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My momand Romeo walked through the door, and the tears started all over again.
“Hey, sweetheart.” My mom rushed to the side of my bed as Romeo stood back, hands shoved in his pockets, looking like he’d just robbed a bank and was ready to confess. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better,” I croaked.
My gaze moved to my boyfriend, who was just watching me with concern. I answered my mom’s questions the best I could, but everything was jumbled, and my head was pounding.
“We’ve been so worried. You’re going back for surgery, and they said we can come back tomorrow. They’re going to get you all fixed up, Demi.” My mother’s words trembled.
“They said I’ll be good as new in a few days. I’m fine. Do you think you could give me a minute alone with Romeo?”
“Of course. I’ll be back first thing in the morning. I love you, Demi.” She kissed my forehead, and I flinched the slightest bit. Everything hurt. My arm, my head, my face.
“Love you, Mama.”
She left the room, and I turned my attention to the man who was clearly in despair, standing just a few feet from me. “Why are you standing so far away?”
“Jesus, Demi. I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have come into that alley, baby.”
I tried to remember what happened. My head spun as flashes came back to me. “I heard something. Shouting maybe? And I looked out the window. There were guys with masks dressed in all black, and they were attacking you. I don’t remember what happened after that.”
He walked over to me and stroked my hand so gently I barely felt it. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
A tear landed on my hand, and I realized it was coming from him.
He looked—broken.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything.”
“It was a message from Leo. And I dragged you into my shit. And now you’re lying in this bed, and you need surgery to fix your arm. I did this to you.”
The sadness in his eyes made my chest hurt more than it already did.
“I’m going to be fine. I know we’re supposed to leave tomorrow, and I asked Dr. Westman if he could release me early, but he still hasn’t answered me.”
“You’re not going to this fucking fight. I don’t want you anywhere near him. Hell, I don’t even know if you should be near me anymore.” He ran a hand over his face, swiping the moisture from beneath his eyes.
“Don’t say that. I want to be there for you.”
He shook his head. “No fucking way. We’ll talk about it after the fight. But I’m not getting on that plane until I know you’re okay. And I’ll call the whole fucking thing off if I need to. That fucking guy did this to you. To us.”
“You’re not calling anything off. You’ve worked so hard.” My words broke on a sob. “You are not seriously breaking up with me in the hospital, are you?”
“Baby, let’s just make sure you’re okay. That’s all that matters right now.”
“I’m okay. I’m talking to you, aren’t I?” I said, not hiding my irritation. This was ridiculous. He’d been jumped by Leo’s guys, and now he thought he was bad for me?
“You’re going into surgery to put your fucking arm back together. You hit your head hard enough to get knocked unconscious. Your dad doesn’t want me anywhere near the hospital or near you. And I don’t fucking blame him, Demi. My life is messy.”
“So is mine,” I cried, just as my father came rushing into the room, with my mother shouting as she chased after him.
“What the hell is going on in here? Is this your way of helping her? Have you not done enough already?” My father’s voice boomed through the room, and my head was pounding so much that I thought it would explode.
“Stop! This is not his fault, Dad. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” My words were jumbled by my cries, and three nurses came rushing into the room.
“Everyone needs to leave now.” One of the female nurses pointed at the door as she moved beside me and checked the monitors. “We’re taking her back now, and this is not helpful.”
Romeo just stared at me as he stood beside the door. And then he bowed his head and left the room.
