The Step Brother

Chapter Seventeen

"Chloe, I feel better today. Can't we just stay here? Or I can take you out to lunch or something?"

"No, Harry. I'm taking you to the hospital to get looked at." I tell him for the fiftieth time since he got home. "You crashed your motorcycle; you can't be sure that you didn't break something."

I think it's more for my piece of mind that I'm so persistent on bringing him, but I really just want to make sure he's really okay. He only told me he got into an accident, and I believe him, but I don't really know what or how it happened. Once the doctor says he just needs to let his wounds heal, I'll back off.

"Well then let's go get this shit done with." He groans and heads out to the garage to get in the car.

I sigh once I'm alone in the house. Once I know he's okay, we can move on from this horrific weekend and get on with our lives.

"Okay, Mr. Styles, why don't you explain to me what happened, then we can get some X-rays done and see what's going on." The doctor asks Harry.

I take Harry's hand and hold it as he explains. "I was driving my motorcycle and I lost control on a turn. Nothing really to explain." Harry shrugs. His knee is bouncing up and down.

"Were you wearing a helmet?" The doctor asks, typing something on his tablet.

Harry hesitates for a moment before saying, "No."

My stomach clenches with the realization of how lucky he is. He could have been hurt so much more if he hit his head even just a little harder. And then I start to feel angry... Angry that he was being so careless and not wearing a helmet. I make a mental note to yell at him when we get back home.

"All right, well let's get some X-rays done, and then we'll go from there. Ready?"

"Yeah." Harry nods and stands up.

The doctor leaves the room and asks Harry to follow, but before Harry walks out with him, he stops and looks at me. "I'm sorry." He says quietly and wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me close to his body.

"You should go." I offer him a small smile and kiss him briefly. He nods and takes a deep breath before he's out the door.

I sit in the room for about twenty minutes while Harry's having his X-rays done, and I can hardly stay still. I'm shaking and shivering as I try to focus on this damn magazine. I thank God when the door knob jiggles and Dr. Landry is walking back into the room with Harry behind him.

"It'll just take a couple minutes until we can get the X-rays. I'll give you two some time and come back when they're ready."

"Thanks." I tell him. Dr. Landry smiles and leaves again.

I take a deep breath and look at Harry. "Why weren't you wearing a helmet?"

He looks at me and then looks away, buying time before he answers. "I don't know. I was angry, I didn't think to wear it."

"Harry, you could have killed yourself!" I want to scream, but I don't want to cause a scene.

An odd look washes over Harry's face when he looks back at me. I don't know what it is, but it's a frightening sight. "I'm sorry, Chloe."

"I don't like those things, Harry." I sigh. "And I don't like thinking that it's capable of taking you from me." A stubborn tear spills from my eye.

"Baby," Harry sighs and moves so he's kneeling in front of me. "I'm sorry. I'm not going anywhere, okay?" He takes my face in his hands and wipes away the tear. "You haven't gotten rid of me yet." He smiles.