JL
She hates me. She swears she doesn't, but the woman sitting next to my bed wasn't the same Bry. Her presence felt different.
"Hey." She greeted me with a smile.
"Hey." I responded despite an achy throat and dizzy head.
"All went well. You should be out of here in no time."
"Good."
Bry lay down her phone, peered into my eyes, sighed, then replied. "Yeah, it is."
"You mean that?"
Chuckling, she answered. "Believe it or not, I do."
I managed a brief huff while trying to get some feeling back in my butt cheeks.
Responding to my discontent, Bry stated. "Justin, I may want to kill you, but I don't want you dead."
That didn't make sense, but okay.
"JJ needs you."
Damn, she couldn't even pretend my wellbeing was worth her concern.
"Your parents are in the lobby. I'll let them know you're awake."
"Wait."
She paused while packing her oversized bag.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't start that." She taunted with a smirk on her face. "A quick visit to your maker does not a humble man truly make."
"But I am sorry though."
"Well, if that's true, now is not the time to be concerned with it. Focus on getting better."
As she pulled the straps over her shoulder, I could feel her energy leave the room before she physically departed. I felt uneasy, vulnerable. In a million years I would've never pictured myself again at the mercy of Bry, especially nonchalant Bry. But here I lay and there's nothing I can do about it. My father came in not long after she left. Pulling a chair closer to the bed, he lay his hand on mine, then bowed his head. Weird because JL, Sr was as close to religion as I was a virgin.
"Dad."
He jumped at the sound of his name.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Like I had a heart attack."
"Yeah." He replied while squeezing my hand. "Your mom is a mess out there. I told her she needs to get it together before seeing you."
He faced me, but continued staring at the floor.
"Thanks for coming," I offered during his moment of silence.
"I very well couldn't. What the hell would that look like?"
Here we go.
"Can you check on Mom?"
"She can wait, all that fuss is just what she does. She's always been easily excitable about the most minute shit."
As my chest ached, I wondered what was minute about my heart deciding to check out. Maybe the drugs were to blame, but I blurted out.
"Do you even love me?"
My father removed his hand, then finally made eye contact. Without skipping a beat, he replied.
"I do, I just have never known how much."
Not that his answer was a surprise, but is still hurt.
"What did I ever do to you?"
YOU ARE READING
Old & Knew
RomanceFOLLOW UP TO HER PLEASURE HIS PAIN Ava and JL's chance encounter continues. He's searching for peace. She brings him more than he could ever ask. Friends? Yes, though he desires more. But with his marriage still intact, his old life refuses to go aw...
