Page 133 of Torn
“What happened, Dad? How bad is he hurt?”
He walks me down the hall to the small waiting area where we can be alone, and hands me a handful of tissues from a box on the table. I dab at my eyes and blow my nose while I wait impatiently for him to answer.
“He’s lucky, it could have been a lot worse. He has a bad concussion, a few broken ribs, a sprained wrist, and a lot of road rash. I’m sure his neck and back are going to be hurting him pretty bad, too. But in the grand scheme of things, he’s very lucky. He’ll just need to rest for a while, his whole body is going to be sore.”
“Concussion?” I repeat, my voice almost shrieking. “He hit his head?”
“Kenzi, it’s not like what happened to Mom. It’s different.”
“How do you know for sure?”
“Because I do. Trust me.”
My mom hit her head, too. And she never woke up again.
He flips his keys around in his hand. “Let’s just go home. I don’t want you this upset. His family is here. Sydni is here. He won’t be alone. He’s resting now and too many people can’t be piling up in his room.”
No. No, no, no. I can’t leave him here without seeing him, and I want to get freakin’ Sydni away from him. She’s not family. She has no right to be kissing him, especially when he’s not even awake.
“How did Sydni find out?” I ask. “Who called her?”
“I guess Tanner did. Why are you obsessing over Sydni?”
“I don’t know. They’re not together, so it seems odd. She should leave.”
He shakes his head. “I have no idea what’s going on between them. That’s none of our business. She hasn’t left his side.”
My jaw grinds. This just isn’t right.I’mhis girlfriend. He lovesme. Not her.
“I want to stay for a little while,” I finally say, forcing my voice to sound as natural as I can. “I’m not going to freak out or faint.”
“Are you sure?” He narrows his eyes at me. “You look pale and you’re not acting like yourself at all.”
I give him a weak, unconvincing smile. “I’m positive. I’ll stay for a little while; then I’ll go to his place to check on the pets. Maybe I should stay there until he gets home?” I know if Tor were awake right now, he would ask me to stay with them.
My father runs his hand through his hair. “That might be a good idea. Sydni is allergic, so she probably won’t want to be there. Check with Tesla to be sure, but it might be easiest for you to stay there for a few days until he’s home. It’ll be one less thing for everyone to worry about. You’ll be okay there alone?”
I nod. “Yes. The pets know me, and I know their routine.”
“All right. Call me in a little while and let me know how he is and what you’re doing. You’ll have to come home to get clothes, so I’ll see you there.”
I don’t tell him that I already have extra clothes at Tor’s house, in my own drawer in his dresser and hanging next to his in his closet. There’s also my makeup. My body wash. All my favorite foods.
We hug goodbye and I watch the nurses stare at him as he walks by the nurse’s station on his way to the elevator. I glare at them until they feel my eyes on them. What kind of thirsty bitches stare at a man in a hospital? Since he grew up here, most people in town don’t go crazy over him being famous, but occasionallythere are people who approach him for an autograph, follow him around, or stare at him. But a hospital isn’t the place to do that.
I decide I’m going to wait in the waiting room until Sydni leaves, and then I’ll go in to see Tor. I’ll hide in here until after hours if I have to, and hopefully the nurses won’t find me and throw me out. I’m prepared to beg if I have to.
I’m immersed in a gossip magazine when suddenly Tesla comes flying into the waiting room, her black high heels clicking on the floor.
“There you are,” she whispers loudly. “You’re lucky I got ahold of this before someone else did, Kenzi.” She holds up Tor’s cell phone and waves it in front of me.
Damn!
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply, my nerves rattling at what she may have read on there.
“You don’t have to play dumb, Kenzi. He told me a few weeks ago what’s going on. I know everything.”
Surprise wafts over me. He didn’t tell me he had talked about us with his sister. I don’t mind at all that he did, but I’m shocked because he’s been so worried someone will find out.