Page 37 of All the Forbidden Things

“And maybe Dr Kovac or Dr Ross.”

“Dr Ross is mine,” Mel adds.

“You can have him, he’s old, and old men are my least favourite right now.”

It’s her fault Kenz and I have our ER doctor obsession. She was who introduced us to the show and its characters when we each reached an age she felt it was appropriate to do so. For Kenz, that was at a much younger age than me, as she refused to be left out and watched in secret. We still have binge-watch days when we’re all together and Cal is out of town.

The room falls silent for a few beats too long before Kenzie ads, “Bill, have you seen your face? I don’t think even McFugly would be interested right now.”

“Wow, don’t hold back.”

“Always rely on me for the truth, babe.”

“Yeah, I forgot just how brutal you can be. Thanks for the visit, fam, but can you take her home now?”

I’m aware that Makenzie’s just trying to fill the awkward silences, but Cal has zero colour in his face, and Mel looks as if she’s about to burst into tears. I’m probably well ahead of both of them on the stress-o-meter, but I’ve been pumped full of drugs, and since waking from my meltdown, I’m feeling a whole lot calmer.

I’m happy to paint on my smiley face for the people who raised me. I don’t need them aware of the turmoil churning inside my head. Makenzie will see right through my front, though, and that’s okay, she’s my girl, and I know she’ll have my back.

“So, what else did my fugly caregiver say?”

“They’ve glued a cut in your head, you have two stitches in your lip, a cut on your tongue and inside your cheek, a displaced middle knuckle, a fracture to the side of your hand and wrist, and two broken ribs,” Callum reels off.

“Great, when can I go home?” I attempt to keep things light, if I don’t, I know I’ll fall apart.

Mel now has both hands covering her face as tears stream down her face.

“Please don’t cry.” I hold my arms out as I speak. My left hand and wrist are in a cast, and my ribs scream at me with every breath I take, but I need a cuddle as much as the woman who raised me for the past fifteen years does. Cal steps to the side, allowing Mel access to me. She climbs onto the other side of the bed to Kenzie and wraps me in her arms, leaving me sandwiched between them.

“The police are going to want to talk to you tomorrow, but we should be able to take you home the day after. The doctor wants that cast on for at least forty-eight hours before you fly. We can use the record label’s jet to get you home, so at least you won’t be stuck in your seat with your ribs causing you pain for the whole flight. There’s a queen-size bed at the back of the plane, so it’s even better than flying first class.” Mel lets out a long breath that moves my hair when she finishes talking then leans into me. “I want to squeeze you just as much as I want to wrap you in cotton wool and protect you from all the shitty things this world has to offer.”

“I know you do, and I appreciate it. But I have a life to live and, unfortunately, I’m occasionally gonna come across arseholes like Michael Bosworth. Next time, I’ll be prepared. As soon as I’m fit enough, I wanna learn to box, or some kind of self-defence. I don’t know what, but I never want to be left feeling that vulnerable and ill-prepared if anything like that should happen again. Drew taught me a few defensive moves, but not enough to be able to save myself from what happened last night.”

“I’ll come with ya,” Kenzie says.

“We’ll all go together,” Mel adds.

Cal crosses his arms over his chest. “It won’t happen again. It shouldn’t have happened this time, but I’ll be making sure it doesn’t happen again. But, if it will make you feel better, I’ll talk to Micky; he can probably teach you a few things about defending yourselves. It’s something you all should’ve done sooner in hindsight.”

“And ain’t hindsight a wonderful thing,” Mel says quietly.

“And you”—Cal gestures with his chin towards me then nods down towards the cast on my hand— “you need to learn how to throw a punch. The doctor said that was a typical boxer’s break, what they usually see after a bar fight. Did you hit him?”

Kenzie, Mel and I sit up a little straighter, and I nod. “I punched him a couple of times. I think I broke his nose.”

“Good girl,” Mel says with a smile on her face and pride in her voice.

“Well, if you didn’t, the bullet that went through his head and exploded out the other side did.” Makenzie, as tactful as ever, states.

I look to Cal. “Is that what happened? They told me that Carmen shot him, but I don’t think they felt I could deal with much more.” I watch as my brother's eyes dart to Mel then back to me. “You can tell me; I’d rather hear it from you than read it online.”

Cal closes his eyes and folds his arms across his chest.

Both Mel and Kenzie still.

I wait.

“The police aren’t saying much, but Aaron flew in with us. He’s spoken to both the police and Carmen Bosworth’s legal team . . .”