It was easy to find Clay's number since he was at the top of the call list. I tapped his name, nerves fluttering in my belly. A low male voice answered, warm with welcome. “Hey, I didn't expect to hear from you tonight, thought you had plans with Daisy.”
I cleared my throat. “Uh, this is Daisy, actually. Sorry to take you by surprise but, uh—”
“What's wrong?” he asked, his warm voice sharp with a thread of worry.
“J.T. and I were attacked. He was stabbed. He's in surgery. I thought you'd—”
“What hospital?” Clay demanded.
“County Regional. I'm in the ER right now, but as soon as I can I'll head to the waiting room closest to where J.T. is. I'll text you as soon as I know where that is.”
“I'll be there in an hour.”
“Hey, Clay!” I called, knowing he was about to hang up.
“Yeah,” he barked, impatient. I got it, but I had to say one more thing.
“Drive safely. Seriously. J.T. will kill me if you rush and get into an accident on the way here. He's hanging in there, and he'll be in surgery for a while. Drive safe.”
“Yeah,” he grunted. “See you soon.”
“He's still going to speed,” I murmured as I set the phone down.
“Probably,” Royal agreed. “I would. But since you reminded him, he'll be more careful.”
The curtain on my room slid open and Hope was there, Griffen behind her, a stack of clothes in her arms. “I have your things.” She turned an eagle eye on Royal and then Griffen. “Get out, you guys, and let her change in privacy.” Royal started to object. Hope leveled a sharply pointed finger at him. “Go.”
He grumbled as he kissed my cheek, but he went. “I'll be just outside.”
“I won't be long,” I promised.
Chapter Forty
Daisy
I was still struggling to sit up when Hope wrapped her arms around me in a long hug.
“He's going to be okay,” she said, her words more a prayer than a promise.
“I know,” I lied, holding on to her with everything I had.
I didn't know. We knew nothing except that we loved J.T., and he was clinging to life. All we could do was wait.
Hope helped me change into jeans and a t-shirt, urging me to add a sweatshirt despite the warm temperatures outside. “It's freezing in here. They have the AC cranked like it's July. If you get hot, you can always take it off.”
It felt good to be in clean clothes. Hope handed me a fresh scrunchie and I redid my bun for the second time. It wasn't the fashion statement J.T. had made it, but it would do.
Royal was waiting when I came out. “No news on J.T., but I found out where we can wait.” I wasn't expecting Griffen and Hope to follow us.
“Hope, you should go home. This could take a while. I'll call as soon as we know anything,” I said.
“No way. We're staying.”
“Tenn is on his way,” Griffen added with a nod at Royal. Tears sprung to my eyes at the way Royal's family was here for him. For us.
I couldn't bear to think of my own family. My father and mother gone, leaving Grams heartbroken and betrayed.
Grams. She'd want to be here. She loved J.T. like he was her own. I still didn't have my phone, but I had his. I tapped the screen, waking it up and then clicking it off as I thought about what I had to do.
I was still angry at Grams, but J.T. was far more important than my anger. I had to call her.
I was still thinking when Hope asked, “Are you hungry? Or do you want tea? Chocolate? We're going to the cafeteria to get something.”
I shrugged. I was vaguely aware of being hungry. J.T. and I had never gotten around to eating dinner, but the thought of food wasn't appealing. I was too worried to eat. Hope wasn't interested in my denials.
“I'll get you something anyway. You can always eat it later.” They left, Griffen's arm around Hope, her leaning into him, talking softly.
Royal took my free hand in his. “When are you going to call Grams?”
“As soon as I work up the nerve,” I admitted.
“She loves you, Daisy.”
“I know. I love her too. I'm just—” Scared. Pissed off. Overloaded. Totally without words. What did I say to her?
In the end, I kept it simple, clicking open J.T.'s phone and dialing before I could chicken out.
Grams sounded tired when she answered. “Hello? J.T.? Is everything okay?”
“Grams, it's me. I need you.” Words spilled out about J.T., and where we were, and what had happened. Once I heard her voice, a dam broke loose inside me. I was still hurt, still pissed, but I loved Grams more than anything. Even with Royal by my side, I needed my Grams, and she needed me.