The Broken Girl (Lonely Girl Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

see nothing but supportive eyes looking back at me. “Thank you, Drake.” He turns and puts his arm around me, leading me to the nursing station, with Charlotte in tow.
    “Alec will be back. He just took that good-for-nothing jackass back to his room.” God, I love Charlotte. When a nurse comes to talk to us, we just listen. None of us are breathing, it feels like. She told us that it’s still to soon too tell, but that Jake had complications from his last surgery. He is in critical condition due to internal bleeding. She gives my hand a squeeze before leaving us in the waiting room closest to the operating room.
    “Anything?” I see Alec and he has no emotions showing on his face. I know this face well. It means he’s barely holding it together. I remember this same expression from when they told me Michael hadn’t made it. “He’s in critical condition, Potts. It’s all we know.” Drake looks at me and pulls me next to him. I lean into him. The next six hours are the longest of my life. At some point, I fall asleep with my head on Drake. When I awaken to hear the doctors coming through the door in search of us, I forget where I am momentarily. I find myself laying in Drakes lap with a blanket on me. “Are you the family of Jacob Kelso?”
    We all nod and the doctors explain that it was touch and go for most of it. At one point they did lose him, but where able to stabilize him and he seems to be doing well in recovery. They tell us that when he’s moved to his room, it is fine for one of us to stay with him. “Who’s Rebecca Potts?” I perk up and raise my hand. “His grandmother, who we called to notify, said that you’re in charge of his care.” Drake, Charlotte, and my brother just stare at me. I nod because this isn’t exactly news to me.
    “Will he be awake?” I finally find my voice but it’s still shaky.
    “He’s medicated now but we expect him to wake up in a few hours. We believe he will now make a full recovery.” I breathe for the first time it feels like since I saw them take Jake away. “As soon as he comes through recovery, a nurse will be through to come get you.” I nod and the doctors walk away.
    “Becca, when did you become his next of kin?” Alec asks.
    I look to Alec and I just shrug. “I didn’t know until I got here and wanted to see him on the ICU floor. I guess when I was here and he wasn’t allowed to see me, since it wasn’t listed. After Dillon attacked me, he didn’t want me to ever feel that helpless and not be able to be informed. That’s what he told his grandmother and she wasn’t fighting me on it. She said it’s what he wanted.”
    Charlotte tries changing the subject. “Alec, I think we should leave and go get Becca something to change into and something to eat other than this hospital crap.” Charlotte is trying to give me some space but I don’t think I want to be alone. Drake’s arm is draped over my shoulder and I don’t feel alone with them all here.
    “Charlotte, I don’t want to leave Becca alone that long,” Alec says.
    I feel Drake tighten around me as he interrupts my brother. “I’ll stay. Just bring me back something. Okay, Charlotte?” My brother looks at him with hesitation, but I nod to him, giving him the okay. They pick up their jackets and hug me goodbye, leaving me sitting in the waiting room with Drake. What’s even stranger is that I’ve never felt safe around him until now. What has happened to my life?

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Sitting and waiting to be allowed in to see Jake, being alone with Drake has become awkward. His arm is still around me, comforting me with his presence. It’s completely friendly, which is so strange. However, he keeps opening his mouth to say something, and then he changes his mind. I see the inner thoughts stirring and I feel for him. He looks like he’s trying to tell me the hardest thing in the world.
    “Drake, thank you for staying with me, for finding me.” He pulls his arm off