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“Hey…” Penelope’s hand cups my face, her finger skimming over my cheekbone. “It’s fine. We’re both fine and what happened wasn’t your fault.”
I turn my head to the side, brushing my lips against her palm, but I don’t bother saying anything.
“I’ll go check with your doctors to see when you can leave and make sure everything is set for the conference.” Mom’s gaze moves to Penelope. “It would be good if you both attended, really.”
“No,” I bite out, irritated by her no-nonsense attitude. “Penelope never signed up for this. Leave her out of it.”
Like seriously, now she wants to put Penelope in the spotlight? When it would look good for my image?
Fuck that.
“I don’t mind doing it.”
Of course, she doesn’t because that’s who she is. Kind and with the biggest heart I know. But I wasn’t about to throw her to the wolves once again.
“Well, you can discuss it while I go and make the arrangements.” Turning on the balls of her feet, she goes toward the door. “C’mon Brianna, I need you…”
Her words trail off as they get out into the hallway, and we stay quietly watching after them. My head throbs, matching the pulsing in my arm, so I lean back against the pillow and close my eyes.
“She’s…” Kate’s voice trails off as if she isn’t quite sure how to describe my mother without offending me.
“Something else,” Penelope finishes. Her fingers slide over my cheek. “Are you in pain? We should have probably called the doctor to check on you. You were in surgery last night, for God’s sake! Your arm must be hurting you.”
“I’ll be okay. I just want you.”
“How about we go out and call a nurse for you?” Emmett suggests. “And I can take these two to grab some breakfast?”
Penelope turns toward her family. “You’re not leaving?” she asks, a trace of panic in her voice.
“No way, Little Adams. We’re not going anywhere. I feel like Kate might not be done with her tirade just yet.”
“Damn right I’m not.”
Penelope’s sister tries to put on a strong front, but I can see the worry on her face. They must have stayed up all night to get here in record time. A part of me was jealous but also glad at the same time. Penelope obviously had somebody who loved and cared for her so much they dropped everything so they could be with her.
“Can you be angry at me a little bit later?”
Kate’s face softens as she watches her sister. She lets out a long sigh. “I’m not angry, Penelope. I don’t think I could ever be angry at you. What I am is scared shitless of something happening. Scared of losing you. You’re my baby sister. My family.”
Penelope slips her hand from around me and extends it toward her sister, who takes it. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”
“You better not be.”
After another hug, Emmett and Kate exit the room, leaving us blissfully alone. My gaze falls on the dog sleeping at the bottom of the bed. Okay, not entirely alone.
“How much are you honestly hurting?” Penelope asks, turning toward me, a knowing look on her face.
“I’ll tell you if you tell me,” I shoot right back with a slight smile.
“Liar.”
I don’t get to say anything because the nurse comes in just then. She checks the monitors attached to me, scribbling something down on the pad before handing me some pain meds. I start to refuse them, but Penelope gives me a stern look.
“I know what you’re about to say, but this isn’t a fever, Sebastian. You could get an infection, or God knows what else.”
“I don’t want to go down that path again.”
Not only was my addiction the darkest part of my life and treatment the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it again, and I never wanted her to see me like that.
