Crave Me (The Good Ol' Boys #4)(127)

“Austin is really good at making you believe what you want to see,” I simply stated.

“You!” Austin’s dad yelled over everyone, pointing a finger at me. “Did you do this to my son?! Is he in there because of you?! Why didn’t you tell us?! Who the hell do you think you are to hide something like this?! We’re his parents! We deserved to know what was going on!”

“I know I—”

“We treated you like you were our own, like family. How dare you lie to us?” he added with the same fierce tone.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I wallowed, my heart pounding out of my chest.

I didn’t know what to say to them, which only pissed me off further that Austin never told anyone. The shit-storm was falling all on me. Once again his poor decisions were all my fault.

“Get out,” his dad gritted through clenched teeth, aggressively pointing to the emergency room doors.

“Joseph,” his mom coaxed, looking up at his face and then back at me with sympathy in her eyes.

“You don’t belong here. You never did,” he ordered not paying his wife any mind. “My son is fighting for his life because of you. Now leave before I have you escorted out,” he heaved with anger.

“Me?! How about you?! For always treating Austin like he was never good enough. For being a piece of shit father, and not wanting to accept your son for who he wanted to be. Everyone in this room, including myself, is partially responsible for him being in there,” I honestly spoke, unable to control the truth.

His grimaced. It was quick, but I saw it. “I won’t tell you again. Get the—”

“That’s enough,” Dylan interrupted me, speaking up for the first time since they all arrived.

All eyes were on him, including mine. Realizing quickly that this wasn’t going to end in my favor. I shook my head, turning to leave, defeated.

“I knew,” Dylan declared, making me stop dead in my tracks.

I winced, knowing the truth he was about to share with everyone.

“I’ve always known. He’s been struggling with addiction since the car accident.”

I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath, slowly letting the air escape from my lips.

“Briggs is right. She saved his life more times than any of you could ever possibly know. She deserves to be here more than any of us. I’m sorry, Briggs. I spoke out of anger on the phone. If it wasn’t for you, we would be planning a funeral.”

I spun around to face them once again. Each one of them looked at me. Hatred was replaced with shame and remorse. I was so grateful for Dylan coming to my defense. He could have let them continue to rip me to shreds, but he stepped up, throwing himself under the bus. Aubrey kissed him, pulling him into her arms.

No one spoke after that. No more questions, accusations, anger. We all took a seat awaiting the doctor. They all had someone with them, except me. My someone was lying in a hospital bed, possibly dying.

Even though there was so much to say, it took a backseat.

All we could do now was wait.





Chapter 39





<>Austin<>



I was in ICU for twenty-four hours before they transferred me to the detox unit, where I went through being medically withdrawn from the drugs. If there was anything to be thankful for, it would be for not dying and not having to experience the withdrawals awake. Since I OD’ed and technically died for a split-second, I had to have a sitter with me twenty-four/seven. It was hospital protocol, to make sure I wasn’t suicidal. I was mostly in and out of consciousness for the majority of my stay. They kept me sedated enough to where I barely felt any discomfort, just exhaustion.

I dreamt about Briggs mostly, except she wasn’t how I remembered her.

My girl.

She looked like the woman that now belonged to Esteban. Smiling, laughing, loving him, as if I never existed. Even in my dreams I was still haunted, tormented by the truth of my reality.

By the third day they allowed immediate family to visit with me. My parents were beyond disappointed and furious but relieved that I was still alive. I immediately admitted that I needed help that I couldn’t do this on my own. Realizing for the first time that I couldn’t do it alone. I needed my family, and my friends. The people that loved me, to help in my recovery.

I didn’t want to die, again. That was never my intention in the first place. I just didn’t want to feel pain anymore. Dying once was enough for me to come to terms with the fact that if I continued this lifestyle, I would end up being a part of a goddamn statistic with a sad f*cking story.

My parents set me up with the best rehab facility in North Carolina, my treatment plan was going to be intense and I would be transferred into it in the next few days. It would become my new home for the next six months. My parents didn’t ask many questions, but I knew it was only a matter of time before everything was laid out on the table.

My demons were emerging from the darkness, coming into the light.

Over the last two days, they allowed the boys and Alex to visit. They were on the same page as my parents. I think everyone was just f*cking relieved that I was still here and had a second chance at life. I hadn’t asked for Briggs. I knew now more than ever that she f*cking hated me. My mom told me she was the one that found me and she was the reason I was alive.