Page 129 of Perfect Rhythm

“Wait and see how things play out?” I snapped. “How the fuck are we supposed to just sit here and wait?”

The doctor sighed. “I know this isn’t easy, but the waiting game is all we have right now.” He turned back to my mother. “A nurse will come get you once your daughter’s been moved to a room.”

She gave a quiet nod and lowered her gaze.

“This is some bullshit!” I yanked away from Nyx and stormed out of the emergency room.

51

NYX

I didn’t blame Shade for his reaction to what we’d just heard. The doctor’s words hit hard, and I knew he was carrying more than just pain. He was drowning in guilt.

“Here,” I said, passing him his wallet as I sat beside him on the curb.

“Thanks. I didn’t even notice I’d dropped it.”

“I know.”

Taking his eyes off the media circus that had been shoved to the parking lot by security, he pulled off his jacket and covered my shoulders. “You shouldn’t be out here. It’s freezing.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, trying to keep from shivering.

I didn’t want to leave him alone. At least, not for too long.

Sighing, he looked over his shoulder. “My bad for how I acted in there. I didn’t mean for you to see me blow up like that.”

“It’s okay. You have every right to feel the way you feel. You’re worried, and I know you feel like this is all your fault.”

He lowered his gaze, his eyes lingering on his hands as he popped his knuckles. “Itisall my fault. I never should’ve allowed that nigga Enzo to bait me. He’s been trying to do some shit like that for years.”

“No, this isn’t your fault. This is all on him. He shouldn’t have said what he said.”

“Nah, he shouldn’t have. But it was my job to hold it together and keep y’all safe. I didn’t do that. I made shit worse, and Jassi’s the one paying for it.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” I whispered. “Don’t carry around that guilt.”

“I can’t help it, Nyx. If something happens to my sister, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Yo, I talked to—” Ocean’s words cut off the second he saw me, his expression shifting to a guarded glare.

It was obvious that whatever he had to say wasn’t meant for my ears.

I glanced at Shade, then pushed to my feet. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”

“You don’t have to stay. I know you’re probably tired.”

I tilted my head, smiling. “Like I said, I’ll be inside.”

He nodded, and I walked back into the building.

I was tired, but he didn’t need to know that. Jassi was just as important to me as she was to him. I couldn’t rest comfortably without knowing she was okay.

Before returning to the emergency room, I stopped to grab something from the vending machine and called Skye.

“How is she?”

“She’s in a coma,” I replied.