“Hmm. Convenient,” he says, raising an eyebrow at me before he lets his head fall back into the pillows and he lets out a sigh. “My leg is broken in two places, I have a concussion, some broken ribs and bruising all down my right side not that you asked.” His words sting.

“You didn’t give me a chance to. You jumped all over me as soon as I walked in. But I’m happy that it wasn’t more serious.” I move toward his bed and reach for his hand. He flinches but lets me hold it and I squeeze it gently. “Why are you so angry with me? I understand that I should have heard the calls but…”

“You were drunk,” he interjects. “That’s the only time you sleep like the dead. The only time you sleep through phone calls and texts. When you and Chloe go out and drink and pass out.” I blink my eyes. “Normally it’s fine, whatever. But I needed you, Whitney. I needed you and you weren’t there.”

“I got here as soon as I could. You were across the country. I had to cross two time zones to get here and you’re angry because I got the call at eight a.m. versus midnight? Mind you, you weren’t even answering my calls last night. Why? Because you were getting drunk with Nick and Owen? Out of character for you by the way.” I wasn’t trying to point fingers, because I wish he would let loose more but he can’t fault me for doing the same thing he was doing.

You kinda weren’t though. You weren’t answering because you were getting fucked within an inch of your life.

“Because you were driving me crazy.”

“What?”

“The reason I was out with Nick and Owen? Because my fiancée wouldn’t come to New York and be with me like I asked.”

“I told you, I couldn’t—”

“Bullshit. Because then you went to day drink at your parents’ house. What the fuck is that about, Whitney?”

“Oh my God, what is it with you and my family? It’s either my parents and if it’s not them it’s Chloe or it’s Mason. Am I supposed to apologize for actually having a relationship with the people in my family?” I snap because although Laura was clingy and overbearing, Parker typically kept her and his father both at arm’s length and on a need-to-know basis. I know it was fucked up to say but he did judge my family at times and it got old when they’ve been nothing but accepting of him.

“The guy outside my house? He’s family too?”

Something about the way he says family has me on alert. Don’t jump to conclusions. “Excuse me?”