Drew’s eyes slowly roam over Ashton, Mia, and then settle on me. “I am now.”
I’m the first to launch myself at him.
I hold on to him, and I’ll be damned if I ever let him go.
Brayden wraps his arms around me and I feel like I can finally breathe again. When I woke up early this morning, alone, my stomach bottomed out. Not because I was attached to tubes and in a hospital room, but because I thought Brayden, Ashton, and Mia were done with me. And I wouldn’t blame them. I pushed them away, was attempting to run when Ashton found me. I don’t remember anything after that, but I imagine Brayden told them I was leaving. Rather than fearing for my condition, I was regretful of what I’d done to them.
Once Brayden releases me, he drops into a chair by my bed. Mia sits down in the chair next to him and trails her fingers up and down my arm while Brayden holds my hand. Ashton plops into a chair on the other side and grabs my other hand. My heart swells as I glance at each of them. Ashton has dark circles under his eyes. Mia’s are puffy. And Brayden looks pale, his own eyes a bit bloodshot. They’ve been worried about me. Because they love me. And I was going to leave them.
“Well, hello again,” Dr. Palmer says, walking in. “Still feeling okay?”
“Better than earlier,” I croak, my voice incredibly hoarse. How could I not be with the three most important people surrounding me?
“As I told you this morning, you had a stroke,” he explains. “I want to ask you some questions now that you can talk. Have you been taking your medication as prescribed?”
When I first woke up and sort of panicked, they took me off the machines and checked my vitals. After a few tests, they gave me some water for my throat since it was scratched from being intubated.
“Yes.” I would never risk my life like that. I saw what it did to my dad.
He nods. “Were you stressed leading up to the time of the stroke?”
Before I can answer, Brayden speaks up. “Yes, he was. We got into a fight.”
I sigh, hating that he’s blaming himself for this. “An argument isn’t going to cause a heart attack,” I tell Brayden, locking eyes with him. “This was not your fault.”
I look at the doctor. “I was under some stress because of personal stuff going on, but the truth is, I felt like something was wrong for a while. I just ignored it, not wanting to deal with it.”
Ashton’s hand squeezes mine at the same time Brayden’s does.
Mia gasps. “Drew! This is your heart. You can’t ignore it when something is wrong. We could’ve lost you.”
My gaze swings over at her glassy eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“In that case, we’re going to up the dosage. Our initial thought was that you were undermedicated, which can happen. We’re going to keep you here one more night and run some tests, but as long as everything looks okay, you can go home tomorrow. Make sure you follow up with your cardiologist and try to avoid stress as much as possible.”
“Thanks, Doc. Will do.”
With a smile and a nod, he excuses himself, leaving the four of us alone. I’m not sure what the hell to say, but I can’t stand the silence, so I speak up.
“Did I miss anything important while I was out?”
Ashton snorts. Brayden growls. Mia giggles.
“I called my dad,” Mia says. “I was hoping he could fix you.” She frowns and I move my hand out of Brayden’s to cup her cheek.
“I know how hard that must’ve been for you.”
“He showed up. Told me he’s divorcing my mom.” She shrugs. “Apologized.” Her eyes meet mine. “Told me you called him.”
Fuck, I should’ve told her. I did it out of anger one night after she cried herself to sleep, not understanding why she’s not enough.
“Thank you,” she says, smiling. “I’ve never had anyone stand up for me until you three.”
“Are you guys okay now?” As much as I despise the man for choosing his bitchy wife over his daughter, I know Mia would love to have a relationship with him.
“No, but I think maybe one day we will be.”
I lean over and kiss her forehead. “I’m glad.”
“Mom and Dad know about Ben,” Brayden says, shocking the hell out of me.
“They know… everything?”
“Yeah, they said he was sick for years. Refused to let me take the blame.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “You were a damn good brother and he died knowing that.”
Brayden nods in agreement.
“My dad kicked Travis’s conniving, psycho ass back to Ohio,” Ashton remarks. “Sasha the sorority bitch is the one who videoed us the night of the Halloween party, then she gave it to Travis, who shared it with the entire campus.”
Ashton clears his throat. “I knew about the video, but I thought I could handle it. I’m sorry.” He drops his gaze, and I squeeze his hand.
“The entire situation sucks,” I tell him. “Don’t blame yourself for that shit. What’s done is done.”
“I’ve brought breakfast,” the nurse announces, walking in with a tray of food. She sets it down. “I’ll be back later to run some tests the doctor ordered. Until then, eat and rest.” She winks at the four of us, and I laugh that she knows about us and seems okay with it.
The rest of the day is spent with us talking about nothing of consequence. I know it’s because none of them want to address the elephant in the room—me leaving—or risk stressing me out. Occasionally I’m wheeled out for tests, and when I return, they’re still there waiting for me.
Molly and Tim stop by to check on me, and so do Curtis and Wendy. When nighttime rolls around, I insist the three of them go home and sleep in an actual bed, but they refuse, Ashton and Mia taking the couch and Brayden crashing on the pull-out reclining chair.
Maybe it’s because I’ve technically been sleeping for days, but hours after they fall asleep, I’m still awake, wondering how the hell I’m going to leave them.
“Home sweet home,” Ashton says as we walk into the apartment. The doctor came by this morning, and after giving me my new prescription, discharged me. Since the three of them all came in Ashton’s car, we piled into it to go home.
Fuck, home. I need to make a new flight reservation. When I asked the doctor if it was okay to fly, and he said yes, I could feel all three of their glares on me, but I ignored them, thanking him.
The first thing I notice when we get inside is the Christmas tree we decorated. Then I remember tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Our first Christmas. Mia walks over and turns it on and it comes to life. Beautiful multicolored lights with big colorful ornaments. She was never allowed to decorate her own tree growing up, so she insisted we pick everything out. My eyes land on the snow angel ornament. The one Brayden picked out in memory of Ben. The snowman, to symbolize our weekend away at the snow resort. The book for Mia. The hockey puck for Bray and me. The M&M for Ashton. Every ornament means something. My heart clenches in my chest. We’ve only been together for a short period of time, but we’ve already created so many memories. Can I do this? Leave all of the memories—and the people I’ve created them with—behind?