For The One(126)

“Well, some of your friends from your clan were here while you were getting sewn up. They offered to pack up your tent and belongings then load them up in your truck. Your dad is going to go to the campsite so he can drive it back to your house. I think they were hoping you’d have gotten the MRI by now.”

I scowl. “I don’t want the MRI.”

“It’s not about what you want. The doctors are not going to release you ‘til they know you’re okay. You were knocked out, William. It’s a given that they’re going to do an MRI. I’m sure it will be soon…okay?”

I stare at her, folding my arms over my chest. “Has Alex replied to your text yet? I’m very worried about Jenna.”

Mia hesitates and looks toward the door, but she doesn’t answer me.

“Are you waiting for Adam to come back so he can give you permission to tell me whatever it is?”

She gives me her mad look. “I don’t need Adam’s permission. Yes, Alex texted me. They’re okay. They, are, uh, back in Orange County.”

I sit up, more questions pouring into my mind. Why hasn’t Jenna checked to see that I’m all right? Why hasn’t she even answered her damn phone?

I open my mouth to start asking when suddenly Adam returns holding various objects he didn’t have before. Mia, however, is watching me closely. “You okay?”

“No,” I reply.

Adam steps closer to the bed. “Your dad and Kim just left to go get your truck, but they gave me some stuff your friends brought from the campground. Your phone…” He brandishes it, and I reach up and snatch it out of his hand. I check the text messages.

Nothing. Nothing from her at all.

He sets a weird-looking lacquered box on the meal tray in front of me. “That isn’t mine,” I say.

Adam gestured to it. “Sure it is. It’s your prize, Sir William. They got Doug to cough it up.”

I picture Doug coughing and things coming up—and gross as that image is in my mind, I can’t see him coughing a box out of his mouth.

I give Adam a look and he laughs. “It’s the tiara. The council required Doug to produce it, according to the terms previously agreed upon. Once he did, they voted to exile him on the grounds of his cowardly attack on you. You can also choose to press assault charges on him.”

I look at my phone again. “The only thing I want to do right now is talk to Jenna.” I start to get up from the gurney, but Mia stands in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“No, you don’t, buster. You can’t get up right now. The doctor hasn’t cleared you. In fact, I’m guessing that they’re going to admit you for the night.”

I push her hand off my shoulder and stand. “No, they fucking are not,” I say.

But Adam’s there and he pushes me back down on the gurney. “Down, boy,” he says. “And be nice to Mia, please. She took good care of you while you were knocked out.”

I mumble my thanks and move to stand up again. “I’ll just step out to call—”

At that exact moment, the doctor walks in to check for a head injury. I have to do lame things like squeeze his finger, then follow his finger with my eyes as he waves it in front of me. After that, he looks into my eyes with a small flashlight, which I loathe.

“I am not staying here,” I say before he can speak. He’s inputting things into a tablet—my chart.

“We need to run an MRI and ideally keep you for observation. We’ll have this discussion after I have that MRI in my hand. How’s that?”

“I need to make a very important phone call!” I say, attempting to get up.

“Mr. Drake, you can’t get up and walk around. You’re a patient here until you’re released.”

“Then I’m releasing myself. I’ll just—”

Adam’s at my side again, resting a heavy hand on my shoulder. “You’re not releasing yourself. You’re staying right here ‘til you have your test.”

I shove his hands off me. “Stop touching me, damn it! I want to know where Jenna is and why she’s not here.”

The doctor is looking from Adam to me and back again. Mia steps forward. “I think the sooner we can get his MRI, the better.”

The doctor nods. “I’ll see what I can do to bump him up in the queue.” He steps out shortly after that, and I try one more time to stand up. Adam prevents it and I take a swing at him.

“Jesus, Liam, calm the fuck down!” He bats my fist away before it can connect.

“No, stop this bullshit. I need to talk to Jenna. I need to know why she’s not here. She’s probably very worried about me.”