“Damn it, Georgia,” I say under my breath. “I never should’ve let you go out without me.” Tears prick my eyes, and I swallow down my emotions. I wasn’t there to save my sister all those years ago, and I wasn’t there tonight to keep this from happening to Georgia.
“It still could’ve happened,” Alec points out. “Nobody but that asshole who drugged her is to blame.”
“Maybe not, but I started this. I told her to get out of the house so she could meet someone. Now look at her. She’s been drugged and almost died.” If I had been there, I never would’ve let any of those dickheads near her.
“People take shit every day and are fine,” Tristan says. “Georgia just so happened to have a bad reaction.”
“None of this is your fault,” Charlie says, resting her hand on my shoulder. I glance up and she smiles sadly. “For years Georgia was stuck in that shell of hers. We accepted it because it’s just who she was, but you got her out of the house. She’s been so happy every time we talk. We even went shopping together for a dress, something we’ve never done. She’s been cooking and baking, and she speaks so highly of you…”
I hear what they’re saying, but I should’ve been there with her, protecting her. She’s too fucking naïve, they all are. Raised with silver spoons, they don’t know the bad and ugly out there. But I do, because it’s what killed my sister and then pushed my father away. It’s what destroyed my wife. What keeps my mom living in that shitty fucking neighborhood.
The heart monitor picks up and then Georgia’s eyes flutter open. She starts coughing and wincing, and Charlie runs out to get someone.
“Chase,” she croaks, looking a mixture of in pain and confused. “I… don’t… feel good.”
I grab a garbage can by her bed and raise it up in time for her to dry heave.
“Why isn’t she throwing up?” I ask.
“She had her stomach pumped,” the nurse says, walking briskly into the room. “Hello, there, Georgia, I’m Nurse Kelly. We’re giving you nausea medication, but you might still feel sick. That’s normal. I’ll up the dose for you. Your abdominal muscles will also be sore for a few days. That’s normal as well. We’re giving you fluids because you’re dehydrated.” She goes about checking her, and Georgia, who is too weak to even talk, simply closes her eyes and nods.
We spend the next few hours watching her sleep. Alec’s parents, Mila and Mason, stop by, and Alec leaves to go grab Abigail since Max, Lexi and Georgia’s brother, was keeping an eye on her. But her parents, sister, and I stay.
She eventually wakes up but is groggy, and the doctor says that’s normal. When she’s discharged with a prescription for nausea medication and instructions to rest and drink plenty of fluids, Charlie suggests Georgia goes home with them. But of course Georgia doesn’t want to be fussed over…
“I’m off until Monday,” I tell them. “I can stay with her at the condo. I’ll make sure she’s okay.” There’s no way I’m letting her out of my sight.
Georgia gives me a small, grateful smile. “Thank you.”
The nurse gets her into a wheelchair—per hospital rules—and I wheel her out.
“I’ll go grab the car,” I tell Georgia. “Be right back.”
I run to where I left my car and pull it around to the entrance.
“I’ll be by to check on you,” Lexi says while I help Georgia into the passenger seat. She gives her a hug. “I was so scared.”
“I know,” Georgia tells her. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Lexi says. “I just… all I could imagine…”
“I know,” Georgia says again, knowing what she’s saying without actually saying it. She could’ve been attacked the way Lexi was. Shit could’ve had a way worse ending.
“Take care of my baby,” Charlie says, hugging me. “I’ll be by with soup later.”
“Sounds good,” I tell her.
The ride home is quiet, with Georgia leaning against the window with her eyes closed. I know she’s not asleep, but I don’t know if she’s resting or just doesn’t want to talk.
Without thought, I scoop up her hand and thread her fingers through mine, needing to feel the warmth of her flesh. She’s alive. Her heart is still beating. She’s going to be okay.
She rolls her head toward me and briefly opens her green eyes, and like an electrical current straight to my heart, it hits me: I’m in love with Georgia Scott.
Georgia
“All right, we’ve got blankets, pillows, your favorite red flavored Gatorade, some crackers for you to munch on in case you’re hungry…” Chase glances around, and even though I feel like shit, I can’t help but smile. I never imagined Chase to be such a good nurturer, but he is.