. I can’t math…or whatever this is.” Joey waves a hand around us.
“You’re cute,” Cole kisses her.
I groan and look away, surrounded by my love-sick family when my own boyfriend isn’t here. It’s like torture as the hours pass.
I switch to water eventually and head to the bathroom for like the millionth time. When I get back, I see Joy crying and rushing out of the bar, Brayden running after her. I find Wilder holding Hallie. When his eyes meet mine, they’re pained. I don’t like what I see reflected in them. Something’s wrong.
“What happened?” I walk up to him and notice Hallie’s crying.
“Hey,” Levi’s by my side, a deep frown on his face, and his eyes are full of concern. Wilder shakes his head.
“What the heck is going on? Hallie, are you okay?” I pat her back. I swear I was in the bathroom for five minutes. Everything was fine before that.
“Shit…” Levi runs a hand through his hair. “Come outside with me.”
“Why?” I look at him, my eyebrows pulling together.
“Just come.” He grabs my arm and leads me out of the bar.
“What’s going on, Levi? You’re scaring me.” My heart pounds. I stop walking and face him.
“Joy just got a call from her parents. There was an accident. The firefighters were called to the scene.” Nausea rises. My heart stops beating. They’re used to getting called to the scene of an accident. It’s what Canaan normally talks about.
“What happened?” I whisper, tears taking over even though I don’t know what the situation is.
“Canaan was there. We’re not sure how, but he was injured.” Levi’s lips press into a straight line.
My world stops, the sound of rushing blood fills my ears. I stare off in the distance as I process his words. I must’ve heard wrong.
“Did you hear me?” Levi bends to look into my eyes. He grabs my shaking hands.
“Injured how?” I whisper, unsure if I want to know the facts.
“I don’t know. They were rushing him to the hospital. I didn’t get much information. Joy ran out of here, understandably, only telling us that much.” Concern is painted on Levi’s face as tears stream down my cheeks.
“I need to see him.” I look around the parking lot in search of what…I’m not sure.
“You can’t. They’re only allowing family until they know for sure what the situation is.”
“I’m going!” I yell, pacing around the parking lot. What car did we come in? I feel wild and trapped like an angry bull locked up in a tiny space. I’m ready to charge and kick off anyone who tries to control me.
“Mads…” He wraps his arms around me. “We can’t go tonight.” His words are apologetic.
“I need to see him.” I cry into his chest. “I need to be there. What if…” I don’t dare finish that train of thought.
“He’ll make it,” Levi whispers empty promises.