They both began fussing over him, adjusting his bedding and offering him water, he swatted at their hands with his free arm, his eyes still meeting mine.
I reached for my coat and backed away, still staring at him. He twisted and turned, struggling to keep his eyes on me as I retreated out the door.
I stepped out into the hallway and broke our connection.
Shit.
For the second time within these hospital walls, I turned and fled.
2. Colt
“Hey, this is Quinn; leave me a message after the beep and I’ll get back to you when I can.”
Voicemail again.
This was the third time I’d tried her today and still no answer. I shoved my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and lugged the last box of vodka back into the storeroom. My one day off for the week, and of course, last night’s delivery was delayed, so here I was anyway.
I shut and locked the store room and headed downstairs, flicking the lights off as I went. I needed to swing by and check on Harrison and I was hoping I’d get to see Quinn after that. I hadn’t seen her since New Year’s Eve when she’d left the hospital, and I was craving her.
She was avoiding me. I knew it as well as she did. She was probably trying to end it with me again. She’d been trying for a while now – she’d even managed it once, but I wasn’t too concerned. I knew she liked me, she had come back to me once and she would again. She just needed more time to realize that we were good together.
She had to; I was in love with her.
My brother Mitch had given me endless shit when I’d told him that I loved her. He seemed to think I fell in love with every girl that gave me a second glance.
He was full of it. I’d banged plenty of girls and not fallen in love with them. But in some ways, I guess he was right; I was young, and I’d been in love more times than I could count – I guess I just fell easily.
My phone rang from my pocket and I grinned as I reached for it.
Here she is...
A blocked number was calling me.
Dammit.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hi there, is this Colton Hunt?”
“Speaking,” I replied as I unlocked my car and slid into the driver’s seat.
“It’s Vanessa, a nurse from the hospital. I’m calling to let you know that Harrison is awake.”
I froze. “Is... is he... okay?”
“He’s fine, Mr. Hunt,” she reassured me. “He’s great actually, he’s lucid, drinking plenty of fluids and he’s asking for food.”
I blew out a deep breath.
Thank fuck for that.
“That’s good... that’s... I’ll be right there,” I stammered.
“Well we will see you soon then.”
“Thanks, Vanessa.”
I hung up and started the engine.
“‘I don’t believe in magic.’ The young boy said.
The old man smiled. ‘You will, when you see her.’”
- Atticus
3. Harrison
No one could tell me who she was.
Not one bloody person.
I didn’t know what kind of fucking ship these people were running – letting strangers into an unconscious man’s room without any idea of who they were. This was the kind of shit law suits were made of – and I would know, I dealt with it every day.
“She had green eyes,” I told the nurse in front of me as she worked on making me tube free.
Deep, piercing, green eyes.
“Brown hair.”
Long, dark and silky.
“Tall.”
Banging body.
“Pretty girl.”
Fucking ten out of ten.
“Do you know who she was?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, I’m sorry.”
Useful Katrina, really useful...
I let my head fall back against my pillow.
I’d dreamed of that woman for what felt like forever. Another nurse had informed me that I’d been out for over a week, so that explained why I felt like I’d had so many dreams.
“I called your brother,” she informed me.
“Colt?”
“Yes, sir. He said he’d be over right away.”
“Thank you.”
Colt was a good guy... sheltered as all hell though. He didn’t seem to understand that there was a big wide world outside of his own little life. The bar, his mates and now his precious Quinn were all he ever talked about.
I’d never met the girl, but I was willing to bet that she wouldn’t last long. He always did this, ripped in, all guns blazing and scared them away. He needed to do some serious growing up; he needed to experience something... anything... that was out of his comfort zone.
“Right.” I nodded at her. “So how long do you think it’ll be until I can get out of here?”
She smiled at me in that way people do when they are trying not to be patronizing. “Well now, let’s just let the doctors check you out first, and we’ll go from there.” She clipped my chart back into place at the foot of the bed. “Also, the police have been calling, they need a statement from you, so I’ve let them know you’re awake.
Fuck... the police.
It all came flooding back to me. The girl with the green eyes had made me forget everything else.
The alleyway.
The men.
The betrayal.
The darkness.
***
“I’ve told you already, I don’t know why it happened to me, I guess it was just the wrong place at the wrong time.” I looked the cop straight in his hard, dark eyes, willing him to believe my bullshit story.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve wound up in this joint,” he stated in an accusatory tone.
I shrugged and winced.
Fuck that hurts.
“I box,” I told him, repeating the lie I’d told the hospital staff the last three times I’d been admitted.
It wasn’t a total lie, I actually did box, I’d just never had a beating like this from inside the ring.
“Maybe you ought to give it up; you clearly aren’t very good.” He was goading me, trying to see if my temper would flare up – it wouldn’t.
I laughed. “Yeah... that’s probably not a bad idea.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. The guy wasn’t stupid. He was a good detective and he knew his shit.
“You in some kind of trouble, boy? Cause if you are, we can help—”
He was an older guy, maybe my father’s age, and he was trustworthy, I could tell. But I still wasn’t going to say a word.
“I’m not,” I interrupted. “Like I said, it was just unlucky.”
“Right.” He scrawled something down on a notepad and then shoved it in his back pocket. “I’ll be back in touch, son.” He turned and nodded at his partner who’d stood silently in the corner the entire time; they turned in unison and walked out of my room.
“Why?” I called after him. “I’ve told you what happened.”
He turned back slowly and looked me in the eye. “Yeah,” he drawled. “And I’ll be back when you’re ready to start telling me the truth.”
I didn’t reply.
This wasn’t over. I knew it, he knew it, and Max Barceló had better know it too.
***
I’d been doing my best to make a complete nuisance of myself for the past three hours in the hope that the nursing staff would be as keen to get me out of here as I was, but they were still trying to convince me to stay overnight for observation.
Fuck that.
Colt hadn’t turned up yet either, and I was starting to get pissed off. I needed him to show up and spring me from this joint.
I found my phone charging next to the bed, and I scrolled through to his number.
“Hey, where are you? I’ve got the all clear. Can you come get me or what?”
He muttered a string of curse words. “My fucking car just broke down on the way over, I’m waiting f
or a tow.”
For fuck’s sake.
“I’ll get a cab,” I told him, as I attempted and failed to swing my legs over the side of the bed.
“Don’t be stupid. I’ll get there. I’ll call Quinn for a ride.”
I rolled my eyes.
I think I’d rather take a cab.
I knew I couldn’t. I wasn’t going to be able to get out of here without a babysitter – if they agreed to let me out at all. The doctor had already told me as much. I wasn’t allowed to be on my own for at least forty-eight hours, and I’d probably need help for the next couple of weeks. I wasn’t even an hour into my time and I was already over it.
“Yeah, okay,” I agreed. “Let me know if I need to call Reeve instead.”
I should have called him in the first place. Only my guilt for leaving him shorthanded with our business had stopped me. Reeve would already be run off his feet over there without me, the last thing he needed was to be my private chauffer on top of that.
“I’ve got this.”
I hung up and lay back down on my bed with a groan. I hated feeling restricted like this.
Is it over yet?
4. Quinn
“So, hold up, let me get this straight. You’ve been visiting your boyfriend’s brother at the hospital... without anyone knowing about it—”
“Not my boyfriend,” I interjected.
El snorted. “Yeah, okay... whatever helps you sleep at night.”
I rolled my eyes. I didn’t have the energy to argue with her.
“And then on top of that, he woke up, like properly woke up, and spoke for the first time... to you?”
I hung my head down. “Yip... that’s the one.”
“That’s pretty funny really.” She snickered through the phone. “What did he say?”
“He thought he was dreaming.” I left out his reasons for thinking that.
“He’s going to ask about you, you know that, right?”
“I know.” I groaned. “I don’t know what to do.”
“For God’s sake, Quinn, pick up the damn phone and end things with Colt. You’ve made too many excuses, and now you’ve dug yourself a hole that I’m not sure how you’re going to get out of.”
“Tell me what you really think,” I muttered sarcastically.
“You knew what I’d say... that’s why you called me. Ring him, Q. Meet up with him and tell him you’re done. And if you want more of my advice?”
Yes... no... yes.
I sighed. “I do.”
“Tell him about Harrison. He’s going to find out anyway.”
Fuck it all. She is always right.
I had to do it now. Harrison was awake, and it seemed like he was going to be fine. There was nothing left to hide behind.
I finished up with El and dialed through to Colt.
He answered after only two rings.
“Quinn, hey, I was just about to call you.”
“Hey, look, can we meet up and talk?”
“Definitely.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I’m such a bitch...
“I actually was just about to ring you to ask a favor.”
I sighed. This was already not going to plan. “Um... what is it?”
“Harrison is getting out of the hospital and my car has just broken down... I was kind of hoping you could drive me to get him?”
Oh hell.
“I’m glad he’s doing okay, but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” I replied quickly.
Worst. Idea. Ever.
“I don’t even know him.”
And I think I’m obsessed with him.
“Please, Q, he’s dying to get out of there, and you’re my only option.”
I rubbed my temples and held back a groan.
How do I keep getting myself into these situations?
I knew this was a bad idea. Half of me was demanding I just get it over with, it had to happen sometime. The other half – probably the smarter half, was telling me to run.
I deliberated internally.
“Quinn?”
It’ll be fine.
“Okay. Text me where you are, and I’ll leave in ten.” I tried to convince myself that I’d tell him about visiting Harrison on our way to the hospital.
“Thanks, beautiful.”
I cringed. This was going to be one hell of an afternoon.
***
I pulled up to the curb behind Colt’s car and sat on the horn for a moment so he would know I was here. I was dreading this. I had a ball of nerves in the pit of my stomach that wouldn’t budge.
That was the thing with secrets. They always found a way to come out, usually, right when you needed them to stay quiet the most.
Like, for example, when you’re on your way with the guy you dated, to pick up his brother, who you’re obsessed with, but who doesn’t know who you are or why you were in his hospital room...
Fuck.
I rested my head on the steering wheel and breathed in and out deeply.
How the hell did I get into such a mess?
“Hey, Quinn.”
I jumped and hit my head on the roof of the car.
“Fuck, Colt, you scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry.” He grimaced. “Are you okay, babe?”
He reached for my head, and I instinctively pulled away – he casually pulled back his hand and pretended not to notice my reaction.
“I’m fine.” I gave him a weak smile.
I pulled out from the curb and into traffic. We sat in an awkward silence, the only noise from the keys in his pocket as his knee jiggled up and down nervously.
“Just tell me, Quinn.”
Crap.
I glanced at him out the corner of my eye. “Tell you what?” I replied quietly, giving him a chicken-shit response.
“Tell me what the hell is going on here?” He furrowed his brow. “You don’t call, you don’t want me to touch you... you’re acting weird. If you don’t want to spend time with me anymore, I just want to know.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He groaned in frustration. “So, you don’t want to see me anymore?”
I shook my head and kept my eyes on the road. I felt so guilty; I couldn’t even look at him. But I could feel his eyes on me.
Stop being a pussy...
“I’m sorry, Colt. I just can’t be with you anymore. It’s nothing you did... I just want more—”
“I can give you more,” he interrupted, hope in his voice.
Oh god.
“You can’t.”
We stopped at a light and I turned to look at him.
“I can, Quinn. I want more too.”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
“I know you do.”
“Then if we both want the same thing...?”
I was going to have to break his heart good and proper.
I looked into his eyes. “I don’t want those things with you.”
He huffed out a breath. The expression he wore broke my heart. He looked... defeated.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered again.
He didn’t reply, just went back to jiggling his knee up and down, more forcefully this time.
I drove us to the hospital in a suffocating silence.
I turned the key off and fidgeted awkwardly in my seat. “Colt... I tried to make it clear, you know. I didn’t intend to lead you on, and I’m sorry if I did.”
“You didn’t.”
I glanced over at him in surprise. He was staring at me again.
“You told me how it was, and I chose not to listen. I kept coming back, even when I knew you didn’t want me to. So, I’m sorry.”
Is this really happening?
“I should have been stronger.”
“It’s my fault,” he stated. He snapped out of his trance and unbuckled his seatbelt. “I did it to myself,” he said as he opened the door. “I broke my own heart.” He mumbled it so quietly I was sure I wasn’t meant to hear.<
br />
I jumped from the car and followed after him. “I should go, Colt.”
I’d already hurt him enough, and I still hadn’t even told him about Harrison yet.
He turned back “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. We can be friends, right?” He nodded as though he was trying to convince himself, not me. “Friends do favors for each other, don’t they?”
I nodded. I’d heard this from him before, and I hoped like hell that he wouldn’t be trying to be anything more than a friend to me.
“Okay,” I squeaked, knowing I had no choice but to follow him into the building.
We rode the elevator in silence, the awkward waiting-room music the only sound. It wasn’t until we stopped outside Harrison’s door that he turned back and spoke to me again.
“When you said you wanted more, what did you mean?”
I thought about it for a moment. “I just want to find my person,” I told him quietly.
His expression softened, and he smiled, and for a moment, I thought maybe he understood that there was more than this out there for the both of us.
“I know what you mean.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
Thank god.
“I want you to be my person, Quinn. I’ll show you that I can be yours too.”
He turned away from me and opened the door to the room, leaving me standing completely stunned in the hallway.
What the hell just happened?
5. Harrison
“You should have slept longer, you still look like shit.”
I grinned at Colt, standing in the doorway. I had to admit, it was so good to see him. He looked relieved to see me awake; and I felt a pang of guilt that he might not have been doing too great while I was out.
“I’d still pull a hotter girl than you,” I goaded him.
He laughed, but his eyes flashed with sadness. He was alone too – if I had to take a guess, I’d say that this mystery girl, Quinn, had kicked him to the curb.
“Shit it’s good to see you awake,” he told me genuinely. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, apparently this one isn’t broken after all.” I gestured to my left arm. “But this one is pretty smashed up. They put some metal rods or whatever in there.” I waved my cast at him as he walked into my room. He probably knew all that already, but it was news to me.
Love like Yours Series Box Set: Books 1 - 4 Page 48