Camden
The doctor comes in and I’m irritated, moving around.
“Mr. Andretti, you have to stay still,” the doctor pleads. “You have tubes in your chest and they can’t be moved.”
“He’s in pain,” Kendall says, seeing something on my face.
“No,” I say. “I don’t want any drugs.”
Kendall’s face is pleading with me. “Please, Camden. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
I sigh heavily and then groan because it hurts in my chest so much.
“All right,” I croak, and the nurse puts a button in my hand.
“Press this button,” she says, and when I do, something warm and relieving washes through me and my whole body relaxes. I feel myself drifting away.
“Kendall,” I say, my words slurred. “Tell me that you know I love you.”
“Sure,” she says, but I know that she doesn’t believe me.
I struggle to say more but I can’t, I’m fading.
“Camden,” she says quietly. “I-”
But then I’m gone.
When I wake, Kendall isn’t in the room with me but I can still hear someone sobbing. When I turn my face, it’s Elora , her face buried in the bed sheets.
“Elora ?” I call, and she lifts her head, sniffling.
“You’re so stupid,” she says, and I can’t help but smile, fighting back a laugh because I know it will hurt. Everything hurts.
“Mama says I’m smart and handsome,” I joke, and Elora doesn’t smile.
“I’m going to hit you so hard when you get out of here,” she says, and I look over at her and I don’t know if it’s the drugs or the fact that I almost died, but I feel so fond of her that I can barely stand it.
“I love you, Elora ,” I say, and Elora bursts into tears all over again.
“Don’t say that now, you jerk. You’ve never said it before.”
“I’ll blame the drugs later,” I say with a smile, and she grabs my hand so tightly that it almost hurts.
Dante comes in after Elora gets herself together and leaves, and he sighs heavily.
“What about the cops?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t tell them anything.”
“And Angelo?” I ask.
“Not a scratch on him.”
“Lucky sonofabitch,” I grumble, and Dante laughs and it’s a little shaky.
“We’re all glad you’re okay, Camden.”
“Where’s Kendall?” I ask.
“Mia made her go home. She says it’s too much stress for the baby and she needs to rest.”
I nod slowly but I’m a little disappointed. I want to see her.
“Have you changed your mind now?” Dante asks, tilting his head curiously. “About Kendall, I mean?”
“I didn’t change it,” I say. “I just decided to actually tell myself the truth now. She’s my soulmate, Dante. Just like Mia is yours.”
Dante smiles. “I always knew it, you idiot.”
I snort and then groan because it hurts so much. “Fuck me, did I get shot twice?”
“Only once, but it was bad. We almost lost you,” Dante says.
“I’m too stubborn to die,” I argue, and he laughs.
“When Kendall comes back-” I start, and Dante cuts me off.
“I’ll tell her to come right in,” he says, and I smile gratefully. “Now get some rest.”
“I’ll be fine,” I mumble.
“That’s an order,” he says firmly, and I smile, throwing my forearm over my eyes.
Dante leaves the room and I’m left alone and all I can think is that I can’t wait to see Kendall, see her pretty brown eyes, even that scar on her cheekbone.
She’s everything. Her and my baby inside her, and I can’t believe I didn’t realize it until now. Now all I can hope is that I can make it up to her because Elora and Dante are right.
Fuck, I am an idiot.
Will she even…accept me now? After everything?