Page 92 of Loving Taylor

His eyes narrowed when Jordan rested her hand on Matthew's arm.

The sound of the door opening pulled my attention to the subdued doctor closing it behind him.

Connor stepped into his path. "I'm Connor Price, Taylor's brother," he said. "How's she?"

I was scared. In that moment I felt an overwhelming fear that there could be something more serious than any of us had suspected. I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my jeans to stop them from shaking.

The doctor's features were unreadable.

"She's been beaten quite badly. It will heal, and I don't believe there will be any scars."

The word ‘beaten’ sounded so different coming from the doctor. It felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I hung my head, unable to pretend I was okay.

But it wasn't over yet.

"She has quite a bad cut on her leg but it doesn't require stitches." The doctor quieted.

"Was there any sign of..." Connor tried to ask but couldn't finish it.

My shoulders tensed as I braced myself for the answer. I focused my attention solely on the doctor.

The doctor shook his head. "There are signs her attacker did try but she must have managed to fight him off."

Thank God,I thought, running a hand through my hair to pull myself together.

"When can we see her?" I asked. I couldn't explain to anyone how badly I needed to see her face, even if it was marred with bruises from her attack. I could handle it. What I couldn't handle was being kept away from her.

"At this stage I'm only allowing family in. She's sleeping at the moment. I've decided to sedate her for now. Let her get some rest and tomorrow you can see her."

I was devastated. Waiting another day to see her would feel like a lifetime.

"I'd like to see her now," her brother insisted.

"Sure." The doctor nodded. "The nurses are just cleaning her up. As soon as they are done you can go and see her. Tomorrow I will allow non-family members to see her. She needs time to come to terms with what has happened to her."

I turned away, unable to look at the doctor who was keeping me from seeing Taylor. I tensed my jaw as I worked through the emotional pain that ached inside me.

"She's okay," Slater said to me. My eyes met his. "You'll get to see her soon."

What he didn't say I read in his eyes.There will be time to tell her everything you need to.I nodded, not liking it but I had to deal with it. I shoved my hands into my pockets.

The doctor left. It was torture to watch Connor enter her room. My only consolation was I wasn't the only one waiting outside her room.

Feeling tired, I walked over to where Jordan stood against the wall. I leaned my back against the wall, keeping my eyes on the door so I would see the moment Connor exited the room. The touch of a small hand on my arm brought my attention back to Jordan beside me.

"She's okay," she murmured.

I nodded slightly. They were all trying to remind me to concentrate on what was most important at the moment. But none of them understood the connection I had with her. I had only realized the strength of it when she had gone missing.

I had never felt so strongly for anyone like this before. I didn't want to call it love. Love had ruined my mother's life and I wouldn't allow it to ruin what I had with Taylor.

What we had would endure.

So much had changed since when I had first met Taylor. Jordan had been the one to warn her against getting involved with me and here we were almost friends, supporting each other in our combined caring for Taylor.

She looked emotional and tired, reminding me that I wasn't the only one who was worried about Taylor. She rubbed her temple slightly. Something familiar I had been doing to gather my thoughts because the lack of sleep had made it more difficult to function.

She dropped her hand from mine. I looked to see Slater watching her. Her eyes met his and for the first time I saw how they felt. It was written in their eyes.