Crave Me (The Good Ol' Boys #4)(32)

Most of all, I wept for the fact that he killed that man for me.

“Happy fifteenth birthday, Daisy.” Echoed in my mind, followed by the blast over and over again.

I don't know how much time went by before I crawled my way into the bathroom and forced myself to look in the mirror. The girl looking back at me was still covered with the man’s blood and remains. I stepped back, pulling off every last piece of clothing. Throwing it right in the garbage where it belonged.

I stepped into the scorching hot shower, wanting and needing it to wash away all of my sins. Pressing my forehead against the tile, I just stood there, watching the stranger’s blood paint the shower floor red and then go down the drain. Taking the last bit of innocence I had with it. I stayed in there until the water was frigid cold, which was a nice change to the burning of my skin.

I put on a tank top and some cotton shorts, grabbed the comforter off my bed and curled up on the floor in the furthest corner of the room. Far away from the door.

Waiting for the knock that I sensed was coming.

Never expecting who was on the other side.





Chapter 9





<>Austin<>



“When is he going to wake up?”

Why can’t I open my eyes? Why can’t I feel my body? Why am I so tired…

“Austin, can you hear me? The doctor says we need to talk to you. That you can hear us, and it will help you come out of your coma.”

Coma? I’m in a coma? Where is Alex? Someone tell me where Alex is? Why am I so tired…

“You look good today, baby. My boy’s got some color again. You’re looking like your old self. Come back to us please. We’re all waiting here for you. Open those bright green eyes.”

Where is Alex? Please, someone tell me where Alex is? I need to know if I killed her. I can’t live if she didn’t. Why am I so tired…

“We’ve seen a significant decrease in the swelling on his brain. The medically-induced coma is doing its job, and like I said before, it’s just a waiting game now.”

My brain? What the f*ck is wrong with my brain? Why can’t I wake up? Open your eyes, Austin! Open your goddamn eyes! Why am I so tired…

“Austin… you need to wake up now, okay? You can’t leave me. I love you. Please… come back to us.”

Half-Pint.

Alex.

She’s alive.

And now…

Now I can finally sleep.

“His eyes! Did you all see that? Oh my God, his eyes are opening. I think he’s waking up! Honey, honey, can you hear me?” Mom asked.

My eyes fluttered open, trying to shake off the haziness of my mind. Blinking away the darkness and welcoming the light that showed me I was alive.

“Water,” I softly murmured. My lips were so chapped it hurt to move them. My throat so dry I could barely swallow.

“Oh, my God! He’s talking! He’s up! Dylan, go get the doctor! What, baby? Say that again.”

I felt her lean down by my face.

“Water,” I whispered into her ear.

I heard the shuffling of feet, but had to shut my eyes again, the lighting in the room was too bright. All I wanted to do was keep them open, but they burned.

“Open your mouth, baby.”

I did and the second I felt the straw on my lips I sucked, drinking it all down in one, long gulp. I couldn’t fight the drowsiness even though the last thing I wanted to do was sleep. I felt like I had been sleeping for years. I heard voices, questions being asked, and felt hands stroke my face, arms, and chest. Before I could give it anymore thought or fight it off any longer…

I passed the f*ck out.

I had no idea how much time had gone by when I woke up next. I felt better but groggy and disoriented as all hell. The doctor, which happened to be Aubrey’s mom, asked me so many damn questions that it made me want to go back to sleep to keep from answering them.

“You’ve suffered severe trauma to your brain, Austin,” her mom reminded.

“No shit?” I sarcastically replied, wanting the hell out of this bed and hospital.

“Austin,” Mom reprimanded.

“You have several broken ribs, burns, and deep cuts on your face and all over your body. Some will heal, but most will scar. You flew out the windshield. They found your body almost seven feet away from the car. God, Austin, you’re lucky to even be alive. If it hadn’t been for the grass and damp dirt from all the storms we’ve been getting lately…there’s no doubt in my mind you would have died.”

My mom bowed her head while my dad took a deep breath.

“We had to operate on your brain to stop the bleeding and put you in a medically-induced coma to reduce the swelling.”

My hand subconsciously went up to the side of my head where I felt the bandage. My hair shaved around it.

“I guess that explains the killer headache,” I said.

“You’ve been in a coma for week. That’s normal. But, Austin, it’s going to take some time for you to heal. We haven’t tested your physical skills yet. There’s a chance that you may need physical therapy. You have several fractures in your back and on your legs. Your motor and mental skills seem to be okay, but that could also change as the days go by. We will be watching you closely for the next few weeks.”