Page 139 of Dissolving Prejudice

I opened my eyes to stare at an unfamiliar white ceiling, and it took me about five seconds to realize I was in the hospital. That’s right. Last night, I was involved in a car crash, but surprisingly enough, I was okay. To ensure that was indeed the case, I looked at my arms and hands. I didn’t have so much as a scratch, nor did I feel any pain. Still a bit suspicious, I moved my toes and shook my legs, which were also fine. Actually, not even my ankles hurt.

What the hell? Since when was I lucky?

My moment of happiness was quickly gone when I remembered how I’d gotten into that accident. Looking at the clock that hung on the wall, I saw it was 2:00 p.m., meaning I’d already lost too much time. I had to find Camilo. Now.

Pushing away the blanket covering me, I moved to stand up when the door to the room opened and an unwelcome guest stepped in.

“You’re awake,” Jordan gasped with relief while clutching the door’s handle.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarled, infuriated over his presence.

The one good thing that came out of my car turning into a pile of metal was remembering what had happened the day of my attack. For the last five years, I couldn’t remember a single thing. But now? Now, I remembered it all, including how Jordan, sweet, good-hearted Jordan, my ex-fiancé Jordan, was there and had stood by while my father sent me into a mini coma.

“I’m still registered as your emergency contact,” he explained.

Oh shit, I forgot about that…

“I came the second they called me. Fuck.” He let go of the door. “I can’t believe you were in a car accident—”

“Fuck you and your fake concern, Jordan. I know everything,” I cut in.

His brows pulled close. “You know… everything?”

“You’re one lucky bastard, I’ll give you that,” I snorted, shaking my head.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you, walking away after committing the perfect crime like you had nothing to do with it.”

His eyes widened as understanding crossed him, but before he could slide a word in, I went on.

“If I didn’t know you were incapable of coming up with such a plan, I would have been impressed. But please, as if a moron like yourself could actually plan shit.” My eyes narrowed on his pitiful face. “But everything worked out for you just fine, right? Me losing my memory, Camilo going to prison for your crime, and lastly, my dad dropping dead and taking your secret with him to his grave.” Bitterness fielded my mouth as I took another moment to think it through. “You know, I always thought you were a good guy. A really good, honest guy. Turned out you were nothing but an idiot who’d been in the wrong place and at the wrong time. But hey, at least you learned how to take advantage of the situation, right?” Unimpressed, I scratched my jaw. “Instead of confessing and crying like you would have done in high school, you actually learned something from me. Seizing the opportunity, you stuck to the role of the good guy and played the part for five fucking years.” I clapped my hands. “Bravo, Jordy. Bravo.”

“It’s nothing like that!”

“Sure thing.”

“Shay-Lee—” He paused, as if he’d changed his mind about what he was going to say, and closed his eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

“You should be sorry. In fact, you should be rotting in jail for what you did to me.”

His eyes snapped to mine, and there was nothing but fear glistening in them. Fear for his own ass. Who knew, maybe he truly believed I was about to turn him in.

“Don’t worry, you idiot. I’m not going to tell anyone.”

“W-why?”

I sent my head back with a deep sigh and stared at the cracks in the ceiling. “Because I want to move on with my fucking life, and quite frankly, I don’t care enough about you to waste time on sending you to prison.” I then looked down at my hands, my eyes focusing on the IV they stuck in me. Not wanting to waste more time in here, I pulled it out and was ready to get up when Jordan stopped me.

“You can’t get up!”

“Lay your hands on me one more time, and I’ll break them, asshole,” I hissed, and he immediately withdrew.

“You can’t just leave the hospital after being in an accident.”

I brushed my fingers over my necklace. “I can’t stay here, so don’t stop me.”

“I won’t… but you need to see a doctor first. Just in case something’s wrong with you.”