“And?”
“They found out Josh had one of the cheerleaders pass a note to Gianna,” he hesitated before going on, “Supposedly from you, asking to meet in the cafeteria after the game.”
“God Dammit!” I screamed, scaring the crap out of an elderly couple coming off the elevator.
My dad apologized to them, but they hustled past us faster than people their age should be able to move.
Stepping into the elevator, my dad pushed the button for the sixth floor. My stomach was tied in knots. I needed to be able to see Gianna and was worried I’d be denied. I hoped Julie wasn’t here now. I might be able to get past Gianna’s dad. Fifth floor, sixth floor, the elevator slid open.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“What will I be dealing with when it comes to Chris?” I asked, wishing to hear he wanted to pat me on the back for beating the shit out of Josh.
“Well,” my dad paused, obviously thinking over his answer, “When Julie first called him last night, she was convinced you were the one who hurt Gianna.”
“Stupid bitch,” I growled vehemently.
My dad ignored me calling his wife a bitch. “But, by the time Chris got here and the cops filled him in, he was just grateful you and Ian found Gianna so quickly and she wasn’t lying there all night.”
The thought of that . . . it made me sick.
We walked past the nurse’s triage desk and my dad came to a stop in front of room 626. Unfortunately, I could already make out Julie’s grating voice inside. My dad went in ahead of me and I was close on his heels. The room wasn’t large and the curtains were closed. Julie sat in one chair against the window and a man sat in another chair, with Chance sleeping in his lap. This was a bad time to be meeting Gianna’s dad.
Julie didn’t see me right away, looking at my dad first, but when she did, she jumped out of her chair pointing a finger at me in accusation. “I don’t want you in here!”
Ignoring her, I stared at the figure in the bed. She was lying on her back in a hospital gown, with the sheets pulled up to under her armpits. Both wrists were in casts and her face was badly swollen.
From what my dad had told me, the fracture in her jaw wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Doctors estimated it’d take six weeks to heal. The wires they’d used would prevent Gianna from eating solid foods and she wouldn’t be able to talk much, but once healed, she’d be back to normal.
At least physically.
Her eyes were closed. She was either asleep or still sedated. I prayed she wasn’t having bad dreams.
Glancing at Julie, I took in her face turning red, twisted in hatred. It was amazing how such a pretty woman could become so ugly in a matter of seconds. “Did you not hear me, Caleb? You’re not welcome here! This is all your fault!”
Gianna’s dad stood up, settling a sleeping Chance into the armchair. “Take this outside, Julie. The kids don’t need to hear it.”
Reluctantly agreeing with him and not wanting Gianna to wake up upset, I spun on my heel and left the room. My dad was right behind me for support, but I could also hear the click of Julie’s heels. In the hallway, I spun around again, crossing my arms over my chest. I needed to keep myself in check because Julie was undoubtedly about to piss me the hell off. I’d have to resist the urge to smack her.
“Take your son home, Scott,” Julie told my dad, not even bothering to address me.
“I’m here to be with Gianna,” I protested. “You don’t own the hospital, Julie.”
Chris came out of the room, leaning against the doorframe. He was younger than I’d expected, younger than my dad, but I sometimes forgot Chris and Julie had gotten pregnant with Gianna while they were still in high school.
Around mine and Gianna’s age, actually.
The fact he’d managed to get through college to become a plastic surgeon was amazing. Chris wore a neutral expression, so I couldn’t tell where he stood in this little drama. This had to be eating him up inside. His daughter had been viciously attacked and violated. None of us needed Julie’s selfish behavior.
“But, I am her mother and I say who can and can’t come into her hospital room. And you’re not welcome in there.” She shot a look at Chris. “Her dad will back me up on this.”
Chris lost the blank expression, giving me an apologetic look. “I think it’s for the best for now. Gianna doesn’t need any added stress.” Julie was the one causing a ruckus.
I could almost understand where he was coming from, but I didn’t have to like it. Stubbornly, I took a seat in one of the connected plastic and metal chairs in the hallway. “Fine, then I’ll wait here until it’s okay for me to see her.”