Mason gripped his hand and squeezed it tight.
“By some miracle, the bike didn’t land on top of me. I have some bad road burn on my leg and bumps and bruises, but it wasn’t until later on…” She began to cry softly, and Jude bit his lip so hard, the coppery taste of blood filled his mouth.
“What happened?”
“I started having cramps and bleeding. I-I didn’t even know I was two months pregnant, and I lost the baby.”
Jude dropped the phone and covered his face with his hands. Sobbing, he held on to Mason, who kissed his face.
“She’s okay. It’s going to be fine. You need to keep talking to her.”
“You’re right.” He wiped his eyes and picked up the phone. “Baby? Are you all right now?”
“Yeah.” She sniffled. “I didn’t even think about being late. With the stress of the wedding, I figured that was it. I never would’ve gotten on a motorbike if I knew.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. It’s just a horrible, bad accident. Don’t blame yourself.” With the heel of his hand, he wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Tell us about Doug.”
“He’s hurt so bad. All banged up and his ribs are broken. They put a cast on his arm. But his head…” Her voice broke. “They’re watching him. He’s got some swelling on his brain, so they’ve put him in a medically induced coma. He has to wake up, though. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Mason shivered, and it was Jude’s turn now to offer comfort. “He’s going to be fine. It’s probably the initial trauma that makes it seem worse than it is. He’ll wake up, and when I see him, I’ll kick his ass for scaring us to death.”
“I hope so.” She gulped, and Jude’s eyes burned with tears. “I just love him so much, and we were making so many plans.”
“You’ll get your chance,” Mason said. “One step at a time. My parents are on their way. They should get there later tonight.”
“Yeah, I saw their texts from the airport.”
“Do you want me to come? I’ll be on a plane tonight.” Jude’s mind was already planning postponing meetings.
“No. Once Silvia and Robert get here, I’ll be fine. I just want him to wake up.”
“He will. And you’re okay now? You have to take care of yourself.” After a lifetime of protecting her, the one time she’d left him had proved almost deadly, and he itched to fly to her side. “Are you sure you don’t need me?”
“I’ll always need you, but Doug is my husband now, and I can’t always fall back on you for help. You’ve spent your whole life taking care of me and helping me. Now I have to stand on my own feet.”
His heart swelled with pride for the woman she’d become. “I’ll always be there for you.”
“You sound different, though. I can’t say what it is, but it’s in your voice.”
He glanced at Mason, whose smile had wiped away the darkness that once surrounded him.
“Yeah? I’m good. Really. We’ll talk when you come home.”
“Love you, and Mason too.”
“Love you, Ilana,” Mason called out. “Talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
He ended the call. “I can’t imagine how scared she was…must still be.”
“She’s proving to you how strong she is.”
“Maybe I should go. Even if she says no—”
“Jude. Let her handle it. She’ll be with my parents. And if you go…” Mason’s voice hitched. “I’ll have no one. I need you too. Please? Stay?”
He had a foot in two worlds now. One the life he’d lived as big brother and protector. The other—Mason’s lover. Fragile and new but no less important to him.
