Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(156)

Feeling stiff, sore, tired, and drained, I shuffled over to the wall of windows where people were gathering. Not knowing what to expect, I peeked outside. It was almost lunchtime, and there was a group of people across the street, leaning against a low wall by a parking lot. They looked like they were having a picnic. Fascinating. I was about to ask what the big deal was when I noticed the shirts under their jackets. They were all wearing D-Bags shirts, and the opaque cups they were holding as they stood in a line on the sidewalk weren’t holding beverages, they had small candlesticks inserted through them that gave the cups a cheery glow on this dreary day. My heart swelled at the sight of even more people loving Kellan. He wouldn’t believe this.

I knew the answer, but I had to ask the question anyway. “Are they here for Kellan?”

Deacon smiled as he stared at the growing crowd. “Yes.”

Warmth filled me as I watched this silent vigil for Kellan. I could almost feel the healing, positive energy flowing from them. Kellan needed to see this. He needed to see how much he was cared about, how much he was loved.

“Mrs. Kyle?”

I turned around to see a woman with a stethoscope around her neck standing behind me. She was looking at every person in the waiting room, her face neutral. I didn’t know what that face meant. This wasn’t the doctor who had been with Kellan in the ER. I didn’t know who she was or what she wanted. I’d already filled out the paperwork for both Kellan and myself with the nurse, so she had to be here to tell me about Kellan, about whether he was alive . . . or not. Why couldn’t she smile, give me some ray of hope? My chest felt tight. Breathing was impossible. Stepping toward her, I nodded and raised my hand; it was all I could do.

Approaching me, she calmly said, “Your husband is out of surgery. Everything went well, and he’s recovering in a room upstairs if you’d like to go see him.”

My knees gave way, but Deacon caught me. “He’s fine? You’re sure he’s fine?” I choked out.

The doctor finally smiled. “His spleen ruptured in the accident, which can be very dangerous, but my colleague and I were able to repair the tear and save the organ. He also bruised his hip, fractured a few ribs, and he’ll be sore for a long time, but he was very lucky. I’ve seen much worse. He’ll need to stay here for a few days so we can watch for complications, and then he’ll need lots of rest . . .”

She kept speaking but I didn’t hear a word of it. He was alive.

The assemblage waiting to see Kellan headed upstairs. Once we got to the nurse’s station, a tall woman with her hair pulled back into a tight bun stopped our group. “Who are you here for?” she asked, eyeing our motley crew.

I looked behind me at the various band members and roadies. I could only imagine who the nurse thought we all were. Turning back to her, I spoke in a shaky, excited voice. “I’m here to see my husband, Kellan Kyle.”

A small smile crept into her mouth, and I could tell she recognized his name. “Oh, yes, well he’s still recovering so only one of you—”

I stepped forward, not letting her finish. “I need to see my husband, please.”

She indicated with her head for me to follow her. While we walked down the crisp white halls, the nurse looked me over. “We’ve had a few celebrities over the years, but none quite as big as Kellan Kyle. Half of the girls on the floor are in an absolute tizzy that he’s here. So, you’re really his wife?”

My eyes were frantically scouring the names on all the doors we were passing. Where was he? “Yes,” I told her, only half-listening.

“Oh,” she said, sounding surprised. “All that hoopla with Sienna Sexton must have been really hard on the two of you.”

I looked up at her. She seemed youthful, but the crinkles around her eyes and mouth suggested that she was older than she appeared. The smile she was giving me was full of sympathy. “You have no idea.” I gave her a wry smile.

She held her hand out to me. “My name is Carly. If you need anything, you just let me know.”

I gave her hand a quick shake. “Thank you, I really appreciate that.” I had a feeling I would definitely need her help while we were here.

I knew the minute we were at Kellan’s room. I knew it because a swarm of young nurses were hovering at the open door, glancing inside. The smile on Carly’s face vanished as she scowled at the girls. “If you all have nothing to do, I’m sure I could find something for you.”

Tittering, the girls scampered off. Carly sighed as she indicated his door. “Like I said, we haven’t had anyone quite like Kellan here.”

A nervous laugh escaped me as I stepped into Kellan’s private room. Leaving us alone, Carly closed the door as she left. The lights were low, the shades drawn. It was solemn and quiet. Kellan’s eyes were closed and his head was angled away from me. The top of the bed was elevated some, so he was propped up, and the covers were tucked under his arms. His hands rested at his sides in an almost unnatural way. An IV pierced through the back of his left hand, pumped him full of medication and painkillers. His ring was missing; they must have removed it before the surgery.

Kellan was tall and well-built, but he looked tiny as he lay in the bed. The sight made my eyes sting.

The expression on his face was so peaceful as he slept that I almost wanted to stay where I was so that I didn’t unintentionally disturb him. I couldn’t stay that far away, though. Quiet as a mouse, I walked to his side. He had small cuts on his face, but other than that he looked perfect. He was wearing a hospital gown, the embarrassing kind that ties in the back, and a bag of his belongings was sitting on the nightstand next to the bed.