Without You (Love Wanted in Texas #1)(88)

As everyone walked to the elevator to head up to the floor where Alex’s room was, Libby grabbed my hand. I peeked down at her, and she smiled at me. My heart instantly felt better from just having Lib here with me. I closed my eyes and waited until the elevator door opened, and we exited.

We walked up to the nurses’ station. A nurse told us that only two people could visit at a time. Colt and I looked at each other.

He nodded his head. “Let’s go,” he whispered.

I looked back at Libby.

She nodded her head and mouthed, It’s okay.

Colt and I stopped at Lex’s door and looked at each other. I glanced back at the door, pushed it in, and walked inside. Colt followed, and he walked directly up to Lex as I held back.

He started crying. “Oh God. Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry…oh God, I’m so sorry.” His body was shaking as he cried harder.

I closed my eyes and opened them again before I walked around the bed, still not looking directly at Lex. When I got to the other side of her, I took a deep breath and looked at her. My heart slammed against my chest, and a feeling I’d never experienced before washed over my body. I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. I was afraid she could hear us. My heart had never beat so fast and so hard in my life.

I looked at her swollen face and swallowed hard. Her right eye was black and blue and three times the normal size. Her lips were busted open. The whole right side of her face was bruised. I put my hand up to my mouth and attempted to hold back the sobs wanting to come out.

Colt looked at me and shook his head. He turned and walked out of the room as I tried to regain some sort of composure.

Thirty seconds later, Libby walked in. She looked at Alex and started crying as she made her way over to me. She turned me to face her, and she wiped away her tears.

Taking in a deep breath, she whispered, “Be strong for her right now. Do you hear me, William Gregory Hayes?”

I quickly nodded my head. I somehow reached deep down inside me and pulled out the strength I needed to settle down. I would be here for Lex.

I’ll be the strength she needs right now.

Taking in a deep breath, I turned back to face Lex.

I took her hand in mine. “Lex, baby, I’m here now. I promise you, Lex, you’re safe. I love you so much. Please wake up for me, baby.”

I needed her to hear the love in my voice. I needed her to come back to me.





“Lex, I love you so much. It’s time to wake up now, baby.”

Will…



“Alex? Baby, please wake up now. Grace brought you Emma. Oh, Alex. Please, honey, wake up.”

Mom…



“Hey, baby girl. Daddy’s here now, Little Bear. You’re all right.”

Daddy…



My face hurt. My body hurt. I just wanted to sleep, but everyone was talking to me.

Will…

I need you, Will.

Someone took my hand.

“Lex, I’m right here.”

Will…

I forced my eyes to open, and the first things I saw were his beautiful blue eyes. I attempted to smile, but my entire face hurt like hell.

“Will…” I said in a raspy voice. “I hurt so bad.”

He nodded his head. “I know, baby. I know.” He leaned over and did something.

“Yes?” a voice answered from what sounded like an intercom right next to my ear.

“She’s awake,” Will said.

“Thank you, Mr. Hayes. I’ll let the doctor on duty and her parents know.”

I looked around. Where am I? What happened?

“Where am I, Will? I just remember needing you. I was so scared, and I needed you.”

His eyes filled with tears. He looked away and then turned back to look at me. “You’re in the hospital, Lex, and I’m here. I’ll always be here for you.”

The nurse came in, took all my vitals, and gave me some medicine.

“The doctor will be in shortly, Ms. Mathews.” She smiled sweetly at me before turning and leaving.

I was about to ask Will something when I heard a door open, and I slowly turned my head to see my mother and father walking in. They both had fake smiles on their faces to hide their fear.

“Oh, Alex…baby, I’m so glad you’re awake.” My mother walked to the side of the bed and took my hand in hers.

I looked over to my father, who was standing next to my mother. “Hey, Little Bear. There’s my girl. I love you, sweetheart, so very much.”

Something was terribly wrong. My father only called me Little Bear when something was wrong or when he was very emotional about something.

“What happened?” I looked at them and then back to Will.

Will peeked over at my father.

“Will?” I asked.

He kept his eyes on my father. Looking back at my father, I saw he was staring at Will. They both had looks of terror on their faces. I glanced over to look at my mother.

My mother swallowed and tried to smile. “Alex, honey, don’t worry. You’re okay. You’re just a little banged up, and they…well, you…” She turned away.

“Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews?”

My parents turned to face a beautiful lady, probably in her mid-twenties, with shoulder-length blonde hair. She stood there, holding a file folder, and I noticed that I was having a hard time seeing. It was almost like I was looking out of only one eye. I reached up, touched my right eye, and let out an inner cry.