Quinn, Zach, Brink and I sat in the waiting room of the hospital. I had been pacing until Quinn and Zach made me sit. My leg bounced nervously as we waited.
A nurse came over to us. “Are you Mr. Shaw’s family?”
“Yes,” I answered as I stood.
“We’re about to put him into a medically induced coma. You all know that the wreck caused his brain to swell. Well, him getting hit in the head again has caused the swelling to come back. We’re hoping that if we put him into the coma, he will have time to heal.” The nurse looked at me. “We only have time for one to go back to talk to him. Who will it be?”
Zach stood up and pushed on my back. “He’ll want to see you.”
I followed the nurse.
We came into the room, and Elliot’s eyes found mine. He gave me a weak smile. “You here to get me the hell out of here?” he asked quietly.
“I’ll leave you two alone, but only for a moment.” The nurse left the room.
I walked over to him and took his hand in mine.
He squeezed my hand. “I love you, Trouble.”
I placed it on my stomach and tears fell down my cheeks. I felt the baby move and smiled when Elliot’s face lit up. “You shouldn’t have bought me flowers. I shouldn’t have left. I was confused and scared and just felt so undeserving. I want to yell at you so badly right now for walking God-knows-where and not telling anyone you were leaving, but I can’t yell because your head hurts.”
“Baby, I’ll buy you flowers every day for the rest of our lives if it makes you smile. And I shouldn’t have let you leave.” He pulled a chain from around his neck. He slipped it off of his head. “I just needed to think, and then my head started hurting, and everything got foggy.”
I sat down next to him and played with his hair. I kissed his lips softly. “My kiss didn’t mean anything with Logan. It was out of habit, and I’m sorry.”
He held up the chain that had my ring on it. “This is yours.” He smiled, and his eyes started getting heavy.
I took it and kissed him again before he fell asleep.
“Time’s up,” The nurse said as she came back in.
“Can I stay with him a little longer?”
She looked at me then nodded. “Just a little longer.” She gave me a smile then left the room.
I put the chain with the ring on around my neck, then covered Elliot and fixed his pillows. I kissed his forehead, then left the room. I didn’t want to leave at all, but I knew I had no choice. I walked into the waiting room.
Zach stood up. “How is he?”
Brink stood up and put his hand on Zach’s shoulder. “He okay, Little Momma?” He smiled down at me.
I put my hands on my hips. “Stop calling me that.”
I looked at Zach. “He’s okay.”
Quinn hugged me and rubbed my stomach. “I got here as soon as I could. Let’s go get something to eat.”
“Aunt Millie is cooking at home. You girls want to come get some awesome home cooking?” Zach asked, trying to act like he wasn’t worried.
I looked toward the doors that led to Elliot. Quinn rubbed my back. “He’s going to be fine, Sam. Let’s go eat.”
“Okay.” I forced a smile, and we started walking out. I lagged behind with Zach.
We watched Brink and Quinn talk as we waited for an elevator.
“So, are you gonna tell him you had sex with her?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Zach put his arm around me. “Hell, no. Brink would kick my ass. He’s very old school. A lot like Elliot.”
I was a nervous wreck leaving Elliot, but there was nothing we could do for him here.
I smiled. “Maybe you should take notes.” I burst into laughter, thinking about the time Zach and I had almost kissed. It was so awkward, and we were both drunk at one of his college parties. “You are a mess, Zach. Seriously, it’s time to settle down, don’t ya think?”
“Possibly. Especially, with a little munchkin running around.”
When we got outside, Zach’s smile faded as he looked at Logan leaning against his truck. Zach’s fists clenched.
“Stop. He was worried when he saw me leaving with Brink.”
I touched Zach’s arm. “I’ll have him drive me to your house. I have to talk to him.”
Zach looked down at me. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Call me if you need me.”
I nodded at Zach and walked over to Logan after I told Quinn what I was doing.
Brink waved at me as he got on his motorcycle. “See ya soon, Little Momma.” He looked at Quinn. “You want a ride?”
Quinn squealed when she saw the motorcycle. “My dad is gonna hate you!”
I laughed, then got in the truck with Logan.
“I heard what happened from Quinn when I texted her, checking on you. Sorry to just show up like that, but I was worried about you.”
“You cheated on me.”
He put the truck in drive. “What?”
“Take me to Elliot’s, and on the way we can talk.”
“Okay. And what do you mean I cheated on you?”
I looked at him. “Zach told me about the parties and the girls. I’ll be sure to get tested to make sure you didn’t give me some STD. You’re disgusting, Logan.”
He laughed coldly. “And you’re innocent?” He shook his head. “Come on, Sam. I heard about you and Elliot while I was gone.”
“I didn’t sleep with him.”
“No, but you let your heart fall for him, which is no different. You cheated on me, too, just in a different way. You never told me you spent every day with him.”
“At least I can’t get a STD from talking to someone and spending innocent time with them.”
He laughed. “If it was innocent, then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you hated him for no reason! I didn’t think you’d understand, and I didn’t want to fight!”
He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “We’re not fighting. We’re talking about our child, and that’s it. I think it’s obvious that we’re over, so let’s just do what’s best for our child now.”
I nodded and crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Agreed.”
“I’m most likely going to play college ball for Atlanta State. That’s only 27 miles from Stockbridge. What are your plans after our senior year?”
“I will have a baby, and that’s all I know right now.”
“We will have a baby. And I want to at least be friends and help each other through this. My mom and dad invited you to stay with us, so we can help you out. I want to be as involved as I can. I will stay at home while I go to school and plan on being home every night when I’m not away at games. But even then, I’d love for you to travel with me.”
Before I could talk, he started again as he turned to get on the highway.
“I know you and Elliot are serious and plan on getting married, but I need to know what that means for my time with the baby.”
“We aren’t getting married. Not yet.” I played with the ring around my neck. “I care about him and love him, but I don’t know what’s going to happen as far as our relationship goes. I’m not going to live with your parents. I want to get my own place and do this on my own as long as I can. You can come over whenever and maybe I can come stay at your house sometimes. But, I honestly don’t know how to handle all of this. I’m seventeen and still don’t know what I want to go to school for, and now, I have to care for this little human that will rely on me for everything. I’m scared, Logan. But I can’t live with you. Please, understand that.”
He looked sad, but he nodded. “Okay. But, I guess my main question is, will you let me be fully involved in our child’s life?”
I looked out the window and saw we were already at Zach and Elliot’s.
He parked on the side of the road, and I saw Zach waiting for me by his truck.
I looked at Logan and nodded. “Yes. But if you screw up, then I’ will reconsider. And even if Elliot and I aren’t in a relationship, he will also be involved in the child’s life. Understood?”
He hesitated, but finally agreed.
When I got out, Zach smiled a little at me. “You and my little niece or nephew hungry?” He scrunched his eyebrows. “It’s still my niece or nephew, right?”
I laughed. “As long as you behave.”
He held up his right hand. “I will behave for the munchkin.”
I smiled. “You better. And we’re starving.”
I stared at my phone while I ate. I looked at Zach when he opened a beer. “I want him home.”
“Me too. I don’t like this.” Zach admitted.
I smiled when I heard Quinn and Brink laughing from the living room.
“So, what’s Brinks story? Is he a good guy?”
“He’s a great guy. He’s a little odd, but he’s a good guy. He’s a lot like Elliot, but not as shy and reserved.”
I pushed my plate to the side when I was done. “Logan wants to be majorly involved.” I looked at Zach.
He scrunched his nose. “Figured.” He shrugged. “We’ll deal with it.” He looked at me. “Are you worried how Elliot will handle that?”
Brink laughed a little as he came into the kitchen. “Elliot will handle anything. He’s the most mature guy I know.”
“Well, he’s been through a lot,” Zach said before taking a drink.
Brink smiled. “No worries, Little Momma. I’ve never seen Elliot care for anyone as much as he does you. And he’s very jealous about you. He may not show it, but he is. He’s called and vented to me more times than I can count.”
Brink leaned back in his chair. “I wish I had been here through all of this.”
“Well, you’re back now. How was school in England?”
He shrugged. “Fine, just glad I’m finished. My parents agreed I could take a year off before I take the bar exam. Since, I’m one of the youngest to finish law school, they thought I could use some time away. I’m thinking about staying on your couch. I found something here that has peeked my interest.” He winked at Quinn.
Quinn blushed a little. She looked at her phone and cursed. “I have to go home! I promised my mom I’d be home by 11:00 tonight.”
“I’ll take ya.” Brink stood up and pulled out Quinn’s chair.
Quinn looked at me. “Are you coming?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m gonna stay here. Elliot isn’t here to hog the covers.”
Brink laughed, then held his hand out to Quinn. “Do I need to take you back to the hospital to get your car? Or do we just need to get it tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.” Quinn left with Brink.
Aunt Millie picked up their plates and smiled at me. “Are you finished, Sweetie?”
Zach took the plates from Aunt Millie. “I’ll clean up. You have an early flight tomorrow.”
She kissed his cheek. “I wish I could get more time off, but I can’t. I will see what I can do once I get back home.” She smiled at me then hugged me. “I will see you again real soon, Sweetheart.” I watched her leave the kitchen.
Zach cleaned off the plates and put them in the sink. He leaned against it. “You go get some rest, Kiddo.”
“I want to go to the hospital.”
Zach looked at me. “I’ll call and see if you can stay in the room with him.” He smirked a little. “I may have to lie and say you’re his finance or wife to get you in the room.”
“Thanks. And, hopefully, one day I will be, but right now I just need time. I want to make the best decisions for this baby and not rush into anything.”
I went to Elliot’s room and grabbed one of his hoodies and put it on. I was freezing even though it was hot. I adjusted my shorts and slipped on my shoes.
I met Zach in the living room and waited for him to get off the phone. He hung up and handed me Elliot’s art book. “They will put a cot in the room for you. And do me a favor: actually look at the book. From start to finish.”
“I promise.”
“Text me when you get to the hospital.” He went back over to the sink and started cleaning.
I walked to him, and when he stopped to look at me, I hugged him. “Thank you. For everything.”
He hugged me tightly. “I love very few people, kiddo, but you’re one of them.” He kissed the top of my head. “Text or call me if anything changes with my little bro.”
I nodded and left the house.