Page 38 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

Trenton’s eyes returned to mine. His bottom lip quivered. “I tried to stop her.”

I gently cupped the back of his neck, leaning my forehead close to his. “We know. She knows.”

“She …” He sniffed and cleared his throat a few times before he could continue. “The guy from before. He’s in town. Came to see her and Bishop saw them.”

“Bishop?” I asked.

“He works with us at Skin Deep. Anyway, Bishop said the piece of shit tried to kiss her. I told Cami I was done. I didn’t meanus, I meant done waiting around for him to decide to leave her alone. He knows about me.”

Abby sighed and covered her eyes with her hand.

“She thought I meant I was done with her, and it upset her. Bad. So, she took off in her car. I jumped in and was trying to get her to pull over. I begged her. She was upset and it was all my fault. She was getting ready to stop, though, when we got hit. And now,” he looked over at her, his bottom lip trembling. He lifted his good arm to gesture in her direction. “She’s lying in that bed, lost in her head somewhere, and I can’t get to her.”

Dad stared at the floor.

I felt like the only one in the room that didn’t know the full story.

“Dad …” I said. “What aren’t you saying?”

He hesitated, saved just before he spoke by the nurse who entered the room.

Deep, double dimples bordered her wide smile. She was chewing a wad of gum the same color as her bright scrubs. “Hi all,” she whispered. “I’m Katie. I hear you have someone on the way. Someone will be bringing more chairs soon. In the meantime, I’ll be setting Trenton’s arm. I hear he doesn’t want to go to the casting room, so Rosh will be in momentarily with equipment.”

Trenton was unfazed.

“Shouldn’t the, uh, the doctor set his arm?” I asked.

Katie slapped the X-rays on the viewer and flipped on the light.

Abby’s face scrunched at the images, and I inwardly cringed.

Katie turned to us, her dirty-blond hair bouncing. “I’m a PA ... and I’m all you’ve got. After Trenton’s recent outburst, all the doctors offered me as sacrifice.”

“Pussies,” Trenton said with a huff.

A man wearing black scrubs pushed through the door, wheeling in equipment, a tray full of supplies, and a bowl of water.

“Hi, Rosh,” Katie said, chipper even when whispering.

Rosh held up a roll of lime green casting tape. “I brought the best color we have.”

“Thank you,” Katie said. She lowered her chin. “Just waiting on the extra bed and the anesthesiologist.”

Trenton shook his head. “No. I gotta be ready when she wakes up.”

Katie hesitated, then took a glimpse at each person in the room. “She has family here. And, you’ll be here, just notherehere.”

Trenton pushed his shoulders back, righting his posture. “I can do it.”

Empathy weighed down Katie’s expression. “If you yell …”

“I won’t make a fucking peep,” Trenton said, meeting her gaze. “I swear.”

Katie watched him for a moment, and then nodded. “I believe that. Okay, Rosh, let’s do this.”

She washed her hands, dried them, and then put on a pair of blue gloves while Rosh set a chair in front of Trenton, checking his wheelchair to make sure his locks were secure.

Trenton braced himself while Katie removed the blanket splint and ice pack. She palpated his arm, and then nodded to Rosh.