This Can't Be Real

Chapter 34

When my eyes open, the room I'm in is dark. There's a soft stream of orange light coming in through the curtains that are left open so the street light can pour in. I can hear the beeping coming from the machines that are set up near me and the lights are the only bright thing in the room that are clear to see.

The soft breathing that's in the room with me, other than my own breathing, belongs to the one man that told me that all he wants to do is help me. Slouched back in the nearby chair, arms folded over his chest and head bowed down, Joe's sleeping form is seeing him in a place where I know nothing bothers him. He's at peace and away from all the drama that's been happening lately.

I like seeing him at peace; it relaxes me, like it relaxes him.

"J-" I clear my throat and start again. "Joe." My voice is groggy and when he doesn't flinch, I try again. "Joe."

He muffles something then shuffles about, trying to turn onto his right side but failing. His feet slam onto the floor and his hands grip onto the arm rests of the chair, causing him to jerk awake. He looks startled and blinks rapidly around the room before he looks directly at me.

"Leigh," he breathes heavily. He moves to the edge of the chair and leans forward. He takes my hand in his. "You're . . . you're awake."

"I am," I mutter.

"Thank God."

He moves till he's inches from me. I can feel the roughness of his unshaven face on the back of my hand as he kisses my hand, his lips lingering on my skin like it'll be the last time he does it.

"I-" I start.

He gets to his feet so he can hover above me, his forehead resting against mine. "I thought this time would have been the time I finally lost you. I didn't think you'd make it. They told me it would be up to you to pull through like the last time but they were less confident this time."

"How long?" I have to stop the tears from falling because I don't want to think about anything that's happened.

"It doesn't matter," he answers, shaking his head. "What matters is that you're awake."

"How long?" I repeat. "The date."

"It's August 21st," he finally voices.

My brows furrow. "You're missing work."

"You're my priority. I told the club that my family come first before anything else."

"They'll get mad at you."

"Don't care. You and our sons need me more than anything else."

"They-" I cut myself off from speaking and pull back till I can see his face clearly. Did he just say sons? We only have one unless . . . "What-"

"The doctor let it slip that we're having another boy when you were being examined. They thought you miscarried with the amount of blood they found on your clothes. Luckily for you, it wasn't yours."

Flashbacks to the moments before the car took off and hit the wall come firing at me. I can remember Kurt being in the drivers seat, Thom in the passenger seat in front of me, and Jess being next to me. I can remember the screams and pleading for Kurt to not go through with trying to kill us. I can remember him refusing to talk to us and laughing as the car gained speed.

Other than that, everything's a blur.

"Where's Jess?" I quickly ask, causing Joe to move back so he can sit on the edge of the bed. "Is she alright? Please tell me she's alright."

"She got released from hospital two weeks ago. She's going to be okay. She has a hell of a headache from banging her head off the window in the car and not to mention the few broken bones she has, too."