“Tell me everything, Keeva.” I swallow hard because whatever she’s about to say has the potential to change my life forever. Depending on how bad it is, her news could wreck my life.
“Keenan’s been shot. He’s at the hospital in London and . . .” This is the longest pause known to man. “They aren’t sure he’s going to make it.”
My stomach rolls, threatening to pitch the late lunch I just barely finished out onto the beige rug under my desk. It wouldn’t even be much since I didn’t have a full meal like I usually do. Keenan and I had plans tonight, so I was saving room for a big meal, and more importantly, dessert.
“What do you mean they aren’t sure?” My heart pounds in my head while her silence speaks volumes to me.
“That’s all I know. I’m heading to London right now. Booking my ticket straight away, actually. Should I book one for you?”
Now, I won’t ever say Keeva’s dumb, but man, she just asked me a stupid question.
“Obviously. When does it leave? I'll meet you at the airport.”
Keeva rattles off the information I need to know, and we both end the call. There’s nothing more important to me right now than getting to Keenan. Not even the social formalities of saying goodbye to anyone in the office.
Stopping off at home is a given. Who knows how long I’ll be in London, and there are things I need, but my main focus is on getting to Keenan. It’s all I want.
Keeva and I barely speak on the plane. I’m sure we both have our energy tied up worrying about Keenan. She hasn’t gotten any more news about him, but we have been on a plane. It’s not like people will be calling right now.
Once we get to London and get a car, we’re headed for the hospital. My knee bounces as if the energy will move the car faster. I wish it could because any amount of distance between Keenan and me right now is too much.
I need to be where he is. I need to make sure he’s okay. There’s so much I need to do, but if this is his time to go, then I need to be there holding his hand as he takes his last breath. More importantly, I need to tell him how much he’s always meant to me.
As much as I know this shouldn’t be happening, it is. Life has always been like this, though. Unimaginable, filled with pain, a fucking mess, if I’m being honest. Keenan and I just got some things figured out between the two of us and now this happens? What kind of game is life playing with me right now? Fuck, this is horrible.
It feels like it’s taking forever to get to the hospital, though I know the driver is doing his best, weaving in and out of traffic, but it’s too slow for me.
“He’s driving as fast as he can,” Keeva blatantly tells me. She has her blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun and looks nothing like the worried young woman I know is hiding underneath her stoic demeanor. She’s always been the wild sister of the Gallagher family, whereas Delaney is more reserved. I squeeze her hand in mine for comfort, though I didn’t think it’d do anything for her. It surely doesn’t do anything for me.
Nothing will help my nerves until I see Keenan with my own eyes. The plane ride took over an hour by itself. Anything could’ve happened by now.
“They would’ve called me,” she says like she can read my mind. Though I’m fairly certain every emotion is written all over my face. Hiding how I feel is something natural, given my relationship with my father. However, I care for Keenan in such a deep way and I feel like every emotion is written across my face.
Finally, the car pulls to the curb, and I hop out with Keeva right behind me. We each only have one bag to bring with us. Hers is a backpack that she pushes her arms through. I stupidly brought a rolling suitcase. Both are small, but we have no idea how long we’ll be here in London. I’m sure we both wanted to be as prepared as possible. If anything, our bags show Keeva must’ve thrown anything she could in there before rushing to the airport. Meanwhile, I ran home, carefully packed, and met her.
I won’t be leaving until Keenan does. That’s for damn sure.
To save time, I stop at the information desk right inside the front door.
“We’re looking for Keenan Gallagher,” I tell the woman, then nervously glance at Keeva.
She’s an older lady, and I sure wish she’d type faster. Or let me come back there and do it myself. My words per minute are exceptional, given the fact I spend most of my days behind a computer. If I could do anything right now, I’d be happy. To be standing here, unable to do a damn thing, it’s a horrible feeling. I have to do something.
“He’s on the fourth floor.”
“Thank you,” I call out as the two of us scurry away as quickly as we can.
Once inside the elevator, I turn to Keeva. “Do you know what the fourth floor is?”
“No idea. It could be critical care, given what the physician told me on the phone earlier. Speaking of, Keenan told me that if anything ever happened, I should reach out to ya. I assume that means you’ll be sort of my sister one day eventually.” Keeva’s features turn into a soft smile, and silence fills the elevator as she taps on the number four.
I’m not so sure about what he’s said, given it’s only been three weeks since Keenan and I decided to give it another go. Being Keeva’s sister-in-law would mean marriage, and well, that’s a far cry from where we are right now.
He’s barely had a chance to prove he’ll put me first the way he promised. We’ve been spending time together, lots of it, but we haven’t even slept together again. Keenan said he wants this to be real, so we’re getting to know each other, and I like that we are. Right now, though, I’d give anything to feel his hands on me. At least then, I’d know he’s going to be okay.
Keeva and I step off the elevator and frantically search around to figure out where to go. Catching the eye of a nurse, I head that way with Keeva right behind me. It’s hard not to look into every room we pass because I’m fairly certain the nurse would hunt us down at this point.
“Can I help you?” she asks and can’t be over twenty-five years old. It makes me wonder who they have taking care of him.
