“Don’t stress, okay? My mama always says if it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”
“Yeah,” I say, but I don’t think I believe her. I’m not certain of anything at this point.
I climb in the car and watch Laine disappear through the automatic doors. When I get home, I throw myself into organizing. I stuff trash bags full of my mother’s things for donation until the living room is filled. Everything from the kitchen, all her books, movies, fake plants. If it’s not furniture, it’s in a bag in the living room. When that’s finished, I clean.
Two hours later, with my bra sticking to the sweaty underside of my breasts, and my stomach growling from hunger, I take a break and search for my phone. It’s in my bedroom, right where I dropped it beside my overnight bag before I started working downstairs.
There’s a missed call from a local number, but other than that I haven’t missed anything. I take the phone downstairs with me and rummage for something to eat. I’m looking in the fridge, hoping something appetizing will magically appear, when the phone rings. I grab it and see it’s the same number I missed before.
“Hello,” I answer, tucking it between my shoulder and ear.
“Oh, Lennon, thank god you picked up.”
Mrs. Sterling?
“What’s going on?” My voice is edged with panic.
“Brady and Finn were in an accident on their way home and—”
“What?” My grip on the fridge door handle tightens. “Are they okay?”
“Yes. Mostly. They were very lucky.” She pauses and a small sob comes through. “Very, very lucky.”
I slam the fridge closed and take the stairs to my room two at a time. “Where are they?” I ask, snatching my purse off my bed.
“Agua Mesa General. They’ve both asked for you.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Lennon, I just want to prepare you. They were lucky, but there are still some injuries.”
The front door slams shut behind me. “I’ll be there in fifteen.”
Fifteen minutes ends up being twelve because I’m driving in a way that would earn me multiple tickets. The woman at the front desk of the hospital tells me what floor they’re on. The elevator ride feels like it takes forever, even though it probably takes seconds.
I step off, and down the hall I see Mr. and Mrs. Sterling standing outside an open door. Across the hall from them, beside another open door, sits Finn’s uncle.
I move on quick feet and realize Laine was right. I love them both dearly, but I’m only in love with one, and somehow, in a split-second, I know which one. My heart is full, so full I think it might burst, streaming arcs of fire like a sparkler on the Fourth of July.
Of course. It was always him.
I bypass the watching adults and run into the room of the man I’m in love with.
26
Now
I skid to a stop.Everything in the room is quiet, aside from the rhythmic beep of the machines hooked up to him. His eyes are closed, and the beginning of a bruise blossoms on his left cheek. His right cheek is scraped and red. My breath catches in my throat. I’ve never seen him look like he needs help. It’s unnerving.
Cautiously I tiptoe forward, but it’s hard with the sandals I’m wearing. I’m literally creeping toward the bed when his eyes open. He takes me in, crouched like a creeper, and tries to smile. The grin must hurt him, because almost instantly it turns to a grimace.
I rush forward, palms reaching for him. I don’t know where it’s safe to touch him, so my hands fall limp to my sides.
“Finn,” I breathe his name.
“Lennon,” he says, his voice husky. “For a little while I thought... I thought…” A lone tear rolls slowly down his cheek. He tries to lift his right hand to wipe it, then realizes he can’t. It’s in a sling.
I lean closer, brushing it away for him. My skin buzzes at the contact. “You don’t have to talk, Finn. Not unless you want to.”
