“Is that your way of telling me that we’re moving in together?” I forced another smile, but each one was a little more painful and it made my head spin.
“Temporarily.” She nodded quickly. “I’ll find my own place after you’re fully recovered.”
“Nah.” I winced. “I think I’ll be too used to having you around by that point.”
I wanted to keep talking to Eliza, but my head was hurting so bad that I was going to pass out if I didn’t get another dose of pain medication. The nurse came in and pumped some into my IV, which made me really sleepy. I saw Eliza pull the chair away from my bed and curl up underneath a blanket. I didn’t know if the doctor would actually let her stay, but she didn’t seem to have any intentions of leaving. I felt better knowing she was there. I wanted to know what really happened in the accident, but all I could focus on was sleep once the pain medication kicked in. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling the fog close in on me again. I didn’t like the fog, but I wasn’t hurting, so that was a bonus. I also wasn’t worried that I wouldn’t see Eliza again. She was a few feet away?
?even if I didn’t have the strength to reach out and touch her. That gave me all of the peace that I could hope for under the circumstances.
I’m going to find out the truth when I get out of this bed, and if this was anything other than an accident, there will be hell to pay.
24
Eliza
Things felt like they were spinning out of control after Hudson’s accident and I was torn between helping Melanie and being there for the man I loved. Hudson was released from the hospital after a few days, but he still needed a caretaker at home. Melanie offered to let me skip the wedding entirely if I needed to help Hudson, but I didn’t want to do that to her. Preston turned out to be a godsend during this time, because he would spend his days off with Hudson, so I could focus on the wedding. He even stayed with Hudson, so I could take Melanie to Birmingham for the Chippendale show like we planned for her bachelorette party. It was a good way to relieve stress, even if the only man I wanted to see dance was laying at home in bed. When Melanie’s wedding day finally came, I stood by her side as planned. She made a beautiful bride, and Dave’s vows melted my heart. The next day, I moved the rest of my stuff to Hudson’s house. I still wasn’t sure if it would become my permanent residence, but he needed me until he was back on his feet again.
“How is he?” I walked inside and put my purse down next to the door.
“He’s sleeping—but he does that a lot.” Preston looked up at me. “Are you hungry? I was just about to make some lunch.”
“Yeah, I didn’t even grab any food today.” I nodded quickly. “How about one of those grilled cheese sandwiches you used to make?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking too.” Preston smiled and stood up from the couch. “Dad dropped off some groceries earlier, so we even have the good cheese.”
“Perfect.” I nodded and walked into Hudson’s bedroom to check on him.
I didn’t try to wake Hudson up when he was sleeping. The doctors said he would need a lot of extra rest while his body healed, so if he slept all day, it was perfectly normal. I hoped that was true. I sat on the edge of the bed and watched him sleep for several minutes before the smell of Preston’s butter-soaked grilled cheese made me realize how hungry I truly was. I hadn’t eaten anything since Melanie’s wedding the night before. I walked into the kitchen to find Preston dropping the first one on a plate and tossing two more pieces of bread into the pan. He used to make us those grilled cheese sandwiches all the time during the summer I spent with the two of them. Honestly, I think it was the only thing he knew how to cook back then, but I never complained because they were so good.
“Here you go.” Preston pushed the plate over to me. “You don’t have to wait on me to finish cooking. I’m going to make one for Hudson too, just in case he wakes up.”
“Good, because I’m freaking starving.” I grabbed a bag of chips and tore it open.
My anger for Preston faded after Hudson’s accident. The tragedy was like a light switch in my head. I no longer saw him as the man who lied to me and ruined my life. We were kindred spirits—two people that were caring for someone we loved. Preston was selfless when it came to his brother, and that was a side of him that I had never seen before. The mistakes he made were truly forgiven in my eyes, even though they were ones that I never saw myself being able to completely move past before the accident. The world was bigger than us and it was a shame that it took something so horrific for me to see that. Things might never change in Andalusia, but the town would always be my home. I was content with that choice because I finally understood what really mattered. Love—passion—desire. Those were important, but life itself was too precious to waste and every moment of it was one that needed to be treasured.
“I thought I remembered how good these were.” I bit into the grilled cheese. “They’re better…”
“I’ve upped my game in recent years.” Preston looked over his shoulder and chuckled. “Now I fry them in salted butter—it’s a huge improvement.”
“That explains it.” I nodded and smiled. “I feel my blood pressure rising already.”
“The doctor needs something to talk about.” Preston shrugged and tossed the second grilled cheese on a plate before beginning the third.
I finished my grilled cheese and when I went back to check on Hudson, he was starting to wake up. The pain medication made him drowsy most of the time, and it was time for another dose, so I knew he wouldn’t be awake long. I got him to eat some of the grilled cheese, wash it down with milk, and then I gave him a pill. He didn’t talk much, other than to thank me for bringing him some food and giving him his medication. I was afraid that in addition to the brain injury, he was slipping into a bout of depression from being stuck inside all day and unable to really do anything. I sat on the bed beside him and held his hand until he dozed off again. It was hard to see him hurting, but he was getting better every day. The doctor believed he would be able to sit up most of the way within a week, but even that would be difficult at first. I returned to the living room and found Preston eating his grilled cheese while he aimlessly flipped through Netflix.
“You don’t have to stay.” I sat down on the couch next to him. “I’ll be here every day now that the wedding is over.”
“I know.” He shrugged and sighed. “I just—I’m worried about him. It’s easier to be here and know he’s okay than to sit at home and worry all day.”
“Then I guess you better find us a movie.” I turned towards the television. “And not another zombie one…”
“What about zombie beavers?” Preston chuckled and pointed at the screen.
“No. I want to laugh—if that’s even possible. Find a comedy.” I grumbled under my breath.
“Okay.” He nodded quickly.
“Have there been any updates on the accident?” I turned my head back towards him.