Mr. Reyes nods.
The facts sink into my gut like hot coals.
That man was there to kill me, and instead, Carla got shot.
I close my eyes against the realization.
Mrs. Reyes’ arms wrap around me again, and on autopilot, I hold her.
I feel a hand on my back, and glancing to my right, I see it’s Dad. He smiles at Mr. and Mrs. Reyes, then says, “Carla is in good hands.”
When Mom finally walks into the waiting room, I jump to my feet.
Her eyes lock on mine, and she reaches a hand for me. When my fingers wrap around hers, she turns her attention to Mr. and Mrs. Reyes as well. “Carla is in recovery. The surgery went well. She’ll be in the ICU until she’s able to breathe on her own. I’m confident we’ll be able to move her to a private room tomorrow. Dr. Wells is happy with how the baby is doing. It’s a waiting game now.”
“Thank you, Leigh,” Mrs. Reyes says as she comes to hug Mom. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Then Mom turns to me, and she wraps her arms around me. After we’ve hugged, Mom says, “I made several small cuts over the chest wall, and I performed a video-assisted thoracotomy surgery. I felt it would be less invasive. I removed the bullet and drained all the blood that built up. Carla will heal faster than if I’d performed an open lung surgery. She has a chest tube in to drain any fluid that might build up.”
I nod to show I understand.
“Carla will probably have to stay in the hospital for five to seven days, depending on how quickly she heals.” Mom’s eyes lock on Carla’s parents. “As she’s in the ICU, we can only allow two visitors at a time, but for the first visit, we’ll allow both of you and Noah.” Mom turns her gaze to me. “But you only get five minutes, then you need to go shower and change into clean clothes.”
I nod, just happy I’ll get to see Carla.
I let Mr. and Mrs. Reyes walk first before I follow after them. We sanitize our hands and entering the ICU, Mom gestures to our left.
The moment my eyes land on Carla, there’s a severe blow to my gut. Seeing all the tubes, the IV, the machines… they make her look so fucking fragile.
Slowly, I move closer as if any sudden movement might hurt her. Mrs. Reyes lets out a soft sob as she takes in the state of the daughter.
Mr. Reyes looks at me. “You go first, Noah.”
“Thank you,” I murmur as I move to the other side of the bed. I reach for Carla’s hand, and the moment my fingers brush over her warm skin, my heart squeezes painfully.
I move my other hand to her stomach and keeping my touch gentle, my eyes drift shut.
They’re alive. That’s all that matters.
Right now, Carla and Raspberry are still with me.
Leaning over Carla, I press a kiss to her forehead, then I murmur, “Keep fighting for me. I love you.” I press another kiss to her skin, then I pull back.
I move to the foot end of the bed, and as Mr. Reyes passes by me, he gives me a smile.
My eyes go back to Carla’s face, and I just drink in the sight of her. My emotions keep fluctuating between hope and apprehension.
Mom takes hold of my arm, and leaning into me, she says, “Kao’s waiting to take you home. Try not to worry too much. I’ll take good care of them.”
I press a kiss to her cheek, murmuring, “Thank you, Mom.”
As I leave the hospital with Kao, I’m exhausted, but I know there’s no way I’ll be able to find a moment's rest until I hear Carla’s voice and see her eyes again.
Chapter 24
NOAH
When we reach Trinity, I say, “You should be with Fallon. I’m just going to shower and get some sleep.”
I can see Kao’s torn as he asks, “Are you sure?”
Like Carla’s become the most important person in my life, Fallon is that to Kao. “Yeah. I’ll call you when I wake up.”
Kao stops the car in front of the dorms, and as I open the door, he says, “Call me any time. Okay?”
I meet his eyes for a moment and even manage a weak smile. “Thank you for everything.”
“Of course.”
I climb out, and after shutting the door, I watch as Kao drives away. I glance over the area between the dorms and the library. There’s no sign of the traumatic event which took place this afternoon.
My feet begin to move until I reach the spot where Carla fell. Crouching, my eyes scan for any signs of blood, but there’s none. The staff must’ve cleaned up.
Rising back to my feet, I head to the suite, and the moment I’m standing in the middle of my room, the days’ events replay in my mind.