Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I waited what seemed like forever. Every time a flash of light started down the road, I’d grow impatient to see if it was her car. But each one passed right on by. Until finally a set of headlights in the rearview mirror slowed and pulled into the empty spot behind me. But I was disappointed again, finding a Toyota logo on an SUV. Not her.
My shoulders slumped. A minute later, the headlights turned off, and I heard the sound of a door opening and closing. A man had gotten out of the SUV and was heading toward the door of Annalise’s building. At first I thought nothing of it. But then a dog barked, and the guy turned his head, giving me a glimpse of his profile. My heart started to pound. He looked a hell of a lot like Annalise’s stepfather, Matteo.
Rolling down the passenger window, I leaned over and called his name. “Matteo?”
The man turned. It took a few seconds for him to register who I was, but then he started toward me as I stepped out of the car. “Bennett?”
I nodded. “Do you know where Annalise is?”
“The hospital. Her mother, she stay with her. I just come to get some of her things.”
“Hospital?” I felt sick. “What happened?”
Matteo frowned. “You don’t know? She had a very bad car accident.”
Chapter 48
* * *
Annalise
My eyes fluttered open at the commotion. They felt so heavy. Just like my arms and legs.
An alarm I’d been hearing off in the distance started to beep louder. A woman in blue walked up next to me and did something, and the annoying sound silenced. I heard her speak, but it sounded muffled, as if I was underwater and she wasn’t.
“She needs her rest. If you two are going to upset her, I’m going to have security show you both to the door.”
I heard a man’s voice mumble something, or maybe it was more than one man’s voice, I couldn’t be sure. If I could just kick my feet a little bit, I could probably reach the surface and hear better. I tried to kick, but couldn’t get enough momentum going. The woman in blue put her hands on my legs, stopping the little movement I’d managed to muster.
“Shhh. You rest, Miss Annalise. Don’t let these boys upset you. God gave this nurse a mouth and a lot of back to toss visitors out when necessary.”
A nurse. She was a nurse.
I tried to speak, but my mouth was covered. I lifted my arm to grab whatever was blocking it, but couldn’t get it higher than an inch or two off the bed. The nurse moved closer and brought her face close to mine.
She had curly black hair, dark chocolate eyes, and lipstick on her front tooth when she smiled. “You’re in the hospital.” She stroked my hair. “There’s a mask over your mouth so you can breathe easier, and drugs are making you feel sleepy. Do you understand?”
I nodded a little.
She flashed her teeth again, and I stared at the lipstick. Someone should really tell her.
“You have two visitors, Miss Annalise. Your parents, and your friends are here, too. They’re out in the waiting room. Do you want me to tell these boys to let you rest?”
I slanted my eyes to the other side of the bed, and two faces leaned over.
Bennett?
Andrew?
I looked back at the woman and shook my head.
“How about we have them visit with you one at a time?”
I nodded my head.
She spoke to the men and then to me again.
“Do you want Andrew to visit right now?”
I moved my eyes to see his face, then looked back at the nurse and shook my head.
She smiled. “Good. Because the other one looked like he might rip my head off if I made him leave.”
A minute later, Bennett was at my side, his face right where the woman’s had been. He took my hand in his; it was so warm and held my fingers so tight.
“Hey.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. My eyes locked onto his. “There’s my beautiful girl. Are you in pain?”
Pain? I didn’t think so. I couldn’t even feel my toes. I shook my head.
“I spoke to your mom. She said you’re going to be fine. Do you remember the accident?”
I shook my head.
“You had a car accident. There was a storm and a lot of rain, and the merge to the highway made you hydroplane.”
Memories started to come back in flashes. Raining so hard. Hitting the brakes. The bright lights. Headlights. The loud bang. Being jolted from side to side. Andrew.
I tried to lift my hand to take the mask off my face.
Bennett realized what I was attempting to do. “You have to leave it on for now.”
I frowned.
He bent to our joined hands and kissed the top of mine. “I know. Keeping your mouth shut is a challenge for you.” He smirked. “But I have a shitload to say, and I have no idea how long I’m going to get to sit here alone with you, so this kind of works for me.” His face turned serious, and he looked away for a minute before taking a deep breath.