Choose Me- the second novel

Chapter 37- You're better than the morphine

Taylor's POV

Waking up startled in Matthew's chest, hearing the general hubbub of the busy waiting room, I gasp for air again. In total shock, seeing flashbacks as I gaze up at him, he looks down at me alarmed. Stroking my hair back and holding me into his chest whispering that we are safe. I eye the clock on the wall stretching out and realising that it's half twelve at night.

"Taylor" he says softly, appraising me with his eyes.

"I'm so glad you're here" I tell him relief washing through me.

"Any news" I ask him looking up at him.

"He's stable babe" he tells me a small smile on his lips.

"Jay has been keeping an eye on the situation." He clarifies, glancing at the empty chair next to him.

"He hasn't woken up yet. Breathing is normal and pulse is good." He says reassuring me, stroking my arm lightly.

"I called his mum to let her know. Now we just need to wait for him to wake up however he is on morphine. Due to his injuries, they operated on his thigh" he adds.

"A couple stitches to his head, and a few over his ribs. But the main problem was a laceration to his thigh" he tells me as I nod absorbing what he is saying.

"Wanna go and see him?" He asks me sweetly and I nod.

Matthew guides me to the west wing, we walk down countless white corridors past the ICU. I just pray for Ross to look less sick, and more healthy. And for his lips not to be blue like they were when I found him. And as I begin to cry again Matty pulls me into him, holding onto me keenly and stroking my back.

Clicking the door handle open to the small room Matthew lets me in first. Lying propped up on the bed and still very much unconscious is Ross, a drip attached to his arm and his leg casted up. I eye his lips and hands and they are no longer blue. No longer icy and cold as they were when I found him. Compelled I walk over to his bedside, tears in my eyes.

I brush the side of his face with my hand assessing him, my eyes flicking up to Jay who is seated in the chair next to the bed.

"He's stable" he comments and I nod to him before collapsing in the chair on the opposite side, head in my hands. Tears uncontrollably falling down my cheeks. Matthew strokes my back in an attempt to calm me down.

Pacing over into the small bathroom without a word, idly wondering how Ross managed to nab a room with an en-suite. Matthew glances up at me concerned and Jay looks at me as if I'm going to bolt. They both go on high alert, just because I'm moving and not talking to them.

The bathroom is just how you would imagine a hospital bathroom to appear, clinical and basic. The shower complete with large bars for the patients to hold onto whilst washing, I run the cold water tap and splash my face, my neck and my arms. My mum used to tell me that when you are all cried out and you just want the tears to stop, to splash your face with cold water. I imagine her kind face and begin crying again, looking into the small mirror and seeing her eyes return my stare.

I tell myself to grow up and face the situation with a calm and rational approach. Ross will be fine I tell myself, he is no longer cold and motionless instead he is tucked up in a warm hospital bed on the mend. I take a paper towel and pat my skin dry, tie my long hair up in a high ponytail and put on some lip balm. Spritz myself with my purse spray and smile in the mirror. Channeling my mother who always told me that I would feel better if I sorted out my hair and sprayed my favourite perfume.

I stride back into the room as the Viking and Matthew eye me inconspicuously. Matthew stands up next to me. I face him and I kiss him on his lips.

"You know the nurse said if we talk to him he'll wake up quicker" Matty comments softly, smiling looking into my eyes. The cool water soothing out the puffiness.

"But not you, Jay" he laughs glancing over at him.

"He realises you're here and he'll want to stay unconscious" he quips.

I laugh out loud as Matthew smiles at me reassuringly rubbing my arm.

"I am terribly uncouth aren't I, not like Ross and his poems" Jay laughs switching on the flatscreen in the corner of the room.

I go over to Ross and stroke his hair and his face again hoping that I might stir him. Matty sits back down near me reassured that I'm okay. An action film on in the background distracts them as they occasionally comment on it. How it's totally unrealistic, and how they could fight better than the lead actor.

I focus on Ross. I talk a little. Just generally about silly stuff, and university and the hot waitress in the coffee shop. Jays ears prick and I scowl at him.

"You wouldn't be her type" I tell him, laughing slightly as he pushes his hair back.

I watch as Ross' eyes move slightly under his eyelids, I hold one of his hands as I continue to stroke his face and his hair. I'm so close to waking him I can sense it.

"Smoke Matty?" Jay asks indicating he's going down for a quick cigarette, he stands a head taller than Matthew.

"I'll be right back" Matthew explains rubbing my back and around to my waist.

"I'll be right back too, Tay" Jay laughs rolling his eyes. I can't help but to laugh at him. His humour, even in the wrong situation, never ceases to make me laugh.

Once they're gone I give Ross my full attention, talking to him, trying to be funny and telling him stupid jokes. Suddenly, he coughs spluttering and catching his breath.

"Your jokes are awful" he manages coughing at the same time.

"I know" I laugh just happy that he is coherent. I stroke his face and squeeze his hand. I start explaining the events in order from when I left him in the car park.

"I never should have left you, It's my fault and I'm sorry. I came to find you and I thought..." I tell him, tears escaping my eyes again.

"Shh not your fault babe" he says. Typical Ross to be the one reassuring me when he's in a hospital bed. Taken over by emotion, I lean down and kiss his lips lightly. He closes his eyes briefly and opens his mouth just slightly.

"I thought I had lost you" I whisper as he holds onto my jaw lightly.

"Not a chance" he smiles watching me.

"You're better than the morphine" he laughs as I stroke his hair back again.