In an Instant by Adrienne Torrisi Read Free Book Online Page B

few hours ago,” Dax continues, and Cam gives him a look that tells him to shut up.
    It’s then that I see what a mess Cam is. His eyes are brimming with tears, his leg is bouncing a mile a minute, and his focus is somewhere far away. He’s physically in this room, but something has pushed his mind miles away.
    “Dammit!” he shouts as he pushes his fingers through his hair, dropping his head back into his hands. I notice his hand is bloody and bandaged, but he seems oblivious.
    “You’ve got to stop. This is not your fault. You need to pull it together. You’re not helping anyone like this,” Dax demands.
    There is a long stretch of silence between them.
    We have all grown up together, and Cam has always been resilient, the protector of our crew. Tonight, he is helpless, and he can’t handle that.
    Cam finally breaks the silence. “I can’t believe they are talking about organ donation with his fucking parents,” he whispers more to himself, deep in thought. I’m not sure he even realizes he said it out loud.
    My stomach drops, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. Who? I want to scream. Who? God, I need to know. Please don’t let it be Jake. But if it’s not Jake, it’s Marcus, and I could never live with myself if something happened to him after these last few weeks with me and Jake lying to everyone.
    My head starts to spin, and it suddenly feels like my brain weighs a hundred pounds. It’s so heavy there is no way my neck could ever support it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t even care. I need to know what is going on.
    I try with everything I have to actually open my eyes.
    “Dani. Shit. What’s happening?” I hear Cam say, hating the fear in his voice.
    I’m here. I’m fine. Or am I?
    Then I hear voices I don’t recognize. From the words they are saying, I’m pretty sure they are doctors.
    “Boys, we’re going to need you to step out of the room now.” The voice is calm.
    “No. We’re not leaving. What is happening to her?” Dax says, and I’m impressed by how in control he is.
    “Sir, I can’t share that information with you because you’re not family. I promise you we’re taking good care of her.”
    “Her mom sucks. We are her family!” Cam shouts. He’s on the brink of losing it completely.
    “Not in the eyes of the law.” The woman’s voice is sterner. “You need to step out of the room so we can help her.”
    I feel hands on my chest, checking something; I’m not sure what. The tubes attached to me are being pulled, and there is a loud beeping noise that won’t stop. I’m trying so hard to fight it, but the abyss is back, and it’s pulling me under again.
    I finally have to give in and go there. There is no fight left. I can’t find my way back to my hospital room. It’s warm, quiet, and safe here, though. I feel safe, and even if it’s a false sense of security, I allow it to envelope me.
    ***
    I have no idea how long it’s been since the last time I was this close to the surface. I know I could open my eyes to see who is around me again. However, I don’t hear anyone, so there’s no reason to try.
    Then I hear soft breathing and feel a hand in mine. The touch is gentle, and for one second, I think it is Jake, so I turn to him, somehow seeing even though I know my eyes aren’t really open.
    It’s Nate, and Hanna is with him.
    Her eyes are red and swollen, as they always are when she has been crying. I hate how upset she is. I want to tell her I’m fine, but I’m not sure about anything anymore.
    Where are Cam and Dax? How long has it been since the last time I was here? Nate and Hanna are wearing the same clothes they were wearing tonight, but has it been minutes? Hours?
    My head still feels like a giant weight is attached to it, but it’s no longer spinning, so that’s a positive.
    “I talked to my mom, D. You are going to be fine. You’re just pretty beat up… You have a nasty concussion and had to get a lot of stitches. But I know