To Have It All(14)

Looking down on myself, I wondered if touching my arm would somehow switch us back. Slowly, I reached out and held my hand over my body. If we did switch back, I would be in a coma, trapped in my lifeless body. Is that what I wanted?

“If it happens, that’s what’s meant to be,” I told myself.

With a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes closed, preparing myself, before taking firm hold of my wrist and squeezing.

Nothing happened.

Releasing my grip, I roughly rubbed my face as I let out a groan. This was really happening. I was standing inside another man’s body looking at my body on its death bed.

Rounding the bed, I sat in the chair beside it and leaned in so I was closer.

“Max?” I whispered. “Are you in there, Max?”

I don’t know what I thought would happen. Of course he wouldn’t just sit up and answer me, but I thought maybe the heart monitor would spike, or a finger or toe would twitch in response.

But again, nothing happened.

Resting my head on the bed railing, I let out another growl. “I don’t know why this is happening, Max. I can’t make any sense out of it, and there’s no one I can talk to about it.” Raising my head, I added, “You left me for dead on that street, man. You’re a real asshole, by the way.”

“Uh, excuse me,” someone snapped. Whipping my gaze to the door, I found Helen, looking mad as hell. Her red hair was tied up in a messy knot on top of her head, her eyes had dark circles under them, a tell-tale sign she hadn’t slept in days. “There a reason you’re in here calling my comatose brother an asshole?”

Just the sight of her overwhelmed me, more so than I would’ve thought it would. I hadn’t seen her in so long and my day had been utter hell. All I wanted to do was hug someone I loved. Without thinking I jumped up and rushed to her, grabbing her in a big bear hug. She immediately fought me; squirming, but I squeezed harder. Holding onto her was like trying to bathe a cat. Finally, she grunted and shoved me away. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she raged.

Stumbling back, I got a good look at her, and my jaw dropped. She had the slightest start of a round belly showing. “You’re pregnant, Hel?” I gasped in disbelief.

Her face twisted as she looked at me like I was insane. “Who the hell are you?”

“Who’s the father, Hel?” I continued. My sister hadn’t had a serious boyfriend in years. I go three months without seeing her, and she’s knocked up?

“I’m calling security,” she moved toward the bed and took the patient call phone.

“No, Hel, wait,” I pleaded as I grabbed her arm, trying to stop her. When she whipped around and slammed the phone against my head, I fell back and landed on my ass. “Fuck!” I hissed, holding my injured head. “That hurt, Hel!”

“You touch me again, and I’ll bash your damn skull in with this thing,” she warned as she jabbed at the buttons on the phone. She always was an ornery little thing. She was small, but her strength was mighty. It’s one of the reasons I called her Hel—short for Hell Cat.

“Will you just hear me out please?” I begged. “I promise I’m not a crazy person.”

“Who are you?” she shouted.

“I—” I stopped speaking abruptly because who was I? How did I explain this? Fuck. It was impossible, but I had to find a way. I needed someone to know what had happened.

Scooting away from her to make her feel less threatened, I leaned against the wall. “Okay, Hel,” I began. “I know this is going to be hard to . . . understand, but will you please promise not to freak out and let me say everything?”

Narrowing her eyes at me, she tilted her head. “You his boyfriend?”

“What? No!” I shook my head adamantly. “I’m not gay, geez Hel.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it if you are,” she snapped.

“I know,” I groaned, “but I’m not gay, Hel.”

“Why do you keep calling me that, huh?” she asked, her frustration evident in her tone. “That’s Liam’s nickname for me. I don’t know you.”

“Hel,” I began again. “I know this is hard to believe, but I’m Liam. I’m . . . trapped in this guy’s body,” I pointed to Max’s chest. “I saved his life the other day by pushing him out of the way, and I got hit by the bus. He left me for dead and when I woke up, I . . .” I paused, holding my hands up. I already felt defeated. There was no way in hell she’d believe this. “I was this guy.”

She stared at me blankly, her gaze never leaving mine. Keeping her body still, she reached one arm slowly toward her purse resting on the table next to the hospital bed.

“Real subtle, Hel,” I snorted. “You think I can’t see you reaching for your bag so you can pull that dainty little pistol out? You’d have to shoot me point blank to have any stopping power.”

Her shoulders sagged, and she frowned. “You went through my purse?”

“No,” I snickered. “I just know you’ve carried it with you ever since Grams passed and you found it under her mattress. You better not get caught with that, Hel. They’ll charge you.”

“Liam must have told you about it,” she tested, ignoring my warning.

“I am Liam, Hel. Ask me anything. Anything at all.”