Page 124 of Loving Wild

“Icanhear you know. Whatever you’re thieving, Mother, put it back, you don’t need it.”

I open my eyes to my mum and sister sitting in chairs beside my bed. Their heads snap from where they were looking over their shoulders to meet mine.

“Fuck me, I’ve died and gone to hell,” I croak, my voice not sounding like mine.

“Well, that bang on the head hasn’t improved your manners. Five hours we drove for that kind of welcome. Could’ve stayed home and got John to insult me if that’s what I was after.” My mum stands as she speaks and starts to cry before she even reaches the side of my bed.

“I’m okay, Mum. It’s just a concussion. I’ll probably be allowed home tomorrow,” I attempt to reassure her with my words and an awkward squeeze around the cannula in the back of my hand, the drip trolly, and the blood pressure cuff I’m attached to.

“I know, I know. We’ve spoken to your nurse.” She kisses my cheek before sitting down, allowing my sister to move in and do the same.

“You’re in so much trouble,” she says into my ear before taking her seat.

“It was just horrible walking in here and seeing you like that. Ryder’s gone home to take a shower and get some sleep. He said to tell you, Sam dropped off your phone, it’s in your drawer, and he’ll call before he drives back up,” my mum dabs at her eyes with a tissue as she speaks.

My brain feels foggy, and it takes me a moment to process what she’s telling me. I attempt to sit up, but the whole room tilts sideways, and I feel like I’m about to vomit.

“Shit,” I hiss.

“Will you just lay still,” my mum stands as she orders. “Just use the buttons to raise the back of the bed, you don’t need to sit yourself up.”

I don’t have the energy to argue, so I let her press the button that does exactly what she said it would, putting me into an almost sitting position.

Brushing my hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear, I stare into the familiar grey-blue eyes of my mum.

“Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?” she asks quietly as those familiar eyes fill with tears.

I reach for her hand as it cups my face and hold it there. Until that moment, I hadn’t realised how much I’d been missing my mum.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” I whisper.

“But why? That’s not how our family works. You know we’ll always have your back. Your brothers would’ve been here in a flash to sort that dickhead out, might still be once they find out.”

“No, it’s sorted. If he comes near me again, he’ll go straight back to prison.”

“Good . . . I love you,” she adds after a pause.

“Love you too, Mum,” I respond with a teary smile.

“So,” Vicki, my sister starts. “Ryder filled us in on what’s going on with Jason, but said he’d leave it to you to tell us about you and this Gabe bloke?” She phrases what she’s saying like a question, and finishes it with raised brows, letting me know she wants answers.

My stomach lurches at the mention of Gabe. I didn’t have my phone yesterday, but Ryder passed on a message that he was at the children’s hospital with Ava, who had a similar injury to me.

Ryder had little information on the accident, and as I have very little recall, other than hitting the water, I’m still not entirely sure what happened.

The door to my room opens as all of that runs through my sluggish brain, and after a quick check on all my vitals, the nurse tells me she’ll be back later to remove the catheter I’m hooked up to.

“Spill,” my sister orders as soon as the door closes behind Andrea, my nurse.

“What d’ya wanna know?” I ask.

“Everything,” my sister replies.

“He’s thirty-five, one of the best humans I’ve ever met, he loves me unconditionally, and he’s absolutely gorgeous.”

“And you’ve already moved in with him,” my mum states.

I nod, slowly, so it doesn’t hurt or make my head spin any more than it already is.