Chapter 7

J OEY

" I t's been a week." I'd been on my best friend Sonia's couch for the last four hours, crying on and off, unsure of what to do.

Sonia hugged me as she lied and told me everything would be okay. I didn't feel like it would be. I didn't think anything would be all right ever again.

"Has he ever done this before?" Sonia murmured.

"He's run off before to blow off steam, but he always comes home. And he always answers my messages. This is the first time he's been radio silent. Lip's worried. He's been out searching for him, calling everyone they know. What if something happened to him, Sonia?"

"Jack? No, nothin's happened to him. That man knows how to take care of himself."

"I hope you're right. You should’ve seen the look on his face before he left… I wanted to run after him, but Lip held me back. I wish I hadn't fuckin’ listened. I should’ve jumped in front of his bike."

"No, Lip was right. You can't make someone do something they don't wanna do."

"I know. But…two years… Didn't that mean anything?"

"Baby, that man loves you. You and Lip are everything to him. That I'm sure about."

"I just want him to come home."

"I know you do."

"I shouldn't have pushed."

Sonia grabbed my face. "No. You did what you had to do. A relationship can't have any secrets; that shit festers and consumes people until there's nothing left."

"When did you get so smart?"

Sonia laughed, flipping her hair, "I've always been like this."

"We found him," Tristen, Sonia’s husband, said, walking in the front door with Lip trailing behind.

I flung myself off the couch and straight into Lip's arms. He held me tight, silently telling me he'd never let me go, never let us fall apart.

"Where is he?" I asked, looking behind Lip, thinking Jack would be right behind them.

"He's in the hospital," Lip whispered.

My legs gave way. Lip’s arms were the only reason I didn’t collapse to the floor. He scooped me up and carried me back to the couch before sitting beside me.

"What happened?" I whispered.

Sonia handed me a glass of water, and my hands shook as I took it from her.

"He got in an accident on his bike. He hit his head pretty bad. He has some swelling in his brain. He's in a coma," Tristan said, pulling Sonia to him.

I glanced at Lip. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair disheveled, and he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. He was as heartbroken as me. Our relationship didn't work because I fell in love with two men who loved me; it worked because we all loved each other. We were three pieces of the same puzzle. With one in disarray, we all were.

I squeezed Lip's hand, trying to silently tell him that I knew what he was going through.

Lip smiled, attempting to reassure me, but it was the fake smile of someone on the edge. I knew how he felt. I didn't think I'd ever smile again if anything happened to Jack.

Lip kissed my forehead and pulled me closer. That was all I needed for the tears to flow. The dam broke, no longer able to hold the weight of the water, submerging me in fear and worry.

"We gotta go," I said, jumping off the couch.

Lip got up, lacing his fingers in mine, and we headed toward the door.

"If you need anything, call me," Sonia said, hugging me tightly.

I nodded, feeling too heavy to say another word, as I walked out the door and headed to what could be the beginning of the darkness known as my life.

We drove in silence to the hospital, both consumed in our own thoughts.

When we arrived, Lip cut the ignition, his knuckles white from fisting the steering wheel. "He's not dead."

Those three words echoed nonstop in my mind. He's not dead.

"He'll be fine," Lip said, squeezing my hand. "It's Jack. Nothin's gonna hold him down. He'll be fine."

I nodded, trying to hold back the tears. "It's Jack. He'll be fine."

B ile rose in my throat as we got off the elevator for the Intensive Care Unit. Seeing all the doctors and nurses with gloves and masks made me realize how serious this was.

Lip dragged us to the nurses' station, demanding someone help us. "I need to know what room Jackson McGrath is in."

"Are you family?"

"Yes, my name is Phillip Sullivan," Lip said without hesitation.

"He's in room 501. Please wait outside the room, and someone will come and see you."

Lip turned to me. "Let's go."

We waited outside Jack's room for what felt like an eternity. I tried to peek in, but the blinds were drawn, and I couldn't get a glimpse of Jack. Being so close to him and unable to see him was killing me.

"What's taking so long?" Lip asked as he paced back and forth in front of me.

I'd never seen Lip like this; he was always in control, confident, and sure of himself.

I moved close and grabbed his head, my eyes fixed on his. "It will be okay."

"It's drivin' me crazy not knowing anything. Like, is this shit normal? Making loved ones wait to hear news? What kind of bullshit is this? Someone should've told us what was goin' on the minute we walked up to that desk."

"Phillip Sullivan?" a middle-aged woman in a white coat asked.

"Yes, that's me."

"I'm Doctor Smith, Mr. McGrath's doctor. The good news is that Mr. McGrath is going to be fine. The swelling has reduced, and there are no major injuries or trauma. He'll be as good as new with a little rest."

Relief overwhelmed me. It was like falling down a dark hole, knowing the landing would be hard, only to have the fall cushioned at the last minute. I’d been so worried until I heard the doctor tell us Jack would be fine.

"Can we see him?" I asked.

"Yes. I think he might like to see some familiar faces. When he woke up, he asked for Lip and Joey."