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“Sir,” I began, desperate to help, to do so to defuse the situation “This isn’t Taylor’s fault”
“I know,” he said slowly, the veins in his neck corded and sticking out like so them up Hatred, most likely
“This is your fault, Nathan All of it” He pointed down the hall “The fact thatfor his life, that’s on you” He sucked in a huge breath like he was about to dive underwater “The fact that they had to cut into his skull so he didn’t die, that is on you”
“Mike,” Brenda said softly
I are that everyone atching The nurses The patients The doctors The ht pink pajamas over by the elevators It see whatever it was they’d been doing and all eyes were on me
“I’ to tear hih I want to But I’ you this now, ot that? You nearly killed my son, and as far as I’m concerned, your ass should be in jail We all know the only reason you’re not riding a bench in juvie is because your daddy’s got the mayor’s ear and your uncle is an auxiliary officer in the sheriff’s department”
“Sir…if I could trade places with Trevor, I would” The words tumbled from my mouth and I stepped forward
He shook his head—a warning—and I stopped
“I trusted you, Nathan You were the responsible one, andto do that, but…I did, and I can’t have you here right now because I can’t control the anger I feel Trevor’s fighting for his life because of you”
His words ripped into le one of them hurt
Mike slipped his hands around his wife and hugged her,to put this all on you but I can’t help it It’s the way I feel and as ht of you makes me sick” His voice was hoarse and he pointed down the hall “What you saw in there? My son hooked up to a bunch ofI’d wish on anyone, not even if they deserved it”
Mr Lewis turned away fro back to Trevor’s roo to let this one slide, but if I see you up here again, I won’t be so acco”
Taylor joined her parents, and I watched until they disappeared into Trevor’s room Suddenly my insides twisted so much that I bent over, hands on ether, I was going to be sick or I was gonna pass out
A minute passed Maybe reen toes
“Okay, you win”