tail between your legs. What if I hadn't gotten to her in time? We could have lost her, because you're a fucking pussy. Right now, she's in that room, possibly fighting for her life!"
Tears pooled in Ashton's eyes. He was screaming right into Brandon's face, not caring that everyone in the hospital could hear, not giving a damn that security was probably on their way right now.
"But all that matters is that you got out, right? You make me sick . You will get your shit off the bus and get out of here. You are no longer welcome on our tour. Stay away from me, stay away from the guys, and definitely stay the fuck away from Kaylee. She could have died!"
Ashton finally started to cry. The tears burned as they slid down his face. "Do you understand me? She could have died!"
Cody finally managed to pull Ashton off Brandon as he completely broke down. Security had just arrived, and they took one look at the situation and backed away - there was no more threat here. Ashton collapsed on the floor, crying harder than he had ever cried in his life. Cody wrapped his arms around him, rocking him like a baby, while he glared up at Brandon with crystal-clear hate in his eyes.
Jayden turned to Brandon, who stood there like a statue with no emotion on his face. Jayden didn't trust himself to speak. He jerked his head to the door, giving Brandon a sign that it was time for him to go.
Brandon left again, this time like a beaten man, with his tail between his legs.
The doctor walked out of the trauma room and was immediately swarmed by the group in the waiting room. "How is she?" Noah asked. Ashton looked up, his eyes pleading for good news.
"Are you her next of kin?" the doctor asked, and Noah's breath stopped as he tried to get the words out.
"Yes," he whispered. "I'm her brother."
The doctor smiled and nodded, and suddenly Noah could breathe again.
"Ms. Miles has some serious head trauma, a broken shoulder, and a couple of deep lacerations. At this time, she's stable, but we aren't sure if there is any permanent damage done. We won't know anything until she wakes up. The next forty-eight hours are very crucial," the doctor explained.
"Can I see her? I need to see her."
"She's being moved to a private room right now. You'll be able to see her soon."
Ashton let out the breath that he had been holding. All he wanted was for her to be okay. If she wanted to hate him for the rest of her life, then he could handle that, just as long as she was alive.
The doctor rushed out, and the men sat staring at each other, no one knowing quite what to say. What could they say? They were all thinking the same thing: That they were lucky to be alive, and that she had to make it through, just like they did. There was no other option. She simply had to be okay.
Noah and Ashton stayed in the hospital overnight, keeping vigil at Kaylee's bedside, while the rest of the guys found hotel rooms and exacted promises of a phone call the moment Kaylee awoke.
"So tell me, what's the deal?" Noah asked Ashton. "What's up with you and my sister?"
"I don't know. She's great, and I care for her a lot," Ashton admitted. "But...nothing will ever happen.
"Why not?"
"She's too good for me. She's so sweet and innocent, I don't want to corrupt her." Ashton laughed. "She's an amazing woman, and she makes me feel all these things. She's...she's damn near perfect, man, you know? But I'm afraid that I'd end up hurting her, and that's the last thing I want to do. I don't think I could handle a commitment, and she deserves nothing less than that."
He didn't know why he was suddenly pouring his heart out to Noah and coming clean about his feelings...maybe it was because he had come so close to losing Kaylee.
Noah smiled. He knew that Ashton was developing feelings for his sister, but he didn't realize how deep they ran until that moment. "Don't give up man," he said. Then he laughed. "Whoa! Did I just tell the biggest male slut not to give up on my innocent little sister?"
Ashton chuckled and laid his head against Kaylee's bed. They talked throughout the night, Noah telling Ashton about different things that happened when he and his sister were growing