While I Was Away(33)

“Why not? Because you won't?”

“Because it's wrong, not to mention illegal.”

“I don't care.”

“And it won't bring her back,” August added in a quiet voice. They watched as rage washed over River's face, then he shoved August.

“Fuck you! Bring her back? She's already dead to you, isn't she? Well, not to me!”

“I never said she was dead!”

“You sure fucking act like she is! Well, guess what, she's not, she's fucking stuck in a body that won't wake up, and goddammit, if Charlie is fucking around on her while she's fucking dying, then I'm gonna go beat the shit out of him. For me, because it will make me feel better, and if I get arrested, then fucking fine. You can even call the cops on me, Detective Reins,” River snarled, turning his anger on Ocean. “We all know that's your favorite thing, policing us, telling us what to do, so fucking fine.”

“C'mon,” Ocean said, trying to pull River in for a hug. “You wanna take this out on me, fine. Just let it out, little man.”

“Get fucked, you condescending prick.”

River took a swing. Ocean wasn't sure which shocked him more – that his brother wanted to punch him, or that he'd actually tried. Luckily, August had quicker reflexes than both of them and he grabbed River's arm, holding him in check.

“Whoa! You took it to ten real fuckin' fast, man! Calm down!” August demanded.

“You wanna fucking hit me? I've done nothing but help you! Your whole fucking life, I've bailed you – both of you – out of trouble constantly, and this is the thanks I get? Then let's fucking do this,” Ocean growled, stepping up to River.

It was then that August, the youngest – and easily the biggest – of the Reins brothers, got in between them and held out his arms, forcing them apart.

“Jesus, did you both eat testosterone for breakfast?” he shouted. “We get it, Ocean, you're the best big brother ever and we should kiss the ground you walk on. And okay, River, you're upset and scared and don't want anyone to know it, so you're acting pissy. Ocean, let him punch you in the mouth, then you can punch him back, and then maybe you'll both shut the fuck up.”

That pretty much put a stop to everything, and once again, Ocean couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. River laughed as well, and eventually all three of them were laughing till tears were in their eyes.

“I'm sorry,” River finally said as he tried to catch his breath. “I didn't really want to hit you.”

“Like you could've even if you'd really tried,” Ocean joked.

River went to argue, but Ocean grabbed him by the back of his neck and yanked him in for a hug. It was awkward for a moment, then River squeezed him and pounded him on the back.

“Thanks,” he whispered.

“This is SO. SWEET,” August sighed dramatically, then wrapped both of them in a huge bear hug, crushing them together.

“God,” Ocean struggled to breathe. “For the first time, I'm glad Adele can't open her eyes. If she could see us now.”

They all started laughing again, and before they'd even finished, they saw movement. Everyone froze mid-hug and stared at the hospital bed.

Adele's entire body jerked once. Twice. She gasped in air like she'd never taken a breath before, and then she sat bolt upright.

Her wide eyes stared straight at their group, and Ocean held his breath. Nurse Lund had told them coma patients could move. The doctors had warned them that coma patients were capable of all kinds of things. Everyone told them to never ever get their hopes up. So he held his breath alongside his brothers and he waited for her to fall back to bed. Waited for her to close her eyes and never open them again.

But she didn't. Instead, she took another deep breath and opened her mouth.

“What's with all the yelling? I'm trying to sleep.”





19




Charlie Kassen ran through the hospital. He smacked into a nurse at one point, made a halfhearted attempt to help her up, then kept moving.

She's awake. I can't believe it. I'd given up on her.

And the news just got better and better – Mrs. Reins had told him that Adele appeared to be in pretty good health. She was confused, and she had no sense of time, and absolutely no memory of how she'd wound up in the hospital, but she could remember all of them. She could think and speak and express herself in almost the same manner as before the accident.

When he got to her room, it was filled with people. Her entire family and Zoey were there, as well as several doctors and nurses. Charlie managed to push in, annoyed that he had to shove people around just to get in the room.

Then he saw her, and he immediately teared up. Adele, sitting up in bed. Blinking her eyes and looking around. Opening her mouth and talking. They may have broken up right before the accident, and it may have been four months since they'd technically spoken, but she was still someone close to him. Someone he cared about very deeply. Someone he'd begun to think he'd never see again.

“Charlie! Charlie, up here.”

Mrs. Reins appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his hand, dragging him through the crowd. August and River stepped aside, though neither looked at him – he hadn't gotten around to explaining his stupid indiscretion with Tabitha. But now certainly wasn't the time, so he prayed the brothers would leave him alone. They could mess with him any other time, but not today.