Page 38 of Should the Sky Fall

Ellis lets out a groan so loud the floor nearly shakes with it. “Oh, shit. I didn’t even…” He runs a hand over his face. “Fucking great. Just what I needed, on top of everything.”

Dawson winces in sympathy. “I’m sorry. Did you speak to the police?”

Ellis nods. “And to a lawyer. The police will want to know Cal’s awake, but…” He waves a hand in the general direction of the ward. “This changes things.”

To put it plainly. How do you take a statement from someone who doesn’t remember anything?

A wave of gratitude washes over Dawson. God, he has no idea what he’d do if Ellis wasn’t here. He could never do this alone. Sure, he wouldn’t be completely alone. He has Kieran and he had to spend a full hour the other night convincing Olivia that no, she doesn’t have to come down to GC and make sure Dawson isn’t having a mental breakdown (which he kind of is, but he doesn’t need his sister to witness it).

He rakes his gaze over Ellis, noticing not for the first time the shadows under his eyes and the tension rolling off him.

He makes his decision.

“You should go home. You’re exhausted. I’ll stay.”

Ellis barks out a laugh. “Don’t be silly. What for? He’s gonna be in and out of it for a while.”

“I’d feel like crap if I went home.” He’ll feel like crap if he stays too, but at least he can convince himself he’s not being selfish.

“Well, don’t. You don’t owe him shit,” Ellis says, voice stern.

“But—”

“Dawson.” Dawson shuts up. “This doesn’t change anything. He’s the same person he was before he arrived at the hospital. I know seeing him like this is pulling at your delicate heartstrings, but don’t be fooled. He’s no poor bastard. He got himself into this mess.”

As harsh as that sounds, it lifts a heavy weight off Dawson’s chest. He probably needed to hear it from someone else, someone who actually cares for Cal.

“I could come back tomorrow.”

Ellis sighs, but doesn’t push it. “Sure.”

Chapter 8

At10o’clocksharp,the door to Cal’s room flies open, signaling it’s time for a torture session. This isn’t fair. He already had one yesterday. Why does he have to do this every day? Three times a day, actually, if he counts the times he has to do it on his own.

“Good morning!” Eddie beams at him, unbothered by the scowl that must have overtaken Cal’s face. “Well, aren’t you glad to see me?” he teases, sauntering over with a grin. Does he like seeing people in pain? That must be it.

“I think I prefer the nurse who came to change my dressing,” Cal says dryly.

Eddie gasps, placing a hand over his chest. “Rude.” He winks, dropping the pretense, “Come on, I’ll go easy on you.” The glint in his eyes says otherwise. “Okay, sit up straight.”

Bracing himself, Cal places both palms on the bed and pushes himself up, gritting his teeth as the movement makes the foot-long wound running down his belly sting like hell. At least he’s mostly upright already, like he's been since he woke up. The position makes sleeping uncomfortable, but the nurses said he has to stay like that until his lung is fully healed. He’s sure that by the time he leaves the hospital, his ass is going to be flat as a pancake.

“Good. Now, deep breath,” Eddie instructs, inhaling deeply to demonstrate as if Cal doesn’t know how breathing works.

Inhaling carefully, Cal pushes past the discomfort and fills his lungs with as much air as he can. Jesus. Why is breathing so important, anyway? He can function with one lung, no?

“There you go,” Eddie praises. “Hold it. Aaand out, nice and steady. Again. That’s it. Great.”

He makes Cal repeat it ten times, then brings his palms together with a clap. “Alright, let’s warm up your muscles a little.”

Groaning miserably, Cal pulls his blanket off. Suspecting what’s coming, he shimmies down the bed until he’s mostly flat. It actually feels good to lie down like this. He should cherish it before he has to sit up again.

“Put your hands under your lower back,” Eddie says. “We’ll do some pelvic tilting.”

Sounds riveting. “You meanIwill.”

Eddie’s grin nearly splits his face in half. Yeah, he definitely enjoys seeing others suffer. “I’m your emotional support. Now, suck your belly in.”