“He’s asleep.” The doctor looks down at Zane. “It will take him a few days to recover completely. But we’re very pleased with his progress. Now you must be patient and give him time to get back on his feet.”
I’m vaguely aware of thin arms coming around me and Audrey telling me it’s going to be okay. Asher is standing behind her, a hand on her shoulder. Erin is hugging Tyler, tears tracking down her cheeks. Dylan is leaning on the doorframe, arms folded over his chest, a grin splitting his face, and Tessa for once isn’t looking at him but at me. She winks and smiles, even though her eyes are too bright.
“You need to get out, please,” the doctors say, and a nurse bustles in to usher us out.
“I’m staying,” I whisper, and when the nurse tries to tell me to go, I say more loudly, “I’m staying.”
One by one everyone drifts out, and the nurse talks to the doctors for a few moments, shooting me annoyed looks.
I don’t care. Not even when she comes back to me and says softly, “He’ll be all right now, girl. You need to rest, too.”
“I want to stay.” I plead with my eyes for her to understand. I can’t leave him alone again, not yet, not now.
“All right.” She sighs and shrugs. “I’ll be in the nurses’ room at the end of the corridor if you need anything.”
She draws the curtains closed and leaves. The door closes, and it’s just me and him again. I walk to the bed and take my usual seat, pull out my drawing pad and pencil, and dash a hand over my face, because my cheeks are wet.
“I’m here,” I say. “It’s me, Dakota, and I’ll be right here until you open your eyes and see me.”
“How is everyone?” I ask, cradling Mom’s cell between my cheek and shoulder as I open the door and step outside. Still haven’t had time to buy a new one. I can’t leave Zane alone.
It’s late afternoon, and the sky is full of colors. I breathe in the fresh air and close my eyes.
“Fine,” Dad mutters. “As well as they can be. When will you be coming, Koty? Aunt Carolina keeps asking for you, and your mom… she’d like you by her side.”
“I know. You think I don’t know? But I can’t. Not yet.”
“Why? You said a friend of yours was hurt?”
“Yeah.” I swallow hard, a lump in my throat.
“Oh, honey…” He’s silent for a moment, and that’s good, because I need the time to pull myself together.
“He’s getting better.”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
I shake my head, although he can’t see it. Don’t know what Zane and I are. Doesn’t matter. “Got to go now, Dad.”
“Okay, Koty. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
I disconnect the call and draw in breath after breath. Zane is mostly asleep, but the few times he’s been awake, he doesn’t seem to see me. It’s scaring me. The doctors aren’t sure what’s wrong.
“Dakota!” The male voice sounds urgent, and I turn on my heel to see Rafe running toward me.
Shit. “What’s going on? Did something happen?” My heart booms.
“No. He’s okay. He’s just…” Rafe bends over panting. “He asked about you.”
“He did?” Hope flares, burning bright. “Is he fully awake now? I’m going to—”
“Dakota, wait.” He tucks his blond hair behind an ear as he straightens. “He’s a bit confused.”
“What do you mean?”
“He thinks…” Rafe frowns. “He thinks you’re dying.”
“What?” I gape at him.
“Are you sick?”
“Sick?”
“He said… He said you have cancer.”
I shake my head, speechless. “I don’t have cancer.”
Rafe looks relieved. “Told you, he’s confused. Doctor said he might be after waking up, and dehydration can do funny things to your head.”
“Maybe he’s mixing me up with his sister.”
“Maybe.” Rafe kicks at a stone. “Dammit.” He sighs. “Go see him before he falls asleep again. I swear I’ve never seen anyone sleep so much in my life.”
I leave him to his musings and rush inside. As I take the by now familiar route to Zane’s room, I consider Rafe’s words. The doctors warned us Zane would be doing a lot of sleeping the first week. Coming out of a coma isn’t easy. I know that. I know it better than anyone. I’ve been there, and I know not everyone comes out of it the same as before.
The thought Zane might not recover completely hurts like a stab wound.
Stop thinking like that. Zane will be okay. He’s strong. God… he has to be okay.
My steps echo as I turn a corner and see his door. I turn the handle and enter his room, then stop to catch my breath. It catches in my throat.
Zane is alone, but that’s not what shocks me.
He’s sitting, his back propped on a mound of pillows, his hands in his lap. He’s wearing a green hospital gown that leaves his arms bare. The oxygen mask is gone. And he’s staring straight ahead, his gaze not even flicking when I walk toward him.
“Zane.” I sit on the bed, and reach for his hand. When I curl my fingers around his, they’re cold and still. “Rafe says you asked for me.” Sort of. “It’s me, Dakota. I’m here.”
His lips move. His brows pinch together. “Dakota,” he whispers, and I almost fall off the bed.
“Yes.” My voice cracks. Hell, my heart almost cracks with joy. “Yes, it’s me.”
His lids twitch, and he lets out a long breath. “Can’t find her. Have to find her.”
“I’m here. Right here.”
“She’s dying. Have to find her—”
“I’m not dying.” What the hell is going on? I squeeze his hand. “I’m not, Zane. I’m fine.”
“She’s dying.” It’s eerie, hearing his scratchy voice repeating these strange, ominous things. “Everyone’s fucking dying.”
“Well, I’m not.” My chest is too tight to breathe. “Look at me, Zane.”
“It’s cancer. Not looking good. Must tell her I know, and it doesn’t matter. Fuck, it doesn’t matter. I’m not leaving her. I’m staying. I’m—”
“Zane!” I grab his face in both my hands and turn it toward me. “I said I’m not dying. I’m not sick. Can you hear me?”
He blinks and frowns. “She can’t die.” His dark eyes shimmer with the sudden sheen of tears. “I love her.”
My heart flips over in my chest. God, he really thinks I’m dying, and… and he loves me?
“I’m not sick,” I say, my voice choked. “Why do you think that I…?”
“I got the message,” he whispers, his frown deepening.
What message? There must be something I can do to snap him out of this daze. I’ve drawn his image, wept for him, talked to him, shaken him, and nothing seems to work.
It’s time for more drastic measures. Crazy measures. I mean, I don’t believe in magic, not really… But I believe in Zane, and that’s why I lean forward, cup his face in my hands and kiss him.
Chapter Fifteen
Zane