Page 12 of Theodore

What?

I stood up abruptly, the mention of my brother being in peril snapping me to my senses. “What do you mean, hospital? Is he okay, Ryan?”

He looked down at the floor as he gave me a tight smile. “I don’t know. Mom just said we need to be there, so we need to be there.”

Fear clenched my stomach, as I ran a hand through my hair, glancing around for any belongings.

Theo addressed my brother. “I’ll come if that’s alright.”

Ryan nodded before walking away.

I heard him in conversation with Theo’s mom as I paced the room. “You don’t have to come.”

“Han. I’m already there. I’ve got you.”

Theo threw on clean pants as I averted my eyes. He tugged on a long-sleeved t-shirt and shorts before guiding me out of the room.

Even his effortless beauty couldn’t distract me from thinking of Nikolas.

Nikolas was five years older than me and had recently been living with Zane, my eldest brother. The pair were reckless, working hard to play hard, but it was relatively harmless until now. I knew they sometimes dealt with some unsavory characters, but they’d never ended up in the hospital.

“Please let him be okay,” I whispered, jogging downstairs to see Ryan waiting by the door.

“I’m driving,” Ryan muttered as I followed him out to the pickup truck.

I sat on the edge of the seat, as Theo slipped his hand into mine.

I squeezed it gratefully.

“I don’t know shit either. Gonna have to see what Mom says at the hospital. Zane should be there soon,” Ryan said, pulling away from the curb.

I tried to swallow down my anxiety as I imagined the worst, my heart sinking to my knees.

How can everything be okay one minute and then devastating the next?

The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever, despite Ryan’s aggressive driving. When we eventually got there, Ryan parked outside the emergency entrance.

“Ry, you can’t leave it there,” I gasped.

Ryan sent me a look that told me today he dared anyone to argue with him. He glanced down at my hand that’s laced with Theo’s, frowning slightly.

I didn’t drop it, for it was the only thing keeping me sane right now.

We walked into the foyer and began searching for Mom. I saw her crying as she spoke with a doctor, sinking into a chair when she saw us.

“What’s happening doc, talk to me,” Ryan barked as Mom stared ahead in a daze, tears falling silently.

“And you are?” the doctor asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Ryan Phillips. This is my sister Hannah, and her friend, Theo.” Ryan motioned to us. “Please, tell me about Nikolas,” he pleaded as the doctor nodded, sending a concerned glance in my mother’s direction.

“Your brother has been in an accident. A car hit him as he walked home last night. I’m afraid his injuries are critical; potentially life-threatening,” the doctor said with a grimace.

My knees buckled beneath me as Theo caught me, guiding me to the seat beside my Mom.

I gripped her hand, unable to see through the tears that were spilling down my face.

“Ryan! What’s happened?” boomed a deep voice, and I lifted my eyes to see my eldest brother, Zane, storming over. “I tried calling him this morning on the way to work, but he didn’t answer.” His voice wobbled when he saw our mom, kneeling as he stared at her with his crystal blue eyes.