Page 65 of Lying to the Boss

“Your son was driving the BMW, right?” one of the officers asks, not bothered by the man’s shouting.

“Yes,” the father grits out.

“The traffic cameras show the BMW speeding through a red light and smashing into the Audi. It spun out, hitting another car behind it and then another person rear-ended them. This is a very serious accident.”

“My son is in surgery!” the woman cries. “Have some compassion!”

I glance over, unable to help myself.

The cops share a look and then turn around to head toward the door. I get to my feet when they are near me.

“Was everyone involved sent to the hospital?” I ask quietly.

“Yes,” one officer responds as the other keeps going but stops by the door.

“How did it look?” I ask, desperate for answers.

I’m not sure if he will answer me. He doesn’t have to. But I hope he does.

“We weren’t on scene, but we were told it’s bad. Four out of the five occupants are in surgery right now.”

“The fifth?”

“Not a scratch on her head,” he mutters before walking toward the door to meet his partner.

I sit down, run my hands through my hair, and will Tage to be okay. He has to be okay. He has to.

Too many questions and what ifs go through my head; I’m starting to go crazy. I should have pushed harder about us going to work together today. I should have told him that Blake really doesn’t mind when I have to send him home early. He still gets paid, so what does he care?

What if I had stayed a little bit longer and not rushed out? If he had left even five minutes later?

There are too many. I’m going to drive myself crazy if I don’t do something.

An hour passes. Then another. Still no update. I’m crawling out of my skin.

On the third hour, another couple comes in, looking composed but slightly rattled. They take a seat away from the rest of us and wait. I assume they’re with one of the other people in surgery. They look young, which makes me think the other people involved must be young too. The man looks familiar, but I can’t place who he is or where I know him from. It’s a small and welcome distraction, even if it’s just for a short time. Thinking about anything but Tage dying on that table is helpful.

When we come up on hour five, the door opens again. This time, it’s a doctor who walks in.

“Briar?” he says, looking around the room.

I stand up. But so does the newest couple to walk in.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Tage

A low, rhythmic beeping sound forces its way into my head, making it throb. My eyes are heavy and I can’t open them. Everything hurts. Achy. Sore. I feel like I was hit by a damn bus.

I try to open my eyes, but it’s too hard. I’m too tired. Too weak. What is wrong with me?

Now’s the time I would panic because what the hell? So why aren’t I panicking?

Am I dying? Am I dead?

Everything just goes black again, and then I’m sleeping.

When I wake next, my body feels slightly better, but my head is still throbbing, specifically on the left side above my ear. I still feel so weak and tired though. My eyes are still heavy, but I manage to open them just a little.