Chapter 222 Chapter 222

Chapter 222 Chapter 222
T O R POV

My love,
Come back to me. My heart misses you.
My soul aches for you. My body needs you. My mind craves you.
You Are My
Forever.

\---

Three days ago I woke up in a hospital bed with the worst headache of my life and feeling like someone put me through a high-speed blender. And that may as well have happened, because parts of my flesh appear to be pureed.

I don't remElara getting hit at all, which is probably for the best because I'm feeling a rage towards the person who did this to me.

When I first woke up, my mind felt empty. Blank. I couldn't think backwards, and it scared the shit out of me. I sat in the creaky bed in silence, waiting for my head to clear and for the incessant throbbing and nothingness to subside.

Sydni was there, spouting her love for me, talking about coming home with me and our future together. My head swam with confusion and pain as my brain tried to fight through the curtain it was shrouded in.

I nodded dully at her as she went on and on about getting married and having a family. It's what I wanted. It sounded good.

But it felt wrong, and I couldn't put my finger on why. The more I thought about it, and tried to reverse back into my memory, the more pain shot through my head, and the nurses gave me more meds. And then the curtain would fall over my thoughts again.

On day two I saw Kyra, hovering somberly in the doorway, her green eyes capturing mine from across the room, and it all came back in a monstrous wave.

She's my love. The one I'm going to spend my life with. Not Sydni, who has managed to position herself back in my life while I lay here beaten and in a fog.

I have a vague memory of my sister kissing me goodbye and whispering in my ear, “I have your phone and everything else. That bitch went through the stuff you had on you when you got brought in, but I took it all. She didn't get to your phone, thank fuck. Kyra is staying at your house until you get home. She said to tell you she loves you.”

Pain pierces through my head again as I realize what has sparked Sydni to suddenly try to become girlfriend of the year.

\---

When we pull into my driveway, Kyra's Jeep is there. Thank God. I can't wait to see her and have her in my arms. I could feel the worry and sadness coming off of her the few times she visited the hospital.

I wanted to scream at everyone to get the hell out of my room and give us a minute alone, but doing that would have made everyone suspicious of why I'd want to be alone in my hospital room with an eighteen-year-old girl.

Sure, I could have called her from the phone in my room after visiting hours. If I knew her number. I've called her cell phone and house hundreds of times over the past years, but always from the speed dial on my cell phone. I have no freakin' idea what those numbers are, and Aiden's number is unlisted.

Technology, you are a sick fuck, thinking you're making our lives easier with your one-touch buttons. Fuck you.

Sydni insisted on driving me home after I was discharged and I didn't want to cause a scene so I agreed, just to get out of there. But now I'm putting an end to this charade.

I grab Sydni's arm as she reaches to open her car door. I'm not letting her walk with me into my house. This is going to end right here in the car.

"What's wrong?" she asks. "Do you need help getting out of the car?"

"No. We need to talk."

"Okay, let's go inside and talk then. You can send Kyra home now, she's just been a pet sitting."

"No."

She turns in the seat with a confused look. "No, what?"

"We're not together, Syd. Nothing has changed. I appreciate you coming to the hospital and driving me home, but now I want you to leave."

She frowns at me like I'm an unruly child. "What are you talking about? You said you wanted to give us another chance, Tor."

"I said I would think about it after your tour if you didn't sleep with anyone. But a lot has changed since then."

"I don't understand. I've been here for you. What could have changed?"

"A lot, actually, and I'm sorry, but we're not getting back together. Ever."

She shakes her head, her mouth twisting in confusion. "I saw the ring with your stuff at the hospital, Tor. It was in the bag with your clothes."

I cringe and brace myself. Of course I would get hit by a car after picking up an engagement ring. I hope it's not some kind of bad omen.

"The ring isn't for you," I say quietly.

I'm pissed at her for even touching something she had no right to be anywhere near, getting her bad energy all over it.

"What?" she asks.

I turn to face her and my ribs scream in pain. "It's not for you. I'm sorry, Sydni."

"Then who the hell is it for?"

"That's none of your business."

"What the fuck, Tor? Are you insane? Did you just meet someone recently and decide to get married? Just like that?"

I shake my head slowly. "No. It's someone I've had feelings for for a long time."

She stares at me, dumbfounded. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Is it Lisa?"

"No."

"Then who?"

"I'm not discussing this with you."

"Why the hell not? Don't I have a right to know?"

I let out a sick laugh. "No, you really fucking don't."

"We've been in a relationship forever, Tor. You don't think I deserve to know how you just suddenly fell in love and are going to propose to them? That's supposed to be me!"

"At one time I thought it could have been you. But I was never enough for you. You always wanted or needed someone else."