Page 82 of Tell It To The Waves

Breathing in, “Okay.” Because I won’t tell him that I need to be close to him to actually make sure he is okay.

He finally loosens his grip, allowing me to go get a chair, and I put it right next to his bed, and that’s how I sit for the remainder of the night.

My body has never been this sore, nor have I been this tired. So many times they came in and checked Bohdi; how can anyone rest in this place?

“I’m going to go find Baylee and some strong coffee.” I lean over the railing, giving him a kiss on his forehead.

“Go lower,” he grumbles at me, and I laugh before walking out of the room.

Bay meets me in the lobby, and I know I look just as bad as her. “Throwing up in a public toilet isn’t something I ever want to do again.” She pokes out her bottom lip and I grimace.

Reaching my hand out, I wrap it around her waist, pulling her to me. “That’s no fun.” I sniff loudly, “Also, you stink.”

Her mouth falls open. “August!”

Lifting my shoulders, “What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t tell you.”

“Alive,” she growls and we both laugh.

Turning the corner, we run into Kai, whose hands are full with two coffees and a bag. “This is for you two. Bohdi messaged me and wants my parents and me in his room. He has to talk to us about something.” He swallows.

I stare, wondering what they need to talk about, but it’s none of my business.

Baylee takes the bag, and I take our coffees. “Sounds good.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

I watched her sleep most of the night, thinking about us and not us. And I can’t see myself without August, in some form or fashion, even if that’s being friends, at least I have her. But I don’t want to be friends; I want to worship her body, laugh with her, make memories, and build a life together.

Texting Kai was my next step. I need to let my parents know and that I have it all under control now. I can’t hold on to this anymore.

Wrecking my motorcycle was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. The pure panic that set in when I realized I was going down and unable to do anything; I don’t want to ever be in a situation like that again. How do people just get back on their bikes?

The door opens, my mom’s gray head of hair popping in, “You wanted to talk to us?”

I wave her in; my father and brother follow behind her, before they all three stand around my hospital bed.

I can tell that Kai knows I’m fixing to let our parents in on the shitshow I’ve been dealing with for almost two years.

“I don’t want you to panic. I’ve taken care of it, and there's nothing to worry about.” My dad slowly blinks as my mom takes the chair that August occupied last night.

I gave them the entire story and let them hear the recording I was able to get. My dad is seething by the time I’m done. My mother is crying, and Kai is pacing back and forth in the room.

“Why did you keep this to yourself, son?” My father comes closer to me.

“This was a mess I got you in; I couldn’t let you worry about it. I knew somehow, some way, I was going to fix it.” I tell them truthfully.

“And how was that, marrying a girl you didn’t love, living a life that was forced upon you because you didn’t want to have us in a panic? Bohdi, I want to wring your neck. We’re family; we take things on together.” My mother cries.

Kai comes to the foot of the bed, resting his hands on the hard plastic footboard. “It’s done?”

I try to push myself up further on the bed, hissing out when the cover rubs my wound. “Yes.”

“Then, this is it. This is the last time we speak of this. Everything goes back to normal.” Kai raises his eyebrow at me, and I know what he’s speaking about. The distance is no more.

I nod my head. “I agree.”

My mom stands up, leaning over the sidebar. She hugs me, kissing me on my cheek. “I love you, son. But never keep stuff to yourself. But thank you for wanting to protect your father and I.” She backs away, allowing my father to take her place. His words are a little more slurred nowadays, but he’s still the man he was before the stroke. “I want my boys back together.” He looks from me to Kai.