LIB

Chapter 23

            “Somehow I doubt that it’s me that’s rubbing off on him. You have enough sarcasm to do that all on your own,” Blake replied.

            Liam laughed a little. “I think it’s a combination of the two of you. Honestly, I’ve never met two more sarcastic people in my life.”

            “It’s a gift,” I said with a shrug. We walked back to Jake’s room and went inside. Amanda and Jared both stood up when we entered.

            “I think Hailey and Jake need a few minutes alone,” Amanda said.

            I smiled gratefully at her. “Thanks. Blake, do you mind going with my uncle for a bit?”

            “Sure. Hopefully he doesn’t lose me like he does everything else,” Blake replied, releasing me and feeling around until he gripped hold of Liam’s shoulder.

            “I do not lose everything,” Liam retorted. “I just temporarily misplace them.”

            “Well, if you temporarily misplace my boyfriend, then you have to buy me a new one. And I’ll want one that doesn’t argue with me all the time,” I told him.

            Everyone laughed and then left the room, leaving me alone with my brother. I turned to him and he moved himself over on the bed, making room for me. I climbed on beside him, resting my head on his chest and taking comfort from the sound of his heart beating. He put one arm around me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t remember what you told me,” he said quietly.

            “It’s not your fault. I’m sorry I took off, this is all just really a lot to take in. I never thought you’d wake up, but you did. I’m just wound up, that’s all.”

            “I can see why. I wish I could’ve been there for you right after the accident. It must have been so hard on you.”

            “It was. But I’m lucky, because I had Jared and Liam there for me. Jared pushed me a lot and got me walking again when the doctors didn’t necessarily think I ever would again.”

            “Was Marcus really the one driving the car?” he asked quietly.

            “Yes, he was. That made everything worse, because one of the people who should have been there to comfort me was the person who had caused me the agony in the first place.”

            Jake rubbed my arm lightly. “But you have Blake now. I know you have probably already told me about him, but would you mind telling me again? I need to make sure he’s good enough for my little sister.”

            I smiled. “I don’t mind telling you about him. First thing you should know is that he’s blind.”

            Jake nodded. “Amanda told me that part.”

            “Okay, well he’s very sarcastic and can be really rude to people. It took me almost two months to get him to accept me fully as a friend and then I started seeing this other side to him. He can be really sweet and thoughtful, and he makes me want to be a better person, as lame as that might sound. He’s an amazing guitar player and he can sing better then a lot of recording artists I’ve heard. He’s got a bit of a warped sense of humor, but it matches me really well.”

            “He sounds like a good guy,” Jake said.

            “He is, but he can also be moody. It doesn’t happen often around me anymore, but he still lashes out sometimes when he’s particularly frustrated about something. He has nothing but hatred for his parents, because they pretty much abandoned him after the accident. I know that it bothers him more then he lets on, but I never bring that topic up because it just gets him riled up.”