Page 39 of Come Back To Me

Everything around me became a blur, a mixed up, chaotic mess and by the time Daniel was asleep, I was exhausted.

“VAUGHAN?”

A hand jostled my shoulder, and I woke up in a panic, flying out of the hospital chair beside Daniel’s bed.

“Hey, hey, it’s just me.”

My unfocused gaze traveled to Daniel, who was still asleep, and then to Kenzi. She was standing beside me, her expression wary and concerned.

“Sorry.” She frowned. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I rubbed my hands down my face, and sat back down. “It’s fine. I’m just on edge.”

“Staci and Aiden are in the cafeteria, and I’m about to leave, but I wanted to see if you need anything.”

“I’m good, Kenzi, thanks.”

She fidgeted at my side, and it took every ounce of will power I had not to pull her into my arms, just for some kind of comfort. It was strange, after all these weeks apart, how I still craved her touch. I so did not need this right now.

“He’ll be okay, you know. He has you.”

I knew she meant well, but I wasn’t in any frame of mind to accept the encouragement and support from where it came. I still had too much running through my mind. She turned with a sigh, and I immediately felt like an asshole. I should have said something to her, something more meaningful than a measly ‘thank you’, but I was at a loss. All I saw was Daniel, and all I could think about was how my life was about to change. Again.

“Dammit.”

I stood up, and charged forward, heading for the doorway through which Kenzi had just left. She had her back to me, walking out of the sliding doors of the E.R. I walked after her, intent on calling her name, but when I got outside, I stopped.

Maddy’s Prius was stopped at the curb, and the same time I opened my mouth to call Kenzi and tell her to wait, someone else did too.

It was the doctor who’d shown up with Kenzi earlier, the guy who looked Daniel over while we waited for Connor’s colleague. Alex, I think his name was.

It wasn’t calling her name that had me frozen, I’d surmised that they were at least acquainted, but it was the way she smiled at him. It was shy, and yet so open. The way she used to look at me.

He said something, and her laughter whipped around me, reminding me she was no longer mine. But that didn’t stop me from watching her.

He muttered something else, but was cut off when Kenzi abruptly stood on the balls of her feet and kissed him. I wanted to look away, and I gave myself a thousand reasons to do just that, but I couldn’t. Memories flashed in my mind, assaulting me from every direction, and the longer I stayed there, the more they started hurting. I felt someone step beside me, and it was the faintest muttering of “fuck,” that had me turning away.

Aiden scowled at Kenzi, and then looked at me, his eyes flashing with maddening pity.

“Vaughan…”

I remained quiet, every word I wished I’d said to Kenzi getting lodged in my throat. I never knew regret to have a taste, but right then, I realized it did.

“I’m sorry man.” Aiden squeezed my shoulder. He’d become a friend in the last couple of weeks much to my surprise, and we actually had a ton in common. That and I was pretty sure he was sleeping with Staci. Or Staci was sleeping with him. Whichever. They thought they were being secretive about it, but I knew something was up. I didn’t care, as long as Aiden didn’t hurt Staci.

When I found my voice it was hoarse, both from tiredness and emotion. “It’s fine.” No, it wasn’t, but there was nothing I could do. “I’m happy for her.”

Saying those words hurt, they weighed down on my chest like anvils, and from the expression on Aiden’s face, he knew I was talking through my ass. Since Kenzi had obviously moved on and met someone else was a proverbial slap in the face I didn’t need, but I took it on the chin as best I could. What other choice did I have?

Kenzi and I were over, and I had come to grips with the crushing realization that our story was in the past. I couldn’t put my life on hold any longer, and that meant focusing on the one person who still needed me.