“Nicole,” he repeats with a long sigh. “That’s his sister’s name.”
My brows pull together in confusion. “That is the name he has tattooed on his wrist.”
He nods. “Nicole was his sister.”
“Was?” I ask in horror.
He looks away from me and stares straight ahead at the white wall for a few seconds. “Nicole was his twin sister …” He pauses. “And the love of my life.”
I feel my legs give out, and I find myself falling into the chair next to his bed. Case’s twin sister? Brecken was in love with her?
He looks over at me with a small smile on his lips. “I was a senior in high school and was new to their town. Nicole was in my first period. I still remember her barging into class late.” He chuckles. “She was so beautiful. And the way her hand fit in mine. I fell in love right then and there. It was love at first sight if you can believe in that type of thing.” He shrugs. “But what did I know? I was a horny teenager. She had on a little cheerleading uniform. I knew what I had to do. I joined the football team. That was when I met Case. He was just as nice as Nicole, but not as great to stare at.” I let out a laugh.
“How did she die?” I ask softly. He looks at me in question. “You said shewashis sister. Something had to have happened to her.”
He nods. “But that is not my story to tell.” I open my mouth, but he speaks. “I told you who she was because she was a big part of my life. But the only thing I’m gonna tell you about her is the part she played in my life. Case needs to tell you how her life changed his.”
I look down to my hands in my lap. “He probably won’t tell me.”
“You never know until you ask.” He moves around a little more. “Go find him.”
“How am I going to find him? I’ll just wait for him to come back here.”
“He likes to drink his coffee outside. Go check the entrance of the hospital.”
I smile over at him. “Thanks, Brecken …” I pause. “Is that your real name?”
He smirks but doesn’t answer. I smile at him, but don’t push the subject because it really doesn’t matter. It’s just a name, right?
***
I see Case standing outside the entrance of the hospital before the doors even open to allow me out. He’s standing with his back against a pillar and his head tilted back with his eyes closed as the night covers him in darkness.
“Tired?” I ask coming up in front of him.
His eyes pop open, and he looks at me in surprise. “Taylor. What are you doing here?” he demands after the shock fades.
I take a deep breath. “I want to know you, Case.”
“Not this again,” he huffs. “It doesn’t matter who I am.”
I place my hand on his chest. His eyes narrow on mine, and his heart is beating quickly. Is that because of me? Because mine is beating hard because of him. “It does matter,” I say softly. I take a deep breath and let it out. “Case, I love you.” My bottom lip trembles in fear, and my eyes start to sting from tears. “And that is crazy because I don’t know who you are. I am in love with a man who has done nothing but lie to me.” He swallows. “A man I know nothing about.” A tear slides down my face, and he reaches up to wipe it away.
He lowers his face down to mine, and if it’s even possible, his heart beats harder against my hand. “You love me?” His breath lands on my lips, and I shiver.
“Of course,” I whisper. Reaching up with my free hand, I place it on his cheek. His facial hair rough against my palm. “Why do you think I care so much about who you really are?” I ask softly.
“What if you hate the real me?” he asks, closing his eyes as if it that thought would be unbearable.
“I already love you,” I reply. “Knowing the real you could only make me love you even more.”
He opens his eyes and looks at me. I see the fear in them. The thought of me walking away from him when I find out who he really is. But I’m not worried. Not one bit. So I add, “You don’t have to hide from me, Tyler.” I use his real name because we need to start somewhere and this is as good a place as any is. But he flinches when I say it. And I have a feeling there’s a story behind why he goes by Case. “I already know you are willing to risk your life for others. I already know you would do anything to make sure that people you don’t even know are safe. And I know that no matter what your past consists of, I wanna stand by your side.”
He stares at me for a long moment, and I hold my breath. Just when I think I may fall to the ground due to dizziness from not breathing, his lips land on mine. Breathing life into me. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he kisses me with desperation. His arms grip me as if I will pull away at any second, his body pushing into mine. I deepen the kiss letting him know just how much I love him. Letting him know that no matter what he has to tell me, I’ll still be here.
He pulls away first, and I take one deep breath after another. “I love you too, Taylor,” he whispers against my lips. I let out a little sob even as I wanna scream out in joy. “Please believe me when I say I’m sorry.”
“I believe you.” We never planned on this. And it must have been hard for him not to tell me. I don’t know what I would have done if I had been the one to lie. If I had been the one afraid he would leave me.
