The Truth In My Lies

40

MADISON

I wake up hooked to an IV and blinded by fluorescent hospital lights. I don't remember how I got here, but I do remember Kaiden leaving with Alyssa and promising he would come back for me eventually. I was really wishing that had all been a nightmare.

"Oh, sweetie. You're awake." A soothing voice comes from the side of the bed. My mom leans over me, pushing some hair out of my face. There's gauze wrapped around my head.

"Mom?" I question. I look beside her and see my dad as well.

"I'm going to go get the nurse and tell her you're awake. I'll be right back." She gives me a sympathetic look before slipping from the room.

"I'm going to find the bastard that did this to you, Madison. And when I do, I'm going to kill him." My dad says, his lips pursed. He looks like he's on the verge of tears. "Do you know how awful it is to see your baby girl so helpless? Knowing I couldn't be there to protect you from the monster who did this?"

"Dad, I'm okay." I assure him. There's more I'd like to say, but I'm too weak to do it now.

"No, you're not okay. If you were okay, you wouldn't be in a hospital bed." He shakes his head.

"At least I'm here and not dead." I'm grateful for that.

He starts to say something else, but my mom comes back in the room, followed by a man in white lab coat. He smiles when he sees me. He looks too young to be a doctor.

"You're awake!" He says in a surprised, joking tone. I give him a small smile back, not really in the mood for jokes. I know he's only trying to make me feel better, but I don't think anything will make feel better. Only Kaiden Delacroix and he's long gone.

"Alright, let's take a look at you." He pulls a light pen from his lab coat and shines the light into both of my eyes, checking my pupils.

"Do you know your name and date of birth?" He asks, checking my hospital wristband.

I tell him and he nods his head. "Excellent." He puts the light pen back into his pocket.

"I'm a resident here at the hospital so I'll be checking on you frequently, but your doctor is Dr. Mitchell. You can call me Jace." He introduces himself.

I get a good look at him. His hair is a caramel color, cut short on the sides but curly on the top. Green eyes flicker to the monitor beside my bed. With a strong jawline and full lips, I bet he's every nurses crush right now.

He must notice me squinting, because he asks, "Are the lights bothering you?"

"Yeah." I nod and he reaches over me to turn the light off above my head. He smells of faint cologne, something subtle, but not strong enough to bother any of his patients.

"Better?" He gives me an award winning smile.

"Much better. Thank you." I give him a small smile back.

"Well, I'm going to find Dr. Mitchell. I'll be right back. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call the nurses station." He waves before exiting the room.

"He was one hot tamale, wasn't he, Maddie Bear?" My mom grins at me.

I groan and allow my eyes to flutter shut. I'm in no position to be talking about how hot my resident doctor is. The only man I want is Kaiden. Sure, Jace is nice looking, but Kaiden's perfect to me.