When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(17)

He screeches and splutters, rubbing at his eyes. “You fuckin’ bitch!”

Before I can hear any more, I drop the can, pick up my purse, and run out the car into an alley to hide away from him just in case he decides to follow me.

I wait until I hear his tires screech away ten minutes later. I don’t know why I keep falling for these kinds of guys, or perhaps I do. The guy I really want doesn’t want me back.

I want better for myself than someone like my dad and he seemed great at first, but he’s shown his true colors. This also means I can’t hang out with my group of friends anymore because he’s always there, not that any of them will care, they only put up with me because I was his piece of ass.

I shake my head. I have no idea why that memory resurfaced. It’s such an inconsequential part of my past at such a trivial part of Sam’s future that I decide to grow some balls and just go on in there and stop concentrating on what’s going on in my mind.

I grab two sandwiches and two bottles of water from the cafeteria and head in the direction of Cindy’s room again. When I get there, I offer Sam a sandwich but she says she doesn’t want one.

I shrug. “More for me then.”

While I was in the cafeteria, delving into my own memories, the nurses took Cindy off all the drugs keeping her in a coma, so I ask how long it’ll be before she wakes up. She doesn’t know but has been told to press a red button that’s near me. I look to where she’s pointing and the kid inside me starts jumping up and down, wanting to press it. “Is it wrong of me to say that I’m really tempted to press it?”

Sam laughs a genuine laugh which makes me smile. She tells me that she’s glad I’m here and I’m genuinely happy I am too. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here supporting her right now no matter what feelings it drags up for me.

We’re halfway through a conversation about Connor when she grabs her mom’s hand. “Mom? Mom can you hear me? It’s, Sam. Kee, press the button, she’s waking up.”

I don’t know what’s going on, I just do as she says and jump up and slam my hand down on the button, feeling a sense of relief as I do. What can I say? The child within me wasn’t going to quiet down until I pressed it.

The hours after she had woken up were sketchy. The nurse quite quickly discovered that Cindy wasn’t responding to her name properly, so they ordered her more tests. I don’t know how to make any of this better and it sends my brain into turmoil at the thought of not being able to help Sam.

The doctor comes to the conclusion that Sam’s mom has memory loss from the concussion. He said it’s a common side effect and to not worry too much but you can’t say that to someone without them worrying, so that’s what Sam’s doing. She’s in that room with Cindy, worrying. And I’m stood outside, but I can’t wait around like this, there’s too many memories rattling around, so I try to busy myself looking for a decent coffee.

My cell pings as I’m about to sit down at a table in the cafeteria.

Where are you? I’ve brought real coffee.

I scrunch my face up in confusion. Why is Lewis here? I hit reply.

In the cafeteria, you didn’t have to come… again.

I watch my screen for a reply but figuring he’ll just come find me instead, I put it back into my purse and watch the entrance. Two minutes later, he waltzes in with that megawatt grin on his face, carrying a tray of coffees in one hand and a bike helmet in the other.

“Well, who put a million bucks in your pocket?” I chirp.

“Huh?” He retorts, a confused expression on his face.

I shake my head. “Never mind. Bad joke. Anyway, what are you doing here?”

He thumbs over his shoulder. “I can leave and take these coffees with me if that’s what you want?”

I signal for him to pass me one and he chuckles while pulling out the chair opposite me. “How’s Sam?” He asks sincerely.

I shrug my shoulders. “She’s tired, confused, all that good stuff. But I think Cindy’s going to be okay.”

“She has an excellent support system, she’ll be alright,” he says, winking at me.

I can’t work out if he’s talking about Sam or Cindy so I smile and take a mouthful of warm coffee, it tastes like heaven compared to the sludge they serve in here and I audibly moan. I notice Lewis stiffen and I look up into his eyes. He’s studying me with a look I can’t decipher and it makes me shift in my seat.

“So… Are you just here to deliver coffee?” I ask, not being able to come up with anything else on the spot.

He leans forward over the table. “Just here as part of that support system is all, Steely.”

I stiffen. “Don’t call me that.”

He holds up his hands. “Didn’t mean anything by it, was just trying to lighten the mood.”

I narrow my eyes. “Yeah, well it’s Keeley.”

He chuckles lightly. “Oh I know, I just love watching you get riled up.”

I sit back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest and can’t help as my lip quirks up in the corner at his admission. We stay studying each other and I start to feel uncomfortable under his gaze but I daren’t look away. I’m not losing this staring competition.

Finally, he relents and shakes his head.