Until Cobi (Until Her/Him #7)(4)

“Knock, knock. Can we come in?” I look across the room at a man and woman I don’t know standing just outside my open door. The woman is pretty, with long dark hair, wearing a simple white tank, a long beige cardigan thrown over it, dark jeans, and boots that go up to her knees. I notice she’s holding a large bouquet of flowers and six or more Get Well Soon balloons tied to the vase with different colored ribbons. The man with her is scary hot, with a faux-hawk and tattoos covering almost every inch of his exposed skin. He’s also huge, his tight white shirt and jeans showing off that, even for an older gentleman, he takes care of his body.

“I think you have the wrong room,” I say, when the woman smiles and starts to come closer to my bed where I’m sitting.

“Are you Hadley?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Harmony’s mom Sophie. This guy is Nico, her dad.”

“Oh.” I look between the two of them once more. “Nice to meet you both.”

“You too.” Sophie sets down the flowers she’s holding on my bedside table. When her eyes come back to me, she starts to speak. “I just…. We just want to say thank you for what you did last night.”

Before I can reply, she grabs my upper arms and pulls me in for a hug.

“You’re welcome.” My words are muffled against her top, and I think I hear Nico chuckle.

“How are you feeling?” She leans back to look me over, and my throat starts to feel funny.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? Cobi mentioned you were in a little pain.”

“Cobi?” Why is she mentioning Cobi? When I woke up and saw him asleep in the chair next to my bed, I thought I was imagining things. I didn’t know Cobi in school, but like every other girl, I knew of him. I was a freshman when he was a senior, and he was always the topic of conversation, since he was not only gorgeous, but also nice to everyone, got really good grades, and played football. He was the quarterback of the team three years in a row, and everyone thought he’d play ball in college then go pro one day, because he was that good. Instead of doing what everyone thought he’d do, he joined the military right after high school, and even after he was long gone, people still whispered about him. Some said he was a hotshot sharpshooter. Others said he was in the Special Forces. I don’t know if either of those things were true; what I do know is when I’m in the same room as him, my stomach feels like it’s going to come up the back of my throat and my mind stops working properly, making me act like a complete idiot.

“Harmony and Cobi are cousins,” Sophie says, not knowing my thoughts. “Cobi stopped by to check on Harmony on his way out. He told us you were still here, that you were in some pain, and to make sure you were looked after.”

“Oh.” I look between them. “The nurse gave me some Tylenol not long ago. I’m already feeling better.”

“Good,” Sophie replies softly.

“How is Harmony? I’ve asked about her a few times, but no one has given me any information.”

“She’s awake; she’s okay. She’s been worried about you.”

“Please tell her I’m okay and that I’m glad she is too.”

“I will,” she agrees softly.

I look from her to Nico when he mutters a quiet “Fuck,” then follow his gaze across the room to the television and my crappy old Facebook picture that’s on the screen. “Someone leaked both your names to the media,” he says, looking down at me. “The hospital has promised to find out who did it and deal with them, but as you can see, they’re already running with the story.” He could say that again. “Are you being released today?”

“As far as I know.” I shrug one shoulder ever so slightly. “My doctor came in earlier and said I should be okay to go home, but he hasn’t been back again.”

“Do you have a ride?” I think about Brie and the look on her face earlier. If I don’t call her to pick me up, she will lose her mind and I will never hear the end of it.

“I have a friend who will come pick me up once I’m released.”

“Right,” he mumbles and pulls out his phone. I watch him type something, and then less than ten seconds later, his phone beeps and he looks at me once more. “All set. Once your doctor says you can go, an officer will be here to escort you out to the staff parking lot. You can have your friend pick you up there.”

“Thank you.” My muscles relax—actually, my whole body relaxes at the news that I won’t have to go out front and face the cameras.

“Anytime, and I’m sure Cobi will take care of you. But if you need anything, I’ll give you my number. Don’t be afraid to call.”

“Thanks,” I murmur, ignoring the Cobi taking care of me part, since after today I will hopefully never see him again.

Nico smiles a strange smile, like he knows something I don’t.

“We’re going to go and let you rest,” Sophie says, grabbing my hand and attention. “But when Harmony is up to it, I’d love to have you join us for dinner.”

I study her and her husband then think about what happened last night with Harmony. It’s not a lie when I say, “I’d like that.”

“Good.” She leans over to kiss my cheek then, surprising me, Nico does the same. My throat itches as I watch them leave my room talking quietly and holding hands. I wonder if Harmony knows how lucky she is to have two people who obviously love each other and her; I hope she does. As a child of parents who can barely stand each other and couldn’t care less about me, I know that kind of love is rare.