Page 92 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Rylee, baby.” Mateo comes into view. “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt.”

“I’m fine.” My voice is groggy, and my head is still spinning as I try to sit up. I let out a gasp as a sharp pain hits my side. “Fuck,” I groan, laying back down on the ground.

“You are not okay,” Colton insists. “We’re calling an ambulance. Now.”

“No,” I moan, trying again to sit up. “I’m fine. Really. Just dizzy. I didn’t eat anything today.”

“Fucking hell,” Mateo groans. “Rylee, what are you doing to yourself?” He grips my chin, looking down at me angrily. “You need help. And if you won’t let us help you, we will get it for you. I don’t want to force your hand, but we love you too much to keep watching you spiral.”

“I’m sorry.” My lower lip quivers as my chest tightens, tears stinging the back of my eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Rylee.” Trevor's voice has the tears breaking through. “Fuck. Baby, are you okay?” He kneels down on the ground next to me.

“Like you care,” Mateo growls. “Where the fuck have you been these past few weeks, huh?”

Trevor frowns up at Mateo. “You don’t understand.”

“Then why don’t you make me?” Mateo insists. “Come on, jock boy. Why did you up and leave our girl? No calls, no coming to visit. Nothing.”

“Stop.” A sob slips free. “Please. Stop.”

They ignore me as they continue to argue. My head is pounding. Plus, there's a throbbing in my ears that has my vision becoming fuzzy again. My eyes flutter closed and I give in to the heaviness that's trying to take over. I just want all of this to stop. For my head to be quiet. Even just for a little while.

Harsh whispers fillmy ears as I blink my eyes open. Where am I?

I look around to see that I'm in a hospital bed. Fuck. Have things really gotten that bad?

My eyes wander around the room to find all the guys arguing on the other side of the bed. My heart races, and the machine next to me starts to beep.

Several sets of eyes swing my way. “Rylee,” Lennox breathes out in relief.

They all rush over to me when the doctor comes in. “Rylee Moore. It’s good to see you awake.”

“Ah, thanks.” I clear my throat.

“What’s wrong with her?” Donny asks.

“Why did she faint?” Mateo says.

“Is she going to be okay?” Colton demands to know.

“Woah, boys, calm down. Rylee is going to be just fine. We ran a bunch of tests and they all came back fine. She’s just a bit dehydrated. Rylee, when was the last time you ate?”

“Umm.” I lick my lips, looking from the guys’ worried expressions to the doctor. “Yesterday… I think.”

“You think?” Trevor demands. “Rylee!”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry, okay! I can’t force myself to eat when I feel sick.”

The doctor frowns. “Do you feel nauseous?”

“I just don’t have an appetite,” I admit, looking down at my hands, playing with the IV that sticking out.

“It’s depression and stress,” Colton says. “Our lives have been an emotional rollercoaster this past year, the last few months especially.”

“We should have gotten her help sooner.” Donny’s face falls in shame. I feel like a fucking monster for them even thinking for a moment that they are responsible for any of this.

“Is this true?” the doctor asks.