Matt rose and they collided, huffing and shouting as the sickening thump of blows filled the room. “Stop it!” I screamed. “Stop it, stop!”
I scrambled to my feet and launched myself at the brothers. Between inebriation and the flashing candlelight, I couldn’t see a damn thing. I hit hot muscle and tangled limbs.
“Stop!” I shrieked.
A fist plowed into my face. My head belted back. I heard a wheeze and a crunch like the sound of a broken accordion. White spots exploded before my eyes.
Someone said, “You hit her! You son of a bitch, you hit her!”
Another voice. “You hit her! You fucking hit her!”
I tried to protest, and then the world went black.
Chapter 30
MATT
I sat in the back of the Civic with Hannah on my lap.
“Little bird,” I whispered, “wake up.”
I stroked her hair and cradled her head. Shallow puffs of breath told me she was alive, but the muscles of her face were lax. Her breath hitched as the car went over a bump.
“Slow down,” I spat.
“Fuck you,” Seth said.
He was driving Hannah’s car, the nearest vehicle at our disposal.
The tires squealed as he swung into the ER parking lot.
He leapt out of the car and opened my door.
“Give her to me,” he said, reaching toward us.
“No, I’m taking her in. Get out of my way.” I clutched Hannah’s body.
“You’re wasting time!”
“Go fuck yourself.” I scooted along the seat with Hannah. “You’re going to tell everyone I’m alive anyway. I’m taking her in.”
Seth blocked the open door.
“I’m not saying jack shit about you being alive, Matt. I wish you were dead, all right? Why don’t you fucking die for real and do me a favor? You think I’m going to tell Nate and Uncle and Aunt Ella you’re alive and break their fucking hearts, you stupid shit? You’ve fucked with this family enough. Be dead, if that’s what you fucking want. Give her to me!”
I hugged Hannah’s warm body to my chest and nuzzled my nose into her hair.
Be dead, Seth said. Die for real.
An ambulance blew past us, wailing and flashing.
“Matt, for fuck’s sake!” Seth crawled onto the backseat and clasped Hannah. I let her go.
Seth was going to keep my secret; I could see, even through his rage, that he was telling the truth. And it hurt that he wanted me gone for real, but I deserved it.
I snagged Seth’s wrist as he backed out with Hannah.
Her head lolled over his arm. Her legs dangled.
“What happened … between you two?” I said.
Seth wouldn’t look at me. After this, I knew he wouldn’t speak to me.
“Nothing,” he said. “She’s devoted to you, God knows why.”
He slammed the car door and carried Hannah into the ER.
*
I waited in the car all night. Seth had the keys, and anyway, I didn’t want to go back to the condo. I wanted to wait. I wanted to be there for Hannah.
I curled up on the backseat and shivered as the night cooled.
Around midnight, I broke down and called Mel. I told her where I was—not why—and gave her directions. “Bring blankets,” I said.
“Sure! Of course…”
A tense silence followed, and I was tempted to hang up. I didn’t.
Mel and I had to fix things. I needed her, and what happened earlier—Mel coming on to me—was girlish infatuation fueled by alcohol.
And it felt insignificant now, with Hannah in the ER …
I winced.
Hannah …
“We’re fine,” I said abruptly. “What happened in the car—don’t worry about it. We’re okay, Mel. I can forget about it. Can you?”
“Yes. God, yes, I can. I’ve been kicking myself. Are you angry at me?”
“No, I—” I channeled all my anger into beating my brother. “I’m not angry. I’m cold.”
Melanie showed up twenty minutes later with two fleece blankets from the dollar store.
“What are you doing here?” She sat next to me in the back of Hannah’s Civic. She looked like a child in her fuzzy pajama pants printed with stars.
“Waiting. Thanks.” I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and draped the other over my lap. “Waiting for Hannah. She’s inside with my brother.”