Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(94)

“The doctor’s just finishing up with your boyfriend’s surgery,” a sympathetic RN told her as Paige approached. “I bet he’ll be out in a few minutes to update you. ’Kay?”

Paige blew out a breath, not sure if she was relieved she’d get news soon, or scared to death it might not be positive news. “Thanks.” She gulped once more before asking, “Is it okay if I borrow the phone again? I forgot to call my own family the first time and tell them I was okay.”

Pity filled the nurse’s gaze as she nodded. “Yes, today it’s fine. Go ahead, hon.”

Paige slid gratefully behind the counter to the phone. She’d yet to mention it to anyone, but she’d found a hole in her shirt when she’d changed into the borrowed scrubs.

A bullet hole.

Actually, one of the nurses had spotted it. For the longest time, Paige had just stared at it, confused. The nurse had searched her for an injury Paige already knew she didn’t have. The only thing they discovered was a bruise forming on her breastbone. And suddenly, everything became clear.

The round Einstein had fired at Logan must’ve passed through him and caught her. She was unharmed only because she’d been wearing her brother’s thick, metal cross amulet—now dented and the ruby shattered.

After the nurse had confiscated her old clothes to give to the police for evidence and loaned her a pair of scrubs to wear, Paige kept rubbing the necklace with awe.

She fingered it now as she dialed Kayla’s number.

It was a sign, she told herself. Trace had helped protect her, letting her know he wasn’t upset with her, so he must approve of her decision to be with Logan.

At least, that’s what she chose to believe it meant.

The phone barely rang once before Kayla answered with, “Paige?”

Paige closed her eyes. “Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t—”

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” Kayla began to sob. “I thought you were dead. We saw the news on TV, and I called you immediately, but your roommate answered your phone, hysterical, saying you had run off. She didn’t know where you were and was sure something awful had happened. I thought I was never going to see you again. Oh my God, I thought—”

“Kayla. Kayla!” Paige laughed as tears prickled her eyes. “I’m fine. I swear to you, I’m okay.”

“Oh my God, why didn’t you call sooner?”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I just…everything’s been so insane. Logan was shot. I’m at the hospital. He’s been in surgery for hours, and I can’t…I just can’t think straight. I’m sorry.”

“You’re at the hospital? We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” Paige nodded and closed her eyes, relieved to know she’d soon have her best friend in the world with her. Then her eyes opened wide. “Wait. Did you say a few minutes?”

“Yeah. We’re in Granton now. We left as soon as we saw the report on TV. God, this entire town is a chaotic mess. They’re not letting anyone on or off campus, and no one seems to know anything. We’ve been driving around the streets, just looking for you for the past hour.”

Astonished to learn Kayla had jumped into a car to come to her, Paige pressed her hand to her heart. “Who’s we?” she asked, expecting to hear Kayla say her boyfriend or her parents had come with her.

But instead she answered, “Your dad and I. Who else?”

Paige blinked. “My dad?”

“Yeah. He’s busy driving right now, but he says to tell you he loves you and we’ll be there soon.”

A tear dripped down Paige’s cheek as she nodded. “Okay,” she whispered, unable to speak any louder than that. “Hurry.” Knowing that support was on its way made her nearly dizzy with relief. She’d been so preoccupied just holding herself together through most of the day, the thought of not having to do so any longer actually drained her.

“I love you guys.”

“We love you too. See you soon.” When Kayla hung up, Paige stood, frozen in her shoes. When the dial tone blared in her ear, she quickly punched in her dorm room.

Bailey answered as quickly as Kayla had. “Where the hell are you?”

After another five minutes of getting lectured at by Bailey and then Tess for scaring the life out of them, they spent another five minutes telling her how much they loved her and were glad she was safe. If officials weren’t sequestering everyone on campus to their dormitories, she had a feeling her suitemates would be on their way to sit with her at the hospital as well.

By the time she hung up with them, she was a watering pot. She was wiping her soggy cheeks when Logan’s family rushed down the hall. His parents and two brothers skidded to a halt when they spotted her.

Taking in Paige’s wet, red eyes, Mrs. Xander pressed a hand to her heart and hiccupped a sound of agony. “We’re too late.”

“No.” Paige shook her head. “Actually, I don’t know. I haven’t gotten an update yet.”

His mother blew out a breath and nodded, though she looked scared spitless. Logan’s family entire family looked shell-shocked.

Logan’s father went to the nurses’ desk, demanding answers just as the doctor appeared in the hall, striding toward them.

“Logan Xander family?” he asked.