Wilted (16 page)

“No, really, I can just get a cab.”

“Nonsense, I’ll take you. Let’s go.”

Too frazzled to argue with him, I nod and follow him out of the restaurant. The valet pulls his car up to the front of the restaurant and Evan helps me inside before rushing to the driver’s side. Honking his horn, he weaves his Ferrari in and out of traffic. The way he shifts gears and drives makes me wonder if he is some sort of race car driver on the side. In no time, he’s pulling into the emergency entrance.

“Do you need me to stay with you?”

“No, I got it from here. Can you please tell them at work I won’t be in for the rest of the day?”

“Of course. Keep me posted on your friend. I hope everything goes okay.”

“Thanks,” I yell over my shoulder as I run through the entrance doors.

I hate fucking hospitals. Let’s face it. I’m sure no one loves them. I’ve just had my share of scary experiences with them when it comes to my best friend. Between the fatal wreck that killed her parents and the time she’d been beaten nearly to death by her uncle, this girl has fucking scared the hell out of me enough times.

As I scan the waiting room for Lucas, I come up empty. Surely, he brought her here. It’s the closest hospital to where we live. Rushing to the nurses’ station, I pray she can tell me something.

“Miss? My best friend, Skylar Rose, was just brought in. Can I see her?”

The older lady types on her computer and then shakes her head at me.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’ll have to wait in the waiting room. Only one person is allowed back with her at a time. Right now, she has a family member with her.”

A family member?
I am her family. They must be talking about Lucas. I guess he lied his way to stay back there with her.

“Can you at least tell them that I’m here?”

“No, I’m afraid not. You’ll just have to wait over there until someone comes out.”

“Fuck!” I snarl, ignoring the woman’s shocked expression.

Walking over to an empty seat near the window, I slump down into it. I hate fucking waiting. I try texting Lucas to let him know I’m here, but I can’t get enough signal in the building to send it.

“Excuse me, Miss. You can’t have cell phones in here. It’s hospital policy,” the woman warns.

“I don’t give a damn about hospital policy! My best friend is here and I’m trying to find out if she’s all right.”

“I understand, but—”

I don’t even let her finish her sentence. I’m pissed and scared out of my mind. She’s picked the wrong time to scold me. I am just about to let her have it when I see Lucas come through the doors into the waiting area. Shoving the old battle ax aside, I run to him.

“How is she?” I ask frantically. “I should have taken her to the doctor yesterday. She was sleeping when I left this morning and I didn’t want to bother her.” Guilt rushes over me more and more by the second. I’m an awful friend. I should have thrown her ass in my car and taken her kicking and screaming.

Lucas wraps his arms around me in an effort to comfort me.

“She’s stubborn, Kylie. You know that. Don’t worry, she’s going to be fine.”

Once she is admitted to a room, the nurse brings us up to see her. She still hasn’t woken up yet and they are having trouble bringing her fever down. The nurse informs us that the doctor is still waiting on a few test results and we should know more when he makes his rounds later in the evening.

“Someone needs to call Sophie,” I say, breaking the awkward silence. Lucas is so entranced by watching her sleep that I’m surprised he even hears me.

“I’ll call her,” he replies, kissing Skylar on the forehead and walking out the door. When he leaves, I make my way closer to the bed, pulling a chair with me. I brush the hair away from her face, frowning when I feel how warm she is.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t make you go to the doctor. Please, get better.” I beg as my eyes tear up. Sitting beside her, I continue to stroke her hair.

“You know, I’ve always envied your hair. When I was younger, I used to wish every night that I’d wake up and mine would be beautiful and shiny just like yours. It’s a good thing you’re asleep right now because I’d never admit that otherwise.”

For a few more minutes, I play with her hair, lost in thought. Suddenly her face moves and she opens her eyes. Turning her head away, she goes into another long, vicious coughing spell.

“Hey, there. How’s my favorite bitch feeling?”

She can’t help but laugh at my words, but then begins another coughing episode. Immediately, I feel guilty for joking with her.

“How does she look like she’s feeling?”

“She looks like fucking hell, but that isn’t anything I can’t fix.” I say, winking at her.

“I don’t care how I look, Kylie, so put away the makeover ideas. I’m hopeless.”

“What if you have a hot visitor or a doctor walk in? Do you really want them to see you like this? Better yet, do
I
want them to see you like this?” I tease.

“I must be pretty sick. I even imagined Lucas was here. That tells you how high my fever must have gotten.”

Shit! How do I respond to this?

“Um… nope. Actually, that isn’t your fever. He is here.”

“What? Why?” she says, trying to sit up in the bed. Overtaken by weakness, she crashes back against her pillow.

“He said he’s out here on business, but I suspect he just wants to see you. You’ve been hiding away for long enough, you know? It’s time.”

“Kylie, you know I can’t. I’m not ready.”

“Look here, hussy, I—”

The door opens behind me and I hear a man clear his voice.

“Ms. Rose? I’m Dr. Wilson.” The white-haired doctor smiles.

“It seems you gave everyone quite the scare.” Shuffling the file in his hand, he hesitates. “Do we need to wait on your husband?”

Skylar’s eyes almost pop out of her head as she looks to me in astonishment.

“No, he isn’t my husband. He’s just a friend from out of town.”

“Well, first of all, Ms. Rose, you’re extremely dehydrated and we’re pushing fluids in you to help remedy that.” Dr. Wilson nods and continues. “I’m afraid that your scans also indicate that you have a rather nasty case of pneumonia so we’ll be adding some antibiotics to your IV.” Pulling off his glasses, he brings the tip of the earpiece to his mouth and begins chewing on it as if in deep thought. “I’m afraid this fever of yours is what concerns me the most, right now. We need to keep it below 100 degrees, if at all possible, considering your condition.”

“What do you mean condition, doctor? I think having pneumonia is a good reason to run a temperature,” I add, looking back at Skylar.

“Ms. Rose, your blood work indicates that you’re pregnant.”

Pregnant? Did he seriously just say that? Holy fucking shit!

“What?” she whispers in disbelief, but I’m right here, grabbing her hand and squeezing it to let her know I’m here. She lays her head back against her pillow and turns to look away from us. I know my best friend all too well. She’s trying to hide her tears. I see a shadow in the doorway and turn to see Lucas standing there with fear and hurt all over his face.

“Lucas,” Skylar says softly, but he doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns and walks out the door.

Fucking bastard.

“LUCAS!” she screams, letting go of my hand and pushing up on the bed. “LUCAS, NO!”

“Honey, you’re going to have to calm down.” Dr. Wilson tries to quiet her.

“I’ll go look for him. Calm down, okay?” I reassure her.

I’m so fucking pissed that I storm out of the room and run down the hall in search for him. He’s nowhere to be found. I check a few places and even walk outside, thinking that maybe he just needed some fresh air. I try calling him, but it’s no use. It goes straight to voice mail

“Listen here, you motherfucker, I know you love her. You can’t just walk out on her now. She needs you. Get your ass back here!” I scream into the phone.

Skylar is still visibly upset when I return to the room. Her eyes look around, hoping to see Lucas.

A lady pushing some sort of cart comes in the door behind me. When I see the ultrasound equipment, I’m shocked.

Is this really happening? Is my best friend really going to have a baby?

I’ve seen Skylar scared before, but nothing like this. She grabs my hand and holds it for dear life as the technician raises her hospital gown and asks her to spread her legs open for the ultrasound wand. The thing looks like a fucking dildo and there she is putting a damn condom on it.

Um… what the hell is going on? OMG! She is seriously gonna stick that thing up her! Shit!

“There it is. Can you see it?” the technician asks as she points to the image on the screen.

“I see it! Look!” I shout. Within seconds, we gasp together. A thumping sound comes through the machine in perfect time with a little, flickering speck on the screen. I’m so amazed I can’t speak. This tiny little dot is an actual live baby, with an actual beating heart. I just can’t believe my eyes.

Skylar can’t stop staring at the screen. Her hand trembles just as much as her lip. Tears fill her beautiful eyes. This may be a shock, but it is a beautiful moment to witness. I just wish it were under happier circumstances for her.

Before she leaves the room, the technician prints out a long strip of pictures for her to have. Skylar clings to them, laying them against her chest. It’s as if she is too afraid to let them go, for fear this is all unreal. I know it sure feels that way to me. Unfolding them again, she traces the image with her fingertips. No one has spoken. It’s just so unbelievable. I move beside her and surprise her by taking her hand in mine.

“You know we’ve got this, right? I’ll help you, Sky. You aren’t alone. We don’t need them.”

“I know, Kyles. I’ve just got a lot of thinking to do. Twenty-four hours ago, I thought I had my life better planned, but I just got thrown the biggest damn curve ball in history.”

“You are keeping this baby, aren’t you?” I know my friend better. I shouldn’t have ever doubted she wouldn’t. I regret asking the question as soon as it comes out of my mouth.

“Of course, I’m keeping this baby! I don’t know what in the hell I’m going to do, but there is no way I am getting rid of it!”

“I thought you were on birth control.” I say. I’m one to talk after missing so many of my pills and having my own pregnancy scare, but Skylar is responsible. She’s been on the pill for years. I can’t believe she’d ever miss one. This must mean Sebastian has mega power sperm.

“I never packed my bag with my medicine. I was going to start a new pack once my period came, but it never did.” She bursts into tears. “Oh, Kylie, what am I going to do? I can’t tell him. I don’t want him to know that the baby is his.”

“Then don’t tell him.” Lucas’ voice startles us. He stands just inside the door with a huge bouquet of flowers in his hand.

He need not think I won’t beat his ass over bailing earlier. Anger surges through me and I charge towards him. No way am I letting him upset her right now.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I’m here to talk to Skylar.”

“Get the fuck out of here! She doesn’t need you. How could you fucking leave her in the middle of all of this? I thought you loved her! You’re such a fucking prick!”

“I’m sorry, Skylar. Please, I was just in shock. I should have never left you.”

“Damn straight you should have never left! Now get out!” I scream.

Lucas meets my glare but refuses to back down.

“Give us a minute, Kylie,” Skylar says weakly.

What the hell? Is she really serious right now?
Her pleading eyes pull at my heart.
Damn it!

“Fine! But I’m fucking standing outside the door. You get her upset and you’ll need an emergency room when I get done with you!” I yell before opening the door and leaving.

I’m so angry when I walk out that I hit the wall across from me. I walk back to the door, trying to listen to their conversation, but it’s pointless. The door is so thick all I can hear is low mumbling. Rest assured, once this prick comes out, he’s mine.

I don’t know what she is going to do. Honestly, I don’t think it’s right to keep this from Sebastian. No matter what went down between the two of them, he is the father. He has the right to know about this baby. All I can hope is that Skylar gets her head clear and thinks this all through rationally. Everything is going to change now. I will support and help her any way she needs, and she knows that. I want her to be happy, and right now, I know she isn’t. Throwing a baby into the mix of the confusion doesn’t help matters.

The moment the door opens, I’m ready. From the look on his face, he’s ready to butt heads with me, too. With his hands raised in a surrender motion, he makes his way closer to me. Psh, he won’t get off that easy. I’ve got plenty to say to this fucker and I don’t care who hears it. Shoving my finger into his chest, I unleash my anger on him.