PART 5 CHAPTER 181
JESS
I woke to the sound of steady beeping, the harsh scent of antiseptic filling the air. My eyelids felt heavy, my body even heavier, but something soft and warm was holding my hand. I blinked, my vision slowly coming into focus, and when I looked down, I saw Laura sitting next to me, her head resting on the bed, fast asleep.
Her hand gripped mine tightly as if she’d been afraid to let go. Across the room, my mom was in a chair, her arms folded across her chest as she dozed off, dark circles under her eyes.
The hospital room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a small lamp near the door. Just great, I was back here. I shifted slightly, wincing at the dull ache in my leg and ribs. My throat felt like sandpaper, but I didn’t want to wake anyone yet. Gently, I slipped my hand out from Laura’s grip and slowly sat up, testing my body’s limits.
“Come on, Jess. You’ve survived worse,” I whispered to myself, though my body disagreed with every movement.
“The last time I want to see this hospital. They should be giving me fucking shares by now,” I mumbled to myself.
I reached over and nudged Laura’s shoulder softly, trying not to startle her, but she jumped up like I’d hit her with a jolt of electricity. Her eyes widened, blinking as if she couldn’t believe what she saw.
08 54
PARTS CHAPTER 181.
Then, without warning, she screamed, “She’s awake! Oh my God, you’re awake! I mean–you’re awake! How are you feeling?!”
208 Wouchers
Before I could answer, Laura lunged forward and threw her arms around me, squeezing tightly. My ribs screamed in protest, and I groaned under the weight of her enthusiastic hug.
“I might need a second recovery, I teased, grimacing through the pain. “I think you just cracked a rib.”
Laura pulled back immediately, her face filled with concern, while my mother stirred in the chair across the room, rubbing her eyes. The next thing I knew, she was rushing over, her arms wrapping around me, too, tears already streaming down her cheeks.
“Oh, honey. I’m so happy you are awake!” she cried, her voice trembling as she kissed the top of my head. “Let me call your father. He just stepped out to get food.”
I nodded weakly, trying to offer her a reassuring smile, though my body still felt like it had been run over by a truck. My mom pulled back, her hand shaking as she fumbled with her phone, wiping at her eyes.
Laura flopped back down in her chair, her expression a mix of exhaustion and relief, but the way her lips quirked up told me she was already scheming.
Laura waited for my mother to walk out of the room before she said something.
“I’m all ears,” I said, waiting patiently for her to start.
09:54
PART 5 CHAPTER 101
“I’m so happy you’re okay,” she said, letting out a breath she’d clearly been holding. “But I don’t know about you, Jess, I’m ready to enroll you in a nunnery. mean, seriously, men are just not your thing. Have you considered becoming a lesbian? Paris has plenty of beautiful women to choose from.”
I snorted at the absurdity, laughing despite the ache in my chest.
“No thanks,” I replied with a grin. “Good try, though. I think the nunnery is more my style. Maybe I’ll move to the mountains, become a hermit, and swear off relationships altogether.”
Laura grinned, reaching out to pat my arm gently. “Hey, if anyone could pull off the mysterious hermit vibe, it’s you.”
I laughed again, but the sound was cut short by a sharp twinge in my side. Laura caught the grimace that crossed my face and immediately stopped, her playful smile replaced with a concerned frown.
“Seriously though, Jess… what happened out there?” she asked quietly, her tone dropping. “You scared the shit out of us. I mean, Josh was ready to tear the town apart looking for you.”
And Luke? Was IUke ready to tear down anything for me?
I swallowed hard, memories of Bryan flashing through my mind like fragments of a nightmare. His hands around my throat, the darkness closing in, the sound of sirens–it all came rushing back, too fast, too raw. I closed my eyes, trying to push it back, but the weight of it still sat heavy in my chest.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “It’s all kind of a blur.”
PARTS CHAPTER 181
Laura reached over and squeezed my hand again, “You don’t have to talk about it right now. Just… take your time.”
I looked over at my mom, who was still on the phone, pacing near the window, and then back at Laura.
“How long have I been out?” I asked quietly, my voice trembling a little more than I intended.
“Three days,” Laura said softly. “You’ve been in and out, but you were unconscious most of the time. They had to sedate you after they brought you in. You were fighting the nurses and even the doctor. You have a good right hook, Jess.”
I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from crying.
“I don’t know why I didn’t recognize him. I mean, I know I lost my memories, but I should have known. I fucking should have known.” I mumbled more to myself than to Laura.
“Did he? Did you guys?“I knew what Laura wanted to ask, but I shook my head.
“No. Thank God. He barely touched me. We kissed, that’s about it.” I sighed with relief. “He’s just as charming as he was when we saw him at that football game. Dmples and compliemnts.”
Laura paused, her expression shifting as she looked at me. “You remember the first time you met Bryan?”
I rolled my eyes, opening my mouth to respond automatically, but then stopped mid–sentence, my pulse quickening.
“Of course, I d-” I froze. The realization hit me like a freight train. “Wait. I remember.”
PARTS CHAPTER 181
My heart raced as the memories flooded back with startling clarity.
“I remember!” I gasped, sitting up straight.
288 Vouchern.
PART 5–CHAPTER 182
288 Wounters
PART 5- CHAPTER 182
