Page 75 of Perfect Guy
“Yes.” I hop to my feet. “I’ll grab my purse.”
Levi’s hand stops me. I look from where he’s holding my arm to his face.
“Are you sure you want to go?”
“I’m positive. Why wouldn’t I?” My words are clipped, frustration filling me.
“Just want to make sure you’re ready for whatever you’ll find. We don’t know much, but the injuries are serious enough.”
“I’m ready to face anything I need to.” I tug my arm away and run to my room, grabbing my purse.
“I’m outside,” I announce when I’m back downstairs.
The drive to the hospital is eternal. Hallie’s mom calls to ask for an update, but we haven’t heard anything else. I can’t imagine how Canaan’s family is feeling. I close my eyes, willing the ride to pass by faster, feeling the movement of the car lull me to sleep.
“How is he?” I ask as soon as I find Joy. After waking up in the hospital parking lot, I raced through the doors and called Joy to find out exactly where they were.
“No updates yet. We’re waiting for the doctor.” They’re all sitting in a waiting room. Her parents look heartbroken. Brayden seems frustrated, likely because he can’t control the situation.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Collins.”
“Hi, sweetie,” Mrs. Collins smiles, but it’s not natural. She’s a nurse in this hospital, so I thought she’d get more updates than they have.
“Nothing new?” I ask her, forgetting my manners.
She shakes her head sadly.
“All we know from Grayson is that they arrived at the scene of an accident, and Canaan ran out, calling for Joy. His conclusion is that he thought Joy was in the car. From what he learned, the driver had a similar car to Brayden’s.”
My eyes move to Joy, who’s silently crying. Brayden is holding her by his side, whispering into her ear.
“He didn’t have proper gear, and a small explosion hit him. He flew back and landed hard on the asphalt,” Brayden adds, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Hearing the events that occurred makes this more real, more heart-wrenching.
We all take seats and wait quietly. I hate the silence that surrounds us as if it’s doomsday and we’re waiting for our punishment. It’s torture.
I keep scraping the edge of my t-shirt with my thumbnail. I’ve already dug a small hole into it.
The more time that passes the more nervous I become. The wait is eternal until a doctor appears. He only speaks to Canaan’s immediate family, leaving Wilder, Hallie, Brayden, and me behind to wonder what is being said.
“I hope it’s good news.” Brayden scrubs a hand down his face. “The fucker will overcome it. He’s tough as nails.” He looks at me. “He will,” he’s reassuring the two of us.
They had a fallout when they were younger, and things have never been quite the same between Brayden and Canaan. I thought when Joy and Brayden got together, their relationship would improve, and while it did, they’re still not the best friends they used to be.
“He has to,” I whisper.
As soon as Joy and her parents return, I stand.
“He’s sedated but stable. It seems like his mobility wasn’t affected, which was a concern they had since he landed on his back. He broke a few ribs and his left arm. The worst is the brain injury. They won’t know exactly how bad it is until he wakes up, and they can run more tests.” Mr. Collins looks at us, a hint of relief softening his features.
“What are the long-term effects of a brain injury?” I ask the question I’ve been trying to avoid.
“It could be anything from headaches and neck pain to memory loss,” Mrs. Collins frowns.
“Memory loss?” I stare at her.
“Short-term memory loss is more likely. Difficulty remembering daily tasks, like going to the market and not remembering why. There are ways to work through it. A lot depends on what side of the brain the injury is on. Despite his stable condition, there are still a lot of uncertainties and a long road to recovery.”
I nod in understanding. This is the beginning of his healing journey. I’m just grateful to hear he’s stable. I don’t plan on leaving his side, no matter the effects.