Prologue
Titus
TEN YEARS AGO
“Are you sure you don’t want to know?” Kara waggles her dark brows at me from behind the wheel of the car she’s been driving since high school. “Then we could buy something besides green and yellow.”
“First of all, what’s wrong with green?” It’s my favorite color, which is why I’m happy to paint the nursery in our temporary apartment whatever shade of it she likes—even if she’s probably going to want me to paint over it as soon as the baby’s born. “Second, if you genuinely want to know, we can find out.”
Discovering I’m going to be a father at twenty-one came as a bit of a shock, but it wore off quickly, replaced by an anticipation that grows more and more each day. Kara and I have been together for almost six years, and having a family was always the plan, so who cares if it’ll happen a little earlier than we expected? Sure, it means we’ve had to push our wedding back because she doesn’t want to walk down the aisle pregnant, but other than that, nothing has changed.
We’re still getting married. Still building a family. The order is just a little flipped.
Kara presses one hand against her belly, her expression telling me she just took a swift kick to her insides. “I’m not sure if that was a vote for, or against.”
Pregnancy has not been easy on my fiancée. Morning sickness is fucking misnamed, because she’s thrown up pretty much around-the-clock. There have been days where she hasn’t been able to keep anything down, and it’s led to hospital visits for fluids, weight loss, and general misery.
But it seems like it’s all finally starting to level out. Kara has more good days than bad now, and we’re finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And if she wants to know whether that light will be blue or pink, then that’s what I want to happen.
“What if we have them write it down and put it in an envelope? That way it’s there if you decide you want to find out.” I don’t really give a shit if it’s a boy or girl. I know it’s cliché, but as long as it’s healthy, I’ll be happy.
And if it’s not, we’ll figure it out.
We’ve always been a good team. Had each other’s backs and held each other up. There’s no doubt in my mind, we’re up to tackling whatever life throws at us.
Kara gives me another smile, but this one looks a little off. Forced. “I’m on board with that.”
I study her as she turns back to the road. Her skin has paled a little in the past few minutes, and a slight sheen settles across her forehead. It’s a familiar sight that has me reaching between the front seats into the back, searching for a bag. A box. Something she can heave into.
“Titus, I don’t think I feel?—”
The car swerves as she slumps forward, limp body tipping to the side as we careen off the narrow shoulder and into the grass.
“Kara.” I snap out her name, hoping to rouse her as I attempt to right myself. But I’m not a small guy, and the jostling of the vehicle as it races over the unpaved surface—paired with the constriction of my seatbelt—makes it difficult for me to get backinto place. “Wake up, sweetheart. I need you to get your foot off the gas.”
When she passed out, the weight of her leg must have pushed the pedal down, because we’re picking up speed. Knowing I won’t get free with the fucking band across my lap, I snap the buckle loose. Without it pinning me in place, I’m finally able to reach forward and grab the wheel.
But it’s too late. My ass hits the seat just in time to see the tree.
Then everything goes black.
I come to surrounded by unfamiliar faces. People I’ve never seen before. Everyone’s yelling. Scrambling as they race around where I’m sprawled across the grass.
“Kara.” I push myself up. “Where’s Kara?”
My head is swimming. Pain radiates through my skull as I stand. A stab of fire burns through my shin, but I ignore it. I need to find Kara. Make sure she’s okay.
I drag myself along, trying not to put weight on my injured leg. It feels like I’m moving at a crawl, but I must be going faster than I think, because the people trying to stop me can’t reach me before I’m at the side of the car.
The driver’s side took the brunt of the impact, and it’s heavily damaged. The body is twisted and caved, with deep gouges through the quarter panel and door. Curls of smoke are taking over the interior, but I can barely make out Kara’s still form.
“I need to get her out. Someone help me get her out.” I grab the door handle, yanking with every bit of strength I have. It shifts slightly, but I can’t get it fully open due to the crushed metal warping the edges.
I circle around the back, using one hand to brace my uneven gait as I go to where the passenger door stands open—likely thanks to whoever pulled me free. I practically fall into the seat I occupied such a short time ago, fumbling around for Kara’s belt buckle as smoke burns my lungs. The heat inside the car is almost unbearable, but I’m not leaving her here. I continue fighting tofree her as the flicker of flames creeps around me, biting at the skin of my arm and face.
I can’t breathe. I can’t see. But I can’t stop. Can’t give up.
“Buddy, you gotta get out of there. It’s going to go up.” I can hear someone yelling behind me, but I ignore them.
