Page 63 of Keeping Kyle

“Anytime,” he said.

We released each other, and I went to the nurse with my luggage in tow. Before I went through the doors, I stole one look back to find Austin’s gaze still on me. Thankfully, the door closed automatically so I couldn’t just run back to the safety of his embrace.

I DIDN’T HAVE much experience with hospitals. I’d been to the emergency room three times as a kid because of a broken arm and two sprained ankles. For those, I was in and out in a few hours. I’d been next to Mom’s bed for what felt like an entirety.

Nothing changed. She laid there looking peaceful. Machines around her beeped. The bruises on her face made it look like she’d been in a fight. I’d never seen her looking this broken.

Sitting next to her—my hand on top of hers so she could know I’m here—I was a mess, replaying the moments with Austin I’d had. That last look… did he want to say something? Should I have spilled out an apology? I’m sure I handled the whole thing wrong as I had the other night. Other than G, I hadn’t told anyone what had happened. I couldn’t face telling either Bobby or Mom. Besides, I already knew what they’d tell me.

Mom’s hand flexed under mine—at least I think it did.

“Mom? I’m here. Bobby’s on the way too.”

Another flex. No mistake this time.

“Shouldn’t you…” Her eyes fluttered open, and it looked like she was trying to focus on the room. Her hand tightened into a vice.

“Mom?” She turned to my voice. Her eyes still didn’t seem to fully focus, but her mouth curved into a very slight smile. “Hey, Mom. It’s so good to see you awake.”

“Kyle?” Her voice sounded rough, dry, and raspy. “I’m so sorry.”

“You got nothing to be sorry about. Everything is gonna be okay.”

“I have not…” She tried to clear her throat. “Water? Can I? Is there some?”

I didn’t see any, and I was sure I couldn’t give her the coffee I had with me. I probably needed permission to give her anything and let them know she was awake.

I clicked the call button that lay on the bed next to her hand.

“Yes? May I help you?” Nurse Montgomery’s voice came back.

“Hi. Yes. My mom is waking up. She’s asking for water.”

“That’s great.” She sounded very pleased. I’d liked the nurse from the moment I’d met her. She had a cool, calm demeanor even with all the critical patients around her. “I’ll be right there after I call the doctor.”

“I hope she brings water,” Mom sputtered out. “Is it still Wednesday?”

“No. It’s Thursday morning.”

“How are you here? You had a game. What about practice today?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle as she tried to admonish me, which came out weird with her dry voice. “I’m here because somebody decided to ram into your car last night.”

Nurse Montgomery and Doctor Snow came in. The nurse had water and went to the opposite side of the bed, and mom turned to her to get to the straw.

“Mrs. Pressgrove, it’s good to see you awake. Kyle, can you please step out for a moment while we do some examinations? You can wait by the nurse’s station because this won’t take long. Then we can talk about the test results I got a few minutes ago.”

“Of course.”

I leaned against the nurse’s station, letting it hold me up. Relief rushed through me. Mixed with the extreme tired, it verged on more than I could deal with.

“Are you okay?”

I turned and found another of the nurses looking at me. “Yes. Sorry. Just wiped out by it all, you know.”

“I understand.” He had a kind smile—I imagined all nurses had that—as he got up from his chair and took a tablet into one of the other patient areas.

I pulled out my phone and texted Bobby to give me something to do. I couldn’t fall apart when Mom needed me, so it all needed to stay bottled up.