I begged Mom with my eyes to take me home herself. “I would feel better if she was here or with me, in case she does have a concussion and, well, I don’t want anything else to happen.”
“We would never let anything happen.” Dee’s gaze was steady. “We’ll take her right home and stay with her. I promise.”
I could tell Mom was wrestling with the need to keep me close and her responsibility to those injured in the accident. I felt contrite for making her choose. Plus I knew seeing me in the hospital had to be a painful reminder of Dad. My eyes darted to Daemon, and the bitchiness eased from my shoulders. I gave my mom a weak smile. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m feeling a lot better, and I’m sure nothing else is wrong. I don’t want to stay here.” Mom sighed, wringing her hands. “I can’t believe this would happen on tonight of all nights.”
Her name was called over the loudspeaker once more. She did something very uncharacteristic and cussed. “Dammit!”
Dee immediately jumped up. “We can do it, Mrs. Swartz.”
Mom glanced at me and then the door. “Okay, but if she seems in any way out of character,” she turned to me, “or if your head starts hurting more, call me immediately. No! Call 9-1-1.”
“I will,” I reassured her.
She leaned down and kissed me swiftly on the cheek. “Get some rest, honey. I love you.” Then she was off, rushing down the hallway.
Dee grinned impishly as I looked at her. “Thank you,” I said. “But you don’t have to stay with me.”
She frowned. “Yes, I will. No arguments.” She dashed from my side. “I’ll go see what I can do to spring you from this place.”
I blinked and she was gone, but Daemon had inched closer. His expression was stoic as he stood at the foot of my bed. I closed my eyes. “Are you going to insult me again? Because I’m not up to…pear for that.”
“I think you meant par.”
“Pear. Par. Whatever.” I opened my eyes and found him staring.
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m great.” I yawned loudly. “Your sister acts as if this is her fault.”
“She doesn’t like it when people get hurt,” he said softly. “And people tend to get hurt around us.”
A chill snaked around my insides. Even though his expression was blank, his words were heavy with pain. “What does that mean?”
He didn’t answer.
Dee came back then, a grin on her face. “We’re good to go, with doctor’s orders and all.”
“Come on, let’s get you home.” Daemon moved to the side of my bed and, surprisingly, he helped me sit up and then stand.
I stumbled a few steps, having to stop. “Whoa, I feel buzzed.”
Dee’s face was sympathetic. “I think the pills are starting to work.”
“Am I…slurring yet?” I asked.
“Not at all,” Dee laughed.
I sighed, exhausted to the point of almost falling over. My body was whisked up into the air and against Daemon’s hard chest before being deposited gently into a wheelchair. “Hospital rules,” Daemon explained, and wheeled me out, stopping only long enough for me to sign a couple of forms before steering me toward the parking lot.
He helped me into Dee’s backseat, mindful of the arm brace, by carrying me again and placing me into the rear. “I can walk, you know.”
“I know.” He walked around and slid in next to me.
I tried to keep on my side of the car and my head up, because I doubted he’d appreciate me lying on him, but once Daemon settled next to me, my head sort of fell to his chest. He stiffened for a moment and then placed an arm around my shoulder. The warmth of him quickly seeped into my bones. It felt right, at that moment, to be nestled against him. I felt safe, and it reminded me of the heat that had come off his hand earlier.
I snuggled the good side of my face against the soft fabric of his T-shirt and thought his arm tightened around me, but that could’ve been the pills. By the time the car started, I was already drifting away, one thought colliding into the next without any coherence.
I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or not when I heard Dee speak, her voice sounding muted and far away. “I told her not go. I could still see it.”
“I know.” There was a pause. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anything happen this time. I swear.”
Silence followed by more hushed whispers. “You did something, didn’t you?” she asked. “It’s stronger now.”
“I didn’t…mean to.” Daemon shifted slightly, smoothing the hair off my face. “It just happened. Shit.”
Several long moments passed, and I struggled to stay awake. But the events of the night were weighing too heavily on me, and finally I succumbed to the warmth of Daemon and the blissful silence.
…
When I opened my eyes again, daylight peeked through the heavily curtained living room, catching small particles of dust that hung in a lazy pattern over the peaceful head of Dee. She was a few feet away, curled up on the recliner in a deep sleep. Her small hands were folded neatly under her cheek and lips slightly parted. She looked more like a china doll than a real person.
I smiled and immediately winced.
The spark of pain cleared the haze from my head and the fear from last night doused my veins in ice water. I lay there for several moments, taking deep, calming breaths as I tried to gain control of my spiraling emotions. I was alive—thanks to Daemon, who apparently was also my pillow.