I give him a little nod. He should be with Mila.
His scowling face pushes close to mine. “I’ll go, but I’ll be back first thing in the morning. You’re not getting rid of me.” He presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth.
Before he leaves, he winds that stupid music box one more time.
I watch the duck float across the water, missing him and Mila more than anything in the world. But at the same time, my heart aches for the cozy place beyond. I can’t even explain it to him. He would never understand.
The next few days go much the same. He comes every morning and stays until I eventually demand in writing that he go home to Mila.
The nurses have me up and moving, and I feel a lot better, but I’m still so confused. I’m not trying to be a bitch. I just don’t understand what happened to me. I’m not sure I could even form a complete sentence right now if I wanted to.
I mean, I know what happened. Mila’s dad … no, he’s not her dad. Frank … Frank attacked me and Peanut. I force it out of my mind, not wanting to deal with it.
“Please take me back,” I whisper out loud, thinking I’m alone in the room.
“Now we’re talking,” Carver says from behind me. “For fuck’s sake, I was beginning to think you bit your fucking tongue off when you fell down those stairs. I’ll have the nurses come in with the paperwork, and we’ll blow this popsicle stand.”
He leaves and I sit up, rubbing my temples.
Before I really comprehend what’s happening, a pen is being shoved in my hand and I’m signing papers. The nurse ignores the fact that Carver’s hand is wrapped around mine. She turns away from us.
Cole and Carson walk in with a small bag and my purse. “Here’s your clothes, unless you want to walk out of here in that,” Cole says, pointing at my hospital gown.
I ask them where Rage is. There is no way he would let them pick me up from the hospital. They can’t do this. I’m not ready to leave.
“Oh, he’s at home with Mila. He doesn’t know about this,” they say, tossing everything on the bed.
Carver gives the nurse a quick kiss on the cheek before guiding her out of the room. “I’ll come get you when we’re ready,” he tells her.
Carson shoves a t-shirt over my head, and then his brother reaches behind me to quickly untie my gown.
I push them away. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you break out of here,” they say in unison, being as discreet as they can while dressing me.
Carver is making quick work of packing my stuff onto a cart the nurse brought in. “Here’s your purse, my lady,” he says, slipping it over my arm.
“You guys, I’m not ready to leave.”
“The doc says your fine. We wouldn’t be kidnapping you otherwise.”
Carver jets out of the room and comes back with the nurse. Soon after, they’re loading me into the front seat of Cole’s pickup.
“I’ll meet you fuckers over there,” Carver says, tapping the top of the truck. I watch as he jogs across the parking lot to his bike.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we pull out.
“To the Trough.”
I cross my arms over my chest, wincing as he hits a bump in the road. “Why would we go there?”
“Because the best place to unload your troubles is at the bar. Duh,” Cole informs me.
I rub my temples again. This is all happening so fast. “Look at me. You really think I’m ready for a public appearance?”
“You’re upright and breathing. That’s the only requirement,” Carson chimes in from the backseat.
“Barely.”