“Oh, honey,” she said, setting the papers at the nurses’ station and grabbing his arm. “Don’t you worry about it, okay? I know you’re upset about your friend.”
Cade just looked at her. She had a wide, trusting face, lined with years and years of hard work. “I didn’t mean to,” he said.
“I’m fine!” she said. “Don’t worry! See, I didn’t even drop the papers.” She smiled at him. “And listen, I’m on duty tonight so I’ll look in on your friend myself, but I can promise you he’ll pull through. Okay?”
Cade nodded and gave her a smile. She wouldn’t be so kind to him if she knew the truth.
He walked down, through the emergency entrance. He was parked in the lot closest to the emergency room. The one where they’d tow after four hours.
He wasn’t worried about the towing. His stomach was roiling for another reason.
Cade clicked the lock on his black Lexus. It wasn’t what he’d been driving earlier today, when he’d borrowed his father’s embarrassing monster truck from the garage and taken it out for a spin. His father hadn’t ever actually driven it—he’d won it in a charity auction for some tragically rare disease. It had been tucked away in the back of the garage. No one would even notice it had been moved. Probably.
After all, he had only wanted to scare Mattie. To make him believe someone else had been following him.
But then, he had seen the bike.
The same bike Cade had stolen. The bike that was supposed to still be tucked away in Cade’s garage.
And he had realized that maybe, just maybe, someone was messing with him, too. And he’d gotten a little carried away with frightening Mattie.
So carried away that he had nearly committed murder number two.
He’d yanked the wheel away just in time.
Ivy
Monday, June 29
“How are you really feeling?” Ivy reached between the top and bottom rail and took Mattie’s hand. She squeezed it, very gently, hoping that her hand wasn’t shaking. He didn’t need to see how upset she really was.
Mattie tried to smile at her. “I don’t feel much of anything, now. Maybe just . . . oddly shaped.” He motioned to his head.
“Well, it looks like a giant potato.” Ivy smiled. “So if that’s the look you’re going for, then you’re golden.” She made the okay sign with her free hand.
Mattie laughed. “I’m glad you stayed.”
She smiled. “Yeah, me too. My parents always get super excited when I’m out of the house. If I stayed out all night and partied, they’d probably give me an award.”
“So I’m basically doing you a favor right now.”
The side of Ivy’s mouth pulled up. “Hey, yeah, I forgot to thank you for getting stalked and almost dying. You did me a real solid there.”
Mattie laughed again, and then winced.
“Hey. You okay?” Ivy’s brow furrowed.
He shrugged. “I’m not great. And I’m . . . I’m scared.”
Ivy nodded. “Want honesty?”
Mattie started to nod, then stopped. “Yeah.”
“I’m scared too. And I really, really don’t want to be alone right now. So thanks for staying here with me.”
Mattie motioned at his hospital bed. “Best choice I’ve made all week.”
Ivy smiled at him. Really smiled. And for the first time since she’d started spending time with Garrett, her heart felt warm.
She could see how pretty, popular, party boy Derrick had ended up with Mattie. He was really cute. He was shorter than her—that part sucked—but he was actually, well, kind of hot. His hair was cut into this stylish, shaggy ’do that accentuated his strong jawline. And he had stubble all over his cheeks for once, which was actually pretty attractive.
He’s not even straight, Ivy reminded herself. And he has a boyfriend. Sort of.
Mattie cleared his throat. She was pulled abruptly out of her reverie and realized Mattie was staring at her, too.
“You know,” Ivy said, “other than the whole Mr. Potato Head look you’re currently rocking, you’re really cute. And if Derrick doesn’t realize that, it’s his loss.”
“I always thought so too!” Mattie said.
Ivy laughed. She really liked Mattie. He was a good friend. He was kind. And maybe the concussion had rattled something loose in him, or maybe that was what getting stalked and nearly killed by a stranger did to a person, but he seemed . . . relaxed.
“Everything’s going to be okay, you know,” she whispered.
“I do?” Mattie tried to smile.
“Sure,” Ivy said. At least she wouldn’t be dragged into the police station again. It would be harder now, since her brother had brought her in without her parents’ knowledge and without a real reason or evidence. That was apparently a Big No-No in the police world, even when it was your little sister.
Especially when it was your little sister.
“You think Tyler’s going to narc on us?” Mattie asked.
Ivy shook her head. “No. He’s not like that. Kinley . . . if she hadn’t actually tripped the guy, I’d be worried about her. But no.” Ivy looked down at him. “Mattie, do you have any idea who was following you? Any guesses at all?”