Page 85 of Hidden Plays

Holden leaned against my side, and I hooked an arm around his waist, whispering in his ear, “I’ve got you, babe.”

He slipped a glance at me. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“You can see him now. He’s in room three-twenty-three.” He lifted his chin. “You might get him into a rehab facility.”

“I know.” Keith’s jaw bulged. “We’ll be staging an intervention.”

EIGHTEEN

HOLDEN

“We are?” I stared at my father, my arm wrapped tightly around JJ’s hips, my hand clutching the hem of his sweater. Dad had finally reached his breaking point with this incident.

“I think it would be a good idea. The hospital has resources. Let me know if you need them.” Dr. Peterson gave Dad a pointed look.

“We’ll let you know.” Mom worried her lower lip. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“You’re welcome. If you have questions, the nurses know how to find me.” With a nod, he turned and left.

This whole thing was a nightmare. If Noel refused treatment, then what? Would I still lose my brother? “Dad, how do you want to do this?”

Dad shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. From the reading I’ve done on the subject, we should write him letters, and let him know how much we love him, but that we can’t be in his life anymore if he doesn’t get treatment.” Scrubbing his face, he sighed. “Let’s see him first.”

“Yes, we don’t even know how conscious he is.” Mom pattedDad’s arm. “Come on.” She strolled with Dad toward the hallway, and I followed with JJ by my side.

Entering the room, JJ asked, “Do you want me here when you talk to him?”

“Yes.” I tightened my hold on his hand, my chest squeezing. If it weren’t for JJ’s steady presence, I’d be an even bigger mess. “One of us has to have their head on straight.”

Mom rounded Noel’s bed with Dad and covered her lips with her hand, her brows creasing and eyes brimming with tears.

With a grunt, Dad clamped his jaw. “Jesus.”

I stepped to the near side of Noel’s bed, my gaze roaming over his swollen face, the bruises inside his eyes and across the bridge of his nose, the cuts marring his cheeks. Had the airbag struck his face? Had he been wearing a seatbelt?

“Babe, are you okay?” JJ slipped his arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah. He looks terrible.” In fact, if I didn’t know it was Noel, I wouldn’t recognize him. My throat grew tight, and my eyes pricked with heat.

“Honey, it’s Mom. Can you hear me?” Mom placed her hand on his forearm, resting over his stomach.

Noel made a strangled noise and then croaked, “M-mom?” His heavy eyelids opened a crack.

“Yes, baby, I’m here.” She kissed his forehead and brushed his hair from it. “How are you feeling?”

He freed a ragged chuckle and coughed. “Fuck, like shit.”

“Noel, do you remember what happened?” Dad lowered his brows.

“I…I was on my way to your house, or no, I was on my way somewhere.” He licked his dry lips. “I don’t know. Something must have crossed the road, and I couldn’t?—”

“That’s not what happened.” Raising her chin, Mom pinched her lips. “The police said you ran a red light, almost hit anothercar and drove into a wash.” Her gaze swept to mine. “Your car flipped upside down. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Shit, guess I’m getting a ticket, huh?” The edge of Noel’s lips twitched.

“You’ll have more charges than that.” Mom’s gaze grew hard.

“That’s what happened?” When had she heard this? It was the first she’d mentioned it. I glanced at Noel, his eyes closing again.