Please. Please. Please. It’s an agonizing sprint, life flashing before my eyes of every moment I’ve spent with him over the past few months.
“Jerrod? Now call Stella. Tell her to meet the ambulance at the hospital.”
On the fifth cycle, Aiden coughs, in a desperate gasp for air.
“Oh, thank God,” I sob, pressing my forehead to his shoulder. “Stay with me. I’ve got you.”
Sirens approach. Paramedics take over, asking questions. I answer every one of them.
I call up Mason quickly to come take care of Zammie and lock up.
Jerrod stands off to the side, useless, pale, and shaking. I think I hear him muttering to himself,“He almost died. Oh, my God.”
Some people can’t handle traumatic things and freeze. But still, this was his son in peril, and not once did he kneel down to hold his hands or anything.
The EMTs load Aiden onto the stretcher and put him into the ambulance.
“We need a parent to ride with us,” one of the EMTs says.
“His dad is right there.” I step back without thinking.
Jerrod doesn’t move. Just stares at me and shakes his head. And then—without a word—he turns and walks to his car. What the fuck?
I don’t understand how a man walks away from his child like that. And I never want tobethat man. One more reason to hate the fucker. And plenty of ammunition in a custody battle.
But Aiden is the priority right now.
I climb into the ambulance, take his little hand, and hold it like it’s the only thing keeping me alive.
“I’m here, buddy,” I assure him. “I’ve got you.”
“Eli,” he whispers, I see his lips form around my name despite the oxygen mask on him, and fear in his eyes.
“That’s right. I’m here and I always will be.” I don’t know if Stella will let me make good on that promise, but I’ll do everything I can to keep these two in my life, whatever it takes, however that looks.
Only one thing I know—I’m not leaving Aiden’s side. In the end, what matters is I’m the man who stayed when he needed someone the most.
As the ambulance doors slam shut, I can’t imagine a world where Aiden doesn’t make it through this. I won’t. Whatever the future holds for us, if I had lost him tonight… but I refuse to think like that now.
CHAPTER 20
MEANT TO BE
STELLA
The hospital lightsblur as I sprint through the parking lot, my lungs burning, my heart beating its way out of my chest. My mother is right behind me, breathless, calling my name, but I don’t slow down.
I can’t. Not when Jerrod had called and said words that struck fear into my soul—Get to the hospital. Aiden needs you.
I’m thinking the worst. Knowing Aiden is probably scared and needs me is the only thing keeping me upright.
Then a shape detaches from the shadows near the entrance, stepping into our path—it’s Jerrod.
“Stella—wait.” He’s wrecked, face stricken like he’s seen horrific things, and is that alcohol on his breath?
No. Please God, no. Don’t let my baby have been in an accident.
Fury detonates in my chest. “What happened?”
