Page 6 of Surviving Slater

"What happened between you and Slater?" he asked.

I frowned while I took a moment to think of how to explain it to him. His question had taken me by surprise.

"I don't really know," I replied honestly.

The only one who really knew was Slater. My connection with him had been something unplanned and hard to let go of but Slater had let go of me, stopping whatever had been happening between us.

Matthew looked at me thoughtfully. "I wouldn't write him off yet."

"Why do you say that?" I asked, frowning.

"I caught the glares I was getting from him when we were at the hospital yesterday. It isn't the behavior of a guy who isn't interested."

It didn't change anything. I shrugged. I took another sip of my coffee.

Matthew frowned for a moment. "Did he give you a reason?"

I shook my head. No, there hadn't been any reason, he had only told me he couldn't dous. Had he been scared of the connection we had made? I could still remember the sinking feeling in my stomach and the look on his face when he'd told me that. The rejection had hurt.

It wasn't like I hadn't been dumped before but it had never hurt. I had never become emotionally invested in any prior relationships before, so walking away had been easy. But Slater had been different.

"Enough about boys. Go get ready so you can take me to the hospital," I said, giving him a push toward the door.

"But I haven't finished my coffee yet," he tried to reason, putting his cup down.

"Then stop talking and drink it," I quipped. I emptied my coffee down the drain and rinsed the cup.

I left him to finish up his coffee as I went into my room and closed the door. For a moment I allowed myself to feel the hurt that talking about Slater made me feel. When it was over I released an emotional breath and pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind.

I had to be strong for my friend. She would need me to help her through the next few days. Trying to keep myself from remembering things I didn't want to, I went to my closet and got some clothes out.

The need to see Taylor pushed me to hurry Matthew. When we arrived at the hospital again I wasn't surprised to see Sin waiting outside Taylor's hospital door, still dressed in the clothes from the day before. He had probably stayed here all night. I assumed Connor was inside the room with her.

"Is she awake yet?" I asked Sin as I reached him. He straightened up and raked a hand through his hair.

"Yes."

I bit my lip as I contemplated what she would be feeling. I rubbed my temple as I dealt with my overwhelming feelings, trying to concentrate on the relief and happiness that she was still alive. No matter what had happened between Taylor and Eric, it could be dealt with.

But you know how hard it is to deal with the wounds that can't be seen,my mind reminded me, but I tried to shut the voice out.

"What did she say?" I asked, trying to distract myself.

"I don't know."

The sadness I could see in him was hard to watch. This was tearing him apart. There was more. My eyes narrowed.

He shrugged like he had the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. "I shouldn't have left."

Then I understood. Guilt. I reached out and put my hand on his arm. My slightly tanned skin clashed with his inked swirl of color on his tattoo sleeve. It reminded me of Slater. Hell, everything seemed to remind me of him.

"It wasn't your fault."

He nodded at my words, although I could see he didn't believe me.

We waited for a while to see Taylor. Matthew and I went in first. I had to school my expression when my eyes took in the damage Eric had inflicted. Emotion clogged my throat. Her skin was paler than usual emphasizing her bruises. Her shoulder-length platinum hair was limp and her vibrant blue eyes had lost their sparkle.

Somehow I managed to keep myself from falling apart. It was only after the visit, when I left the room and caught sight of Slater waiting outside the door with Connor and Sin, that I felt my emotions overwhelm me.