Escaping Parker - F.T. Zele Page 0,78

you were with him, Parker. Thank you for what you did,” she says then walks over to where Andrew is sitting and takes a seat next to him.

I’m so scared to see Rig right now. I have no clue why he came back, and when he did, he almost got killed. The glass doors are open when I approach.

Walking in the room, seeing him, tears fill my eyes. I’m emotionally spent, and everything still hasn’t had time to settle in. I’m still just surviving at this point.

I sit next to his bed and gently take his hand. He looks good, other than a bruise on his face, most likely from the initial scuffle. A sheet is pulled over his chest. Continuing to stay quiet, I hope he can sense that I’m right here. I lay my head next to his arms and close my eyes, thankful that he is here.

I don’t know how much time goes by, but I startle when I feel his hand grip mine tighter. I lift my head to see him staring at me.

“Parker.” He groans and instantly tears blur my eyes.

“Rig, I’m here. I’m so sorry this happened. It’s all my fault.”

“Stop it. This is not your fault,” he says, all groggy. “Are you ok? Were you hurt?” Just like Rig to be concerned about me while he’s not doing alright himself.

Touching my sore chin, I scowl at the pain. “I’m ok, just this little bruise here. Nothing to be worried about.”

“I’m not talking about the bruise.”

“I’m ok,” I promise. “I did what I had to do for me, and . . . for you. I should’ve never told you to leave. It’s not what I wanted. I just couldn’t handle everything, and I was scared, not of you, but of what we had. I didn’t think I would ever be ready to love again. I was so wrong.” I shake my head at my stupidity. “Nothing is the same without you.”

“Stop taking the blame for everything that doesn’t go right the first time around. Like you, I’m a work in progress. I’m still trying to figure out who I am and not let the past define who I am today.” He adjusts in the bed, groaning with every move.

I move his pillow, helping him get more comfortable.

“So where do we go from here?” I ask. “I know you didn’t sign up for all the bullshit that follows me, but it’s a part of me, and hopefully this is the end. I never want to relive that. Now I’ll start a life I am deserving of.”

“Well, I did kind of sign up for it, but I think the worst is over now. We can just focus on us and continue building what we were before I left. That is if you’ll still have me.”

I can’t help but smile at his words. “Rig, I don’t how this happened with us, but I don’t ever want to go another day without you in my life. I now know why you were sent to me to show me who I was, and to make me stronger.”

“I love you, Parker. I promise to always protect you, and love you like you deserved to be loved.”

Once the words leave his lips, I bend down and crash my lips to his, something I have missed so much. I never thought I would trust again, but Rig has made it so effortlessly possible.

“Now, let’s figure out what needs to be done so I can get out of this place and finally come home,” he grunts.

I rise from the chair and gently set his hand down. “I’ll get the doctor to come talk to you in a bit, but first, your parents want to see you. They’re here and my parents should be here soon, too.”

The going home thing will have to wait.

It’s been a couple of intense days since almost losing Rig, with many visits from detective and police officers all wanting to get to the bottom of this whole situation. Things have finally started to set in, and reality is coming at me full force.

I’m still in quite a bit of shock and haven’t had the proper amount of time to process the fact that Steven is dead. Because of me. I’m not filled with regret or remorse. I always knew if we ever met again it would be a life or death situation, but I wasn’t fully aware of how it will feel deep down inside.

Steven was a bad man,